Alexander Lindsay, 4th Earl of Crawford

Alexander Lindsay, 4th Earl of Crawford (1423–1453) was a late mediaeval Scottish nobleman, and a magnate of the north-east of that country.

Life

Alexander Lindsay was the son of David Lindsay, 3rd Earl of Crawford and Marjory Ogilvie, the daughter of Sir Alexander Ogilvie of Auchterhouse.

Known as the Tiger Earl or Earl Beardie, Crawford was one of the most powerful of the Scottish nobles. For some time he was in arms against King James II as part of the Douglas rebellion. In February 1452, William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas was personally killed at Stirling Castle by James II for refusing to dissolve his league with Alexander. The Tiger Earl was defeated at the Battle of Brechin on 18 May, and he submitted to James II in 1452.

Legend has it that he is the infamous "Earl Beardie" featured in one of the myths of Glamis Castle.

Marriage and issue

Alexander, Earl of Crawford married Margaret Dunbar, daughter of Sir David Dunbar of Cockburn, himself a son of George I, Earl of March, and had issue:

• Lady Elizabeth Lindsay (d. 1509), married to John Drummond, 1st Lord Drummond
• David Lindsay, 1st Duke of Montrose (1440-1495)
• Alexander Lindsay, 7th Earl of Crawford (d. 1517).

Lord Crawford also had an illegitimate son, Alexander, who entered holy orders and became a canon of Aberdeen.

References

Notes

Sources

• Alexander, Earl of Crawford, Lives of the Lindsays; or, A memoir of the houses of Crawford and Balcarres IV vols. London 1849
• Balfour Paul, Sir James, The Scots Peerage IX vols. Edinburgh 1904
•  "Lindsay, Alexander (d.1454)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.