James Livingston, 1st Lord Livingston facts for kids
James Livingston, 1st Lord Livingston (around 1410 – 1467) was an important Scottish nobleman. He held many key positions in the Scottish government during the reigns of King James II and King James III.
Contents
Early Life and Family
James Livingston was born around 1410 at Callendar House in Scotland. His father was Sir James Livingston of Callendar, who was a powerful figure in Scotland. His father served as a top judge, known as the Justiciar of Scotland, and was in charge of Stirling Castle. James's mother was a daughter of James Dundas of Dundas.
Through his sister, Janet Livingston, James was an uncle to important figures like James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton. This shows how connected his family was to other powerful Scottish families.
Important Roles and Career
James Livingston had a very active career serving the Scottish kings. From 1442 to 1448, he was the Captain of Stirling Castle, a very important fortress. He was also responsible for the safety of King James II himself, serving as the Keeper of the King's Person in 1444 and 1445.
He became the Great Chamberlain of Scotland from 1448 to 1450. This was a very high-ranking job, overseeing the royal household and finances. He was briefly arrested in 1449 but was soon released and continued his service.
From 1451 to 1454, James was in charge of Inverness Castle. He then returned to his role as Chamberlain from 1454 until his death in 1467. This meant he served both King James II and his son, James III of Scotland.
Livingston also played a role in Scotland's dealings with other countries. He was a Commissioner, helping to arrange truces (peace agreements) with England several times between 1454 and 1466. In 1466, he even served as Scotland's Ambassador to England, representing his country in important discussions.
Family Life and Descendants
James Livingston was married to Marian Oliphant. She was the daughter of Thomas de Berwick. Together, they had several children:
- James Livingston, 2nd Lord Livingston (1430–1497), who later became the 2nd Lord Livingston.
- Alexander Livingston (died 1472).
- David Livingston, who became a church leader and Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland.
- Elizabeth Livingston, who married John Macdonald, 11th Earl of Ross.
- Eupheme Livingston (around 1445–1493), who married Malcolm Fleming.
- Marion Livingston, who married William Crichton.
James Livingston passed away sometime in 1467. His wife, Marian, died in 1478.
Future Generations
Through his second son, Alexander, James Livingston became the grandfather of Sir James Livingston. This grandson later became the 3rd Lord Livingston in 1497.
His daughter Eupheme also had an important family line. She was the grandmother of John Fleming, 2nd Lord Fleming. John's son, Malcolm Fleming, 3rd Lord Fleming, married Lady Janet Stewart, who was the daughter of King James IV of Scotland. Janet Stewart was also a governess to Mary, Queen of Scots in 1548, meaning she helped raise the young queen.
