John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Lennox facts for kids

John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Lennox (born around 1490, died September 4, 1526) was a very important Scottish nobleman. He was the son of Matthew Stewart, 2nd Earl of Lennox and Lady Elizabeth Hamilton. His mother was also the granddaughter of King James II of Scotland.

A Scottish Nobleman's Life

John Stewart was known as the 3rd Earl of Lennox. An "Earl" is a high-ranking noble, similar to a count in other countries. He came from a powerful family called the Stewarts of Darnley.

Fighting for the Young King

In the early 1500s, Scotland was a bit chaotic. The young King James V of Scotland was under the control of a powerful family called the Douglases. This family was seen as being too friendly with England, which many Scots didn't like.

Earl John Stewart decided to act. He gathered an army to march to Linlithgow. His goal was to free King James V from the Douglases.

The Battle of Linlithgow Bridge

In 1526, Earl John Stewart's army met a smaller force. This force was led by James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran. The two armies clashed at the Battle of Linlithgow Bridge.

Sadly, Earl Stewart's army was defeated. He survived the battle itself and was captured. However, he was later murdered by James Hamilton of Finnart. This was a tragic end for a nobleman who tried to help his king.

His Family and Legacy

John Stewart's son, Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox, took over as the 4th Earl. Matthew later became the father of Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley. Henry Darnley was a very important person in Scottish history. He married Mary, Queen of Scots and became the father of King James VI of Scotland. This means John Stewart was the great-grandfather of King James VI, who later became King of both Scotland and England.

On January 19, 1511, John Stewart married Lady Elizabeth Stewart. She was the daughter of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl. They had several children:

• Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox
• Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox and March (1522–1586)
• John Stewart, 6th Lord of Aubigny (died around 1567)
• Lady Helen (or Eleanor) Stewart, who married twice. Her first husband was William Hay, 6th Earl of Erroll. Her second husband was John Gordon, 11th Earl of Sutherland.
• Lady Elizabeth Stewart, who married Ninian Ross. She was also the mother of Adam Stewart, who became a religious leader called the Prior of Perth Charterhouse.