John Maclellan, 3rd Lord Kirkcudbright facts for kids

John Maclellan, 3rd Lord Kirkcudbright (died 1664) was an important Scottish nobleman. He was known for being a strong supporter of the King during a time of great change in Scotland.

A Time of Change in Scotland

John Maclellan became the 3rd Lord Kirkcudbright in 1647, taking over the titles from his father. Like his father, he was a "Covenanter" at first. This meant he supported a special agreement to protect the Scottish church. However, he also strongly supported the King, making him a "Royalist."

Supporting the King

John Maclellan was very dedicated to the King. He asked the people who lived on his lands, called his "vassals," to join the King's army. Because of this, many people from villages like Dunrod and Galtway left their homes starting around 1640.

Meeting Important Leaders

Lord Kirkcudbright was chosen to be part of a special group from the Scottish government, called the Committee of Estates. Their job was to meet with Oliver Cromwell, a very powerful English leader, at a place called Seaton. They then went with him to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland.

Challenges in War

Lord Kirkcudbright also had his own group of soldiers, called a regiment. This regiment was sent to Ireland. On December 6th, his soldiers were attacked by the English Parliamentary forces. They faced a very difficult battle and suffered many losses.

Impact on His Lands

John Maclellan owned a lot of land. However, he spent a lot of his own money to raise and equip soldiers during the English civil war. Many other Royalists also spent their fortunes helping the King. Unfortunately, he did not get paid back for his efforts, which made his family's estate much poorer.