John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl (1566–1603) facts for kids
John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl (1566-1603) was an important Scottish landowner. He was known as the sixth Lord Innermeath before he became an Earl.
John Stewart's parents were James Stewart, 5th Lord Innermeath, and Helen Ogilvy. His uncle was a famous court poet named John Stewart of Baldynneis. In 1592, his brother Robert Stewart, who worked for the Earl of Moray, was involved in a conflict with the Earl of Huntly. John Stewart married Margaret Lindsay, who was the daughter of David Lindsay, 9th Earl of Crawford.
Becoming the Earl of Atholl
In March 1596, John Stewart married Marie Ruthven. She was the widow of the previous Earl of Atholl, John Stewart, 5th Earl of Atholl, and a good friend of Anne of Denmark, the Queen. Marie Ruthven was the daughter of William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie.
Marie Ruthven played a big part in John Stewart becoming an Earl. She bought back the rights to the Earldom of Atholl for a large sum of money, £10,000 Scots. Because of this, John Stewart was made the Earl of Atholl at Holyrood Palace on March 25, 1596. During the ceremony, the King honored five of his followers by making them knights.
There were other people who wanted to be the Earl of Atholl, like Lord Ochiltree and Esmé Stewart. Marie Ruthven had also thought about her daughters marrying the Earl of Moray and his brother, which would have made them Earls of Atholl and Moray.
Life as an Earl
As Earl of Atholl, John Stewart was involved in various activities. In April 1597, he wrote a letter from Blair Atholl to the Ogilvy family. He mentioned a meeting they had in Cupar to talk about business with the Laird of Balfour. He suggested they meet again at Blair or Dunkeld.
In November 1597, Atholl and Marie Ruthven gathered their followers. They went to the House of Moircleuch and surrounded it. They brought Walter Leslie back to Blair Atholl and held him there. Around this time, he and his followers also attacked Andrew Spalding at Ashintully Castle. They used large guns and pistols during this event.
Marie Ruthven and the Earl were involved in cases where people were accused of witchcraft. They arrested Agnes McCawis and Bessie Ireland. These two women then accused two more women from Dunkeld, Margaret Stewart and Isobel Douglas, of witchcraft. In 1598, Margaret Stewart and Isobel Douglas complained to the Privy Council of Scotland about being unfairly held. The Earl and Marie Ruthven were ordered to bring all four women to Edinburgh.
Death and Successor
John Stewart died in 1603. After his death, his son from his first marriage, James Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl, became the next Earl. James Stewart died in 1625.
In October 1603, Marie Ruthven, John Stewart's widow, wrote to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury. She asked for his help with her legal issues. In 1605, she was involved in a legal dispute with the new Earl.
