George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal facts for kids
George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal was an important Scottish nobleman. He lived from about 1553 to 1623. He became the Earl Marischal in 1581. This happened after his grandfather, William Keith, passed away.
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Early Life and Adventures
George Keith was the son of William Keith and Elizabeth Hay. We don't know much about his early schooling. In 1573, he traveled to Paris to learn about horsemanship. During his travels, he stayed with Theodore Beza in Geneva. Sadly, his younger brother William died there.
George returned to Scotland in 1580. King James VI held a meeting of his special advisors, the Privy Council, at Dunnotar Castle. George was made a Gentleman of the King's Bedchamber. He was a strong Protestant and helped with the Church of Scotland.
In 1583, George played football with the Earl of Bothwell at Linlithgow Palace. Bothwell knocked him over, and George kicked him back. They planned to fight a duel, but King James VI stopped them. The king helped them become friends again.
Arranging a Royal Wedding
George Keith was one of the most powerful men in Scotland at the time. In 1589, he became an ambassador to Denmark. His job was to arrange the marriage of King James VI to Anne of Denmark.
He traveled with several companions, including John Skene. The English ambassador said George would get money for his trip. This money came from a special fund from England.
Instructions for the Marriage
George had clear instructions for the marriage talks. He was to ask for a large sum of money for Scotland. He also wanted Scottish people to become Danish citizens for better trade. Another request was for Scottish ships to avoid a special toll in Helsingør.
The Proxy Wedding Ceremony
On August 20, 1589, George took part in a wedding ceremony at Kronborg. He sat on Anne of Denmark's bed. This was a special custom, as he was standing in for the king. George bought a jewel to give to the queen during the ceremony.
After the ceremony, George received gifts. These included a small portrait of Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, Anne's mother. He also received timber for building his house at Keith Marischal.
Journey Home and Rewards
There was a disagreement about the queen's dowry money. George wanted some of it for himself and his relatives. He and John Maitland, the Chancellor, disagreed.
George sailed for Scotland with the queen's fleet. But strong winds pushed their ships off course. They ended up in Flekkerøy, Norway. King James VI wrote to George, asking for news. He was worried about the delays.
George helped decide that Anne of Denmark should stay in Oslo. King James VI then sailed to Norway to meet his bride. The king rewarded George on November 25. He gave him the lands of Deer Abbey.
Building and Legacy
In 1593, George Keith founded Marischal College in New Aberdeen. This college became a very important school. He also served as the king's representative in the Scottish Parliament in 1609. He inherited the title of Lord Altrie from his uncle.
George rebuilt his family home, Keith Marischal, in 1589. He also added new buildings at Dunnottar Castle. He built new harbors in Stonehaven and Peterhead. He used wood from Norway and hired a builder named James Mackene.
George owned a fishing boat and a house in Aberdeen. He also had a townhouse and other properties. In 1595, he bought a large amount of Norwegian wood. This wood was for building the Peterhead harbor.
George hired a painter named Andrew Melville. He also had a special stone from an old Roman wall. This stone was painted and decorated. It is now in the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow.
George loved books more than public life. Around 1620, he moved to Dunnottar Castle. He passed away there on April 2, 1623.
Family Life
George Keith married twice.
First Marriage
He first married Margaret Home around February 1581. She was the daughter of Alexander Home, 5th Lord Home. They had several children:
- William Keith, 6th Earl Marischal.
- Anne Keith, who married William Douglas, 7th Earl of Morton.
- Margaret Keith, who married Sir Robert Arbuthnott. She passed away soon after.
- Mary Keith, who married John Campbell of Cawdor.
- Gilbert Keith of Benholm, who married Margaret Lindsay.
Second Marriage
He married Margaret Ogilvy around 1599. She was the daughter of James Ogilvy, 5th Lord Ogilvy of Airlie. They had children, including:
- James Keith of Benholm. He married Margaret Lindsay. They had three daughters: Margaret, Elizabeth, and Anna.
- Sir John Alexander Keith. He married Jeane Watsonne.
Valuable Possessions
After George Keith passed away, there was a discussion about some valuable items. His second wife, Margaret Ogilvy, was involved. She was said to have taken some items from his house at Benholm.
These items included important papers and gold coins. There was also a special jewel with diamonds. This jewel was given to George when he was an ambassador in Denmark. Another item was a small portrait of Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. This portrait was set in gold and diamonds. There was also a stone believed to stop bleeding. Other items included a long chain of pearls and gold chains.
In 1625, as part of a legal agreement, some of these valuable items were returned to the new Earl.
Arms
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