John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl

John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl (c. 1440 – 19 September 1512), also known as Sir John Stewart of Balveny, was a Scottish nobleman and ambassador to England (in 1484).

Life

He was the oldest child of Joan Beaufort, widowed Queen of James I of Scotland, and her second husband Sir James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorn.

He was created Earl of Atholl in around 1457, the first Earl of the eighth creation of the title. He is believed to have had a hand in suppressing the rebellion of John Macdonald, 11th Earl of Ross, the last of the Lords of the Isles. According to legend, the Earl of Atholl had whisky, honey and oats added to Macdonald's water well, which so entranced or intoxicated him that Macdonald was easily captured. The mixture became a drink named Atholl Brose.

Stewart was buried in Dunkeld Cathedral in Perthshire.

Marriage and children

John Stewart married twice and had several children. However, the exact number, names and the attribution of his children to their mothers is unclear. He married first, in 1459-1460, Margaret Douglas, Fair Maid of Galloway, daughter of Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas. Margaret had been married already to the 8th Earl and possibly the 9th Earl of Douglas. She died between 1473 and 1475. They had two daughters:

• Janet Stewart- married Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly
• Elizabeth Stewart- married Andrew Gray, 2nd lord Gray.

He married second, before April 1475, Eleanor (d. 21 March 1518), daughter of William Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Orkney. At least nine children were born:

• John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl- married Janet Campbell d.1545/6, daughter of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Arygll, and Elizabeth Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox.
• Andrew Stewart, Bishop of Caithness
• Jean Stewart, married by contract dated 31 August 1507, James Arbuthnott of Arbuthnott, who had a Crown Charter of the feudal barony of Arbuthnott on 29 January 1507.
• Catherine Stewart- married Sir John Forbes, 6th lord Forbes
• Elspeth Stewart- married Sir Robert Innes 2nd of Innermarky
• Marjory Stewart- D.26 jul 1524. married Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy
• Margaret Stewart- married Sir William Murray of Castleton
• Isabel Stewart- married Alexander Robertson of Strowan
• Elizabeth Stewart- married John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Lennox

There is also a Jean who married John Gordon of Pitlurg, a Margaret who married Robert Robertson of Strowan, and a Christian who died on 30 May 1538 and married Neil Stewart of Garth attributed as daughters of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl.

References

• Weis, Frederick Lewis,et al., The Magna Charta Sureties 1215, 5th edition, Baltimore, Md., 1999, p. 117-118, ISBN 0-8063-1609-8
• The Peerage.com

Preceded by New Creation

Earl of Atholl 1457-1512

Succeeded by John Stewart