Alexander Stewart (diplomat) facts for kids
Alexander Stewart (died 1593) was a Scottish courtier and diplomat. He was a younger son of Alexander Stewart of Scotstounhill, who was in charge of Blackness Castle, and Elizabeth Hamilton.
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Blackness Castle and Alexander's Father
Alexander Stewart's father, also named Alexander Stewart, was the captain of Blackness Castle for the Scottish King. During a civil war in March 1572, he gave up the castle to supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots. He did this for 300 crowns because the King's side had not paid him.
In January 1573, he became captain again. He promised his oldest son as a hostage to show he would serve well. While he was in Edinburgh making these plans, one of his prisoners, James Kirkcaldy, tricked the guards. Kirkcaldy then took over Blackness Castle.
James Kirkcaldy even managed to capture Alexander Stewart and his brother John. He locked them up in their own castle! But Alexander Stewart then tricked the same soldiers. Regent Morton, a powerful leader, made James Kirkcaldy's wife, Helen Leslie, help get the castle back. When Helen Leslie came to Blackness, James Kirkcaldy came to the iron gate to greet her. His own soldiers then locked him out and threw stones at him from the tower.
Other stories say that James Kirkcaldy gave up Blackness Castle to Regent Morton after a normal attack.
Alexander's Mission to England
In December 1582, a diplomat named Robert Bowes heard about Alexander Stewart, the son of the Blackness captain. He learned that Alexander knew about plans to cause trouble for the Ruthven government. This government was friendly with England. People said Alexander Stewart and others planned to surprise King James VI at Holyrood Palace.
In 1586, Alexander Stewart was involved in important talks. This was after Mary, Queen of Scots, was sentenced to death in England. King James VI sent Alexander with messages to Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. In London, Alexander joined other Scottish diplomats. These included the Master of Gray and Robert Melville.
In January 1587, Alexander's actions upset his fellow diplomats. They felt he was making their work harder. They were trying to save the queen's life. Melville wrote that Alexander was acting beyond his role as a diplomat. He kept saying that only he knew what the king truly wanted. It is still not clear if Alexander was following special orders from King James VI.
He was sent back to Scotland without the other diplomats agreeing. He brought letters from the Earl of Leicester to King James VI. These letters made the Master of Gray look bad. George Young, another negotiator, was also unhappy with Alexander's behavior. He wrote to William Cecil that he was "sorry in good faith that he or any Scotsman should overstep himself so far."
Bridge Castle
In March 1587, Alexander's parents and older brother James Stewart sold their land and castle. This was Little Ogilface in Brighouse, near Torphichen. They sold it to William Livingstone, 6th Lord Livingston. The castle was likely built by James Stewart and his wife Helen Sinclair. Today, it is known as "Bridge Castle".
A Conflict and Alexander's Death
Alexander Stewart became part of a conflict. It was between a rich lawyer, John Graham of Hallyards, and the Sandilands family. This conflict was about a land deal.
On February 13, 1593, James Sandilands of Slamannan, the Duke of Lennox, and Alexander Stewart were going to play golf. They met John Graham and his followers on Leith Wynd. The Grahams started shooting. Alexander Stewart was killed by a head wound. John Graham was also shot. He was carried to a nearby house where Alexander Stewart's French page stabbed him to death.
