William Cunningham, 4th Earl of Glencairn

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William Cunningham (c. 1490 – 1547), 4th Earl of Glencairn, was a Scottish nobleman, soldier, and notorious intriguer.

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[edit] Family

He was the eldest son and heir of Cuthbert Cunningham, 3rd Earl of Glencairn by his spouse Lady Marjory, eldest daughter of Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus.

[edit] Divided loyalties

While still Lord Kilmaurs, this nobleman was one of the principal adherents of the English Court in Scotland, and accepted a pension from King Henry VIII. He was one of the party which joined the force of the Earls of Arran and Lennox on November 23, 1524, when they took possession of Edinburgh, and endeavoured to withdraw the young king from the Queen Mother.

He was appointed Lord High Treasurer of Scotland on June 26, 1526, but held the office only until October 29th the same year.

In 1538 he accompanied David Bethune, Bishop of Mirepoix, afterwards a celebrated cardinal, to France to conclude a treaty for James V's marriage with Mary of Guise.

[edit] Intrigues

Lord Kilmaurs succeeded as 4th Earl of Glencairn upon the death of his father just before 1542, and he and his eldest son, Alexander, now Lord Kilmaurs, were engaged in all the intrigues of the Anglo-Scottish Party at this period of history, and supported the religious Reformers.

In 1542 the earl was taken prisoner by the English at the Battle of Solway Moss and committed to the custody of the Duke of Norfolk, but was released on payment of a ransom of a thousand pounds and subscribing by his own hand to support Henry VIII's project of a marriage between the young Prince Edward and the Scottish Queen.

In 1543 he was, with 500 vassals as spearmen, attacked on Glasgow Muir by the Regent Arran and defeated "with great slaughter", his second son amongst the slain. Glencairn managed to flee to Dumbarton, almost alone, and in September he and his son Lord Kilmaurs abandoned the cause of Henry. In November Glencairn, now pardoned by the Regent, was with the latter's army that laid siege to Coldingham, then held by the English, but which was dispersed by an English force from Berwick.

In March 1544 Glencairn and his son renewed their communications with the English government in support of the English Party in Scotland, and is said to have been party to the assassination of Cardinal Bethune.

[edit] Marriage

He was twice married, firstly to Catherine, second daughter of William Borthwick, 3rd Lord Borthwick, without issue. Secondly to Margaret (or Elizabeth), daughter and heiress of John Campbell of West Loudon, by whom he had issue:

  • Alexander Cunningham, 5th Earl of Glencairn, the zealous Protestant reformer
  • Andrew, ancestor of the Cunninghams of Corsehill, later baronets
  • Hugh, progenitor of the Cunninghams of Carlung
  • Robert, ancestor of the Cunninghams of Montgrenan
  • William, Bishop of Argyll
  • Elizabeth, married to Sir John Cunningham of Caprington.

[edit] References

  • Anderson, William, The Scottish Nation, Edinburgh, 1867, vol.v, p.310-311.


[edit] See also

[edit] External links