John Lyon, 8th Lord Glamis facts for kids

John Lyon, 8th Lord Glamis (died 1578), was an important Scottish nobleman. He served as a judge and held the high position of Lord High Chancellor of Scotland, which meant he was the chief legal officer and advisor to the king.

A Young Leader: John Lyon's Early Life

John Lyon became the Lord Glamis after his father passed away in 1558. He was the oldest son of John Lyon, 7th Lord Glamis. His mother was Janet Keith. John Lyon first joined the Privy Council of Scotland, a group of important advisors to the monarch, in December 1561. A few years later, in 1563, he was put in charge of the island of Inchkeith.

Serving the Queen and King

John Lyon supported the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots, to Henry Darnley. He also took part in a conflict against James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray. When Darnley was murdered, John Lyon was in Edinburgh. However, it seems he did not know about the plot to kill Darnley.

Later, he signed an agreement called the Ainslie Tavern Bond. This agreement supported Queen Mary's marriage to James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell. But soon after, John Lyon joined other nobles who wanted to remove Bothwell from power. They also wanted to protect the young king, James VI of Scotland.

In 1569, he was part of a group tasked with pursuing George Gordon, 5th Earl of Huntly. He also voted against Queen Mary's divorce. In 1570, he helped carry the body of the Regent Moray at his funeral.

Becoming Lord Chancellor

In September 1570, John Lyon became a special judge, known as an extraordinary lord of session. After Regent Moray died, John Lyon became a close friend and supporter of James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton. In 1571, he went with Morton on a special trip to England. Their goal was to stop plans that would bring Queen Mary back to the throne.

In 1572, he was ordered to help stop Adam Gordon of Auchindown, who had invaded an area called The Mearns. He almost got captured by Gordon in Brechin. In 1573, he and other northern lords signed an agreement to support Morton, who was now the Regent. John Lyon was seen as one of Morton's most loyal supporters. Because of his loyalty and skills, he was appointed to the very important role of Lord Chancellor of Scotland in October 1573.

When Morton's power was questioned in 1578, John Lyon advised him to step down. Morton reportedly listened to John Lyon's advice and resigned.

How John Lyon Died

Sadly, John Lyon died accidentally in 1578. He was in Stirling when a street fight broke out between his followers and those of David Lindsay, 11th Earl of Crawford. John Lyon was shot in the head. Some people said his height made him an easy target.

After his death, two famous writers, Andrew Melville and Hercules Rollock, wrote poems in his honor.

John Lyon's Family

John Lyon married Elizabeth Abernethy. She was the sister of Alexander Abernethy, 6th Lord Saltoun. They had several children:

• Patrick Lyon, 9th Lord Glamis
• Jean Lyon, who married three times. Her first husband was Robert Douglas. Their children included William Douglas, 7th Earl of Morton. She then married Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus, and later Alexander Lindsay, 1st Lord Spynie.
• Elizabeth Lyon, who married Patrick Gray, 6th Lord Gray.