George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly facts for kids

George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly (born 1514, died 1562) was an important Scottish nobleman. He lived during a time when Scotland was often at war and had many changes. He was a powerful figure in the north of Scotland.

Life of George Gordon

George Gordon was the son of John Gordon, Lord Gordon. His mother was Margaret Stewart. She was the daughter of King James IV.

Becoming an Earl

George Gordon became the Earl of Huntly in 1524. He was only 10 years old when he inherited his family's lands and title. This made him a very important person in Scotland.

Serving the King

As a young man, George Gordon became a military leader. He led the King's Army and defeated the English at the Battle of Haddon Rig in 1542. This was an important victory for Scotland.

He also became a member of the council of Regency. This group helped rule Scotland when the king was too young. Later, he became the Chancellor in 1546. This was a very high position in the government.

Capture and Release

In 1547, George Gordon was captured by the English. This happened at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh. He was held in the Tower of London, a famous prison. However, he was released in 1548 after a payment was made for his freedom.

Return to Scotland

In 1550, he traveled to France with Mary of Guise. She was the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Later, George Gordon joined a group called the Lords of the Congregation in 1560. This group supported the Protestant religion. However, he was also a religious conservative. This means he wanted to find a way for both Catholic and Protestant worship to exist peacefully.

Conflict with Mary, Queen of Scots

George Gordon supported Mary, Queen of Scots, at first. But things changed when she gave the Earldom of Moray to her half-brother, Lord James Stewart. This land had been given to Huntly in 1549. Because of this, Huntly went back to his lands in northern Scotland.

In August 1562, Mary, Queen of Scots, visited the north-east. George Gordon refused to let her into Inverness Castle. The Queen's forces captured the castle. She then ordered Huntly to come to Aberdeen. He refused, and so he was declared an "outlaw." This meant he had lost the protection of the law.

He marched on Aberdeen, but his forces were defeated. This happened at the Battle of Corrichie in October 1562. After his capture, he died suddenly. His son, Sir John, was executed in Aberdeen. George Gordon was later officially stripped of his titles and lands by the Scottish Parliament in May 1563.

After his death, his body and belongings were taken from Strathbogie Castle. His body was used to represent him at his trial. His belongings were taken to Holyrood Palace. Later, when Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned, she was given some of his fine cloth.

Family Life

On March 27, 1530, George Gordon married Elizabeth Keith. She was the daughter of Robert Keith, Master of Marischal. Together, they had nine sons and three daughters.

Their children included:

• George Gordon, who became the 5th Earl of Huntly
• Lady Jean Gordon, Countess of Bothwell (born 1546, died 1629)
• Lady Margaret Gordon, who married John, Master of Forbes
• Lady Elizabeth Gordon (died 1557), who married John Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl
• Alexander Gordon, Lord Gordon (died 1553)
• Sir John Gordon of Findlater, who was executed in 1562
• James Gordon (born 1541)
• Adam Gordon of Auchindoun (born 1545)
• Patrick Gordon of Auchindoun