William Keith, 4th Earl Marischal (24 July 1506 - 7 October 1581) was a Scottish nobleman and politician.
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Keith was born on 24 July 1506, the son of Robert Keith, Master of Marischal and Lady Elizabeth Douglas.
He fought at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547, in which the Scots were defeated by the English forces led by Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset in a sanguineous battle that was part of the War of the Rough Wooing.[1] Keith was said to have been in favour of the proposed marriage between the infant Mary, Queen of Scots, and Prince Edward of England, son of King Henry VIII.[2] He held the Office of Extraordinary Lord of Session in 1541, 1561, and lastly in 1573. In 1561, he was a member of Queen Mary's Privy Council.
He was married to Margaret Keith, by whom he had at least nine children:
Alexander, (1540-1630)
Keith's chief residence was Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire.
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, his son-in-law, was the illegitimate half-brother of Queen Mary, and regent for her son King James VI from 1567 to January 1570 when he was assassinated.
When he died on 7 October 1581, he was succeeded by his grandson, George Keith, who became 5th Earl Marischal.
| Peerage of Scotland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William Keith |
Earl Marischal 1530-1581 |
Succeeded by George Keith |