David Cunningham of Robertland facts for kids
Sir David Cunningham of Robertland, located in Ayrshire, was an important person in the royal courts of Scotland and England. He served as the Master of Works to the Crown of Scotland from 1602 to 1607. This meant he was in charge of building and maintaining royal palaces and other important structures. Later, he became the Surveyor of the King's Works in England from 1604 to 1606, doing a similar job for King James.
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Sir David's Early Life and Return
A Difficult Start
In 1585, Sir David Cunningham faced a difficult situation. He was involved in a serious event concerning the Earl of Eglinton. Because of this, he had to leave Scotland for a while. He spent some time in Denmark at the royal court. The Danish government even wrote to King James VI of Scotland to help Sir David make peace with the Earl of Eglinton's family. During this time, his family's lands were managed by Lord John Hamilton.
A Royal Pardon
Sir David was allowed to return to Scotland in 1589. This happened when King James VI himself traveled to Denmark to marry Anne of Denmark. A Danish record from November 1589 shows that important people, including ladies-in-waiting and a bishop, spoke to King James about Sir David's case. They asked the King to forgive him. King James agreed and granted Sir David a pardon. The Queen's mother, Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, even thanked King James for pardoning Sir David.
Serving the Royal Court
Working for Queen Anne
After returning to Scotland, Sir David was given an important job. He became a 'sewer' or 'principal server' for Queen Anne. This was a special court role where he would attend to the Queen during mealtimes. It was a position of trust and closeness to the royal family.
A Brief Imprisonment
In January 1592, Sir David Cunningham was briefly put in prison. This was because he was suspected of helping the Earl of Bothwell. The Earl had caused trouble by raiding Holyrood Palace, a royal residence.
Meeting a Royal Visitor
In March 1598, a special visitor arrived in Edinburgh. This was Duke Ulrik of Denmark, who was Queen Anne's brother. He traveled secretly through England before announcing himself to Sir David. Sir David quickly told the Queen, who then called King James VI and the Duke of Lennox. Duke Ulrik was treated with great respect and honor. He was taken on a tour of Scotland and enjoyed a grand dinner in Edinburgh.
Master of Works and Surveyor
Leading Royal Building Projects
Sir David Cunningham was given a very important role on July 13, 1602. He became the Master of Works for both the King and Queen in Scotland. This happened after the previous Master, William Schaw, passed away. As Master of Works, Sir David was responsible for overseeing all royal building projects. This included maintaining and constructing palaces, castles, and other important buildings for the Crown.
Working for the King in England
When King James VI of Scotland also became King James I of England, Sir David followed the court. He was made a knight in 1604. Soon after, he was appointed as the Surveyor of the King's Works in England. He held this position from 1604 to 1606. In this role, he continued his work of managing royal construction and maintenance, but now for the English Crown. He later stepped down from this role in April 1606.
A Special Gift
In January 1606, Sir David gave King James a special New Year's gift. It was a "platt of an upright," which means a detailed drawing of the side view of a building. This showed his skill and involvement in architecture and design.
One notable project during his time as Master of Works in Scotland was the Kennedy Aisle at Ballantrae. This was built for Jean Stewart, Lady Bargany.
Family Life
Sir David Cunningham married Jean Cunningham, who was the daughter of Alexander Cunningham of Aiket. They had several children, including:
- David Cunningham of Robertland (who passed away in 1619)
- Christiern Cunningham
- Frederick Cunningham
- John Cunningham
One of their sons became a gentleman of the chamber for Count Maurice in the Netherlands. This son was once arrested in Hull in August 1599 while bringing muskets for King James VI.
See also
