John Ogilvy of Powrie facts for kids
John Ogilvy of Powrie (died 1609) was a Scottish landowner and a special agent who worked for powerful people. He was sometimes called "Pury Ogilvie" because of his family's land.
Who Was John Ogilvy?
John Ogilvy came from a family that owned land in Easter Powrie. The old Powrie Castle was nearby. His father, Gilbert Ogilvy, sold their part of the land in 1593.
John Ogilvy's sister, Anne Ogilvy, married a man who worked for the king, Sir Thomas Erskine. John himself married Elizabeth Scrimgeour, whose father was Sir James Scrimgeour, a important person in Dundee. When John's father died in 1600, John wrote to a bishop asking for black cloth for mourning clothes.
A Secret Agent
John Ogilvy was known for sending secret political information to important people like Francis Walsingham in England. In 1595, he even pretended to be a secret agent for King James VI when dealing with Catholic leaders in Europe.
Trouble with the King
In October 1598, King James VI became convinced that John Ogilvy had shared secret instructions with England. These instructions were meant for Scottish diplomats in Spain and at the Vatican. Elizabeth I, the Queen of England, even showed these papers to the Scottish diplomat David Foulis.
In March 1601, John Ogilvy was questioned about this. He was even put in Edinburgh Castle for a short time. After meeting with the king, he had to leave Scotland and live in England. This is called being in "exile."
Life in Exile
While in England, John Ogilvy continued to send news about the Scottish court to Sir Robert Cecil, a powerful English leader. He used the false name "John Gibson" to hide his identity.
He wrote about the different groups of people who supported King James VI and his wife, Anne of Denmark. For example, in May 1601, he reported that Queen Anne was upset with his brother-in-law, Sir Thomas Erskine. This was either because she was jealous or because Erskine supported people she considered her enemies.
John Ogilvy also had some personal problems, including a disagreement over property with his wife and her father. During this time, he stayed in Northumberland, England, at places like Burradon and Causey Park. He wrote to King James VI, saying that he had not done anything wrong while he was abroad.
John Ogilvy died in 1609. His daughter, Isobel Ogilvy, later married Kenneth Mackenzie.
Images for kids
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Burradon Tower, where John Ogilvy stayed during his exile.
