John Keith, 1st Earl of Kintore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Kintore
|
|
|---|---|
  |
|
| Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland | |
| In office 1689–1690 |
|
| Preceded by | Archibald Douglas |
| Succeeded by | John Carmichael |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Keith
c. 1630 |
| Died | 15 April 1715 (aged 84–85) |
| Spouses |
Lady Margaret Hamilton
(after 1662) |
| Children | Lady Jean Forbes Lady Margaret Hamilton William Keith, 2nd Earl of Kintore |
| Parents | William Keith, 6th Earl Marischal Lady Mary Erskine |
Sir John Keith, 1st Earl of Kintore (born around 1630 – died 12 April 1715) was an important Scottish nobleman. He is best known for bravely protecting the Honours of Scotland during a time of war.
Early Life and Family
John Keith was the fourth son of nine children. His parents were William Keith, 6th Earl Marischal and Lady Mary Erskine. His father was a powerful Scottish Earl. John had several brothers and sisters, including William and George, who also became Earls.
Protecting Scotland's Treasures
During the English Civil War, John Keith was a Cavalier, meaning he supported the King. In 1651, he and his brother William defended Dunnottar Castle against Oliver Cromwell's army. This was a very important job because the Honours of Scotland were hidden there. The Honours are the Scottish Crown, Sceptre, and Sword, which are symbols of the country's royalty.
Cromwell's soldiers surrounded the castle, hoping to capture these treasures. But John Keith helped to secretly move the Honours out of the castle. They were hidden safely in a nearby church.
Later, John Keith was captured by Cromwell's forces. He cleverly pretended that he had given the Honours to King Charles II of England. This helped keep the real hiding place a secret. The Honours stayed hidden until the King returned to power in 1660, an event known as the Restoration.
A Rewarding Career
Because of his bravery, King Charles II rewarded John Keith. In 1676, he became a member of the Privy Council of Scotland, which was a group of important advisors to the King. He was also made the Knight Marischal of Scotland.
In 1677, John Keith was given the special title of Earl of Kintore. He also became Lord Keith of Inverurie and Keith Hall. These titles were a direct reward for his role in saving the Honours of Scotland.
From 1684 to 1687, Lord Kintore served as the Treasurer-Depute of Scotland, helping to manage the country's money. In 1689, he became the Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland. He supported the Glorious Revolution in 1688 and the Acts of Union in 1707, which joined Scotland and England to form Great Britain.
In 1694, it was decided that if John Keith had no sons, his titles could pass to his elder brother's family.
Personal Life
In 1662, John Keith married Lady Margaret Hamilton. She was the daughter of Thomas Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Haddington.
John and Margaret had three children:
- Lady Jean Keith
- Lady Margaret Keith
- William Keith, 2nd Earl of Kintore
Lord Kintore passed away on 12 April 1715. His only son, William, became the 2nd Earl of Kintore.
