Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney

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Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney and Lord of Zetland (Shetland) (1533 – 1593) was the recognized illegitimate son of James V, King of Scotland, and his mistress Eupheme Elphinstone. In 1581 he was named, by James VI, the 1st Earl in a second creation of the Earldom of Orkney. The new earldom replaced a short-lived Dukedom of Orkney, which had been awarded in 1567 by Mary, Queen of Scots to her notorious third husband James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell. This dukedom was forfeit later that same year after Mary was forced to abdicate and Bothwell was charged with treason. Prior to this dukedom there had existed an Earldom of Orkney that was surrendered in 1470 by William Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Orkney.

Upon the death of Robert Stewart in 1593 the earldom passed to his son Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney.

Preceded by Recreated earldom

Earl of Orkney 1581 – 1593

Succeeded by Patrick Stewart