Gavin Hamilton (archbishop of St Andrews) facts for kids

Gavin Hamilton was an important Scottish church leader from a long time ago. He was a helper to the main Archbishop of St Andrews and was expected to take over his role. Later, he became the Archbishop of St Andrews himself.

Early Life and Church Role

Gavin was the son of James Hamilton, who came from a place called Raploch. Before becoming a high-ranking church official, Gavin was the Abbot of Kilwinning. An abbot is the leader of a monastery, which is a community where monks live and work.

Becoming a Church Leader

In 1555, Gavin Hamilton was chosen to be the "coadjutor" for Archbishop John Hamilton of St Andrews. A coadjutor is like an assistant who is also the chosen successor, meaning they are next in line to take over the main job.

Archbishop of St Andrews

Archbishop John Hamilton passed away on April 7, 1571. A few months later, on June 13, Gavin's name was mentioned in the records of the Scottish Parliament held in Edinburgh. The parliament is a group of people who make laws for the country. In these records, Gavin was called "Gawan Hamilton, archbishop of St. Andrews."

Even though there isn't a formal document saying he was officially appointed, this record suggests that Gavin did serve as the Archbishop for a short time. Gavin died in a small conflict just a few days after this parliament meeting.