Sir Alexander Stuart, 5th Earl of Moray KT (May 8, 1634 – November 1, 1701), was a Scottish nobleman who remained loyal to Roman Catholic James VII of Scotland (James II of England).[1]
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Alexander Stuart succeeded his father, James to the Earldom of Moray on 4 March 1653. In 1654 he was under Cromwell's Act of Grace fined £3,500 which was reduced to £1,166 13s.,[2] but in January 1656 he presented a petition for the remission of his fine, because he "was a child during the late differences", and because his estate was "small and much charged".[3] On 22 January 1657 it was ordered that, on his giving security to the Council of Scotland to pay £500. before 1 February 1658, the residue of his fine should be remitted.[4]
He was admitted justice-general on 1 June 1675, appointed a lord of the treasury on 27 September 1678, nominated an extraordinary lord of session on 17 July 1680, and on 2 November of the same year appointed secretary of state in succession to the Duke of Lauderdale. Previous to his appointment he was known as an active opponent of the Covenanters. In 1675 he specially exerted himself in putting down conventicles in Elgin,[5] and in March 1678 he was deputed by the council to London to encourage King Charles II in his policy of repression.[6] Afterwards he co-operated with James II, not only in his unconstitutional procedure, but in his endeavours to introduce Roman Catholicism. In 1686, when an attempt was made to obtain toleration for the Catholics, he was nominated for this purpose Lord High Commissioner to the Scottish Parliament, and in the following year he was made a knight of the Thistle. During the Glorious Revolution he was deprived of all his offices. He died at Donibristle on 1 November 1701, and was carried to Darnaway and buried in the church of Dyke on 24 January 1702.[7]
Alexander Stuart was the son of James Stuart, 4th Earl of Moray and Margaret Home. He married Emilia Balfour, daughter of Sir William Balfour.[8] They had five children: James, Lord Doune; Charles, 6th Earl of Moray; John; Francis, 7th Earl of Moray; and Mary. In 1687, he became one of the founding knights in the Order of the Thistle.[9]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Duke of Lauderdale |
Secretary of State, Scotland 1680–1688 With: The Earl of Middleton 1682-1684 The Earl of Melfort 1684-1688 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Melfort |
| Peerage of Scotland | ||
| Preceded by James Stuart |
Earl of Moray 1653-1701 |
Succeeded by Charles Stuart |