James Fullerton (courtier) facts for kids

Sir James Fullerton (born around 1563 – died January 7, 1631) was an important Scottish person who worked for the royal family and was involved in politics. He served during the time of James I of England and his son, Charles I, who were Kings of England and Scotland.

Who Was Sir James Fullerton?

Sir James Fullerton was likely the son of John Fullerton. He was a very smart and respected person. He was one of the first students to become a "fellow" at Trinity College Dublin when it was first started. A fellow is like a senior member of a college who helps teach and do research.

Joining the Royal Court

King James I brought Sir James to the English royal court in 1610. The King wanted him to help and serve his son, Prince Charles. Sir James was known as "a Scottish gentleman of great learning and very great worth." This means he was highly educated and very valuable to the King.

Roles for Prince Charles

From 1611 to 1616, Sir James Fullerton had important jobs for Prince Charles. He was a Gentleman of the Bedchamber, which meant he was a close personal attendant to the Prince. He was also the Keeper of the Privy Purse. This job meant he managed the Prince's personal money.

In 1616, when Prince Charles became the Prince of Wales, Sir James got an even more important job. He was promoted to Groom of the Stool. This was a very trusted position, showing he was very close to the Prince. He kept this job until he died, even after Charles became King.

Sir James Fullerton in Parliament

Sir James Fullerton also had a career in politics. He was chosen by people to represent them in the English Parliament.

Representing St Mawes

In 1625, he was elected to Parliament for a place called St Mawes. While in Parliament, he worked on several important issues:

• He helped create a new law, called a "bill," to allow coal mining in Macclesfield.
• He also worked on a religious statement and a bill to stop "secret inquisitions." These were investigations that were not open to the public.
• He was chosen to tell King Charles about Parliament's concerns. They were worried about the King asking for more money from the people.

Representing Portsmouth and Ambassador Role

In 1626, Sir James was chosen to represent Portsmouth in Parliament. Later in his career, he also served as an ambassador to France. An ambassador is a person who represents their country in another country.

Personal Life and Burial

In 1616, Sir James Fullerton married Magdalene Clerk Bruce at Abbots Langley. She was the widow of Edward Bruce, 1st Lord Kinloss.

Sir James Fullerton was buried in Westminster Abbey. This is a very famous church in London where many important people from British history are buried.