John Stewart, Earl of Carrick facts for kids
John Stewart, Earl of Carrick, Lord Kinclaven (died around 1645) was a Scottish nobleman. He was the third son of Robert, Earl of Orkney. Robert was an illegitimate son of King James V.
John Stewart came to London in 1603 with King James. He was known for a fight with Thomas Somerset in 1604. This happened at Whitehall Palace.
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Family History and Conflicts
John's father, Robert, was born in 1533. He was the illegitimate child of King James V and his mistress, Euphemia Elphinstone. Robert became the Earl of Orkney and Lord of Zetland in 1581. This was granted by his half-nephew, King James VI.
Robert married Lady Jean Kennedy. They had five sons and four daughters. When Robert died in 1592, his second son, Patrick, became the Earl of Orkney. Patrick was known for being a very harsh ruler.
Accusations and Acquittal
In 1593, John and his brothers, James and William, faced a serious accusation. They were accused of working with a woman named Margaret Balfour to poison Earl Patrick. Margaret Balfour was put to death. John's servant, Thomas Papla, was also executed.
However, both Margaret and Thomas said their confessions were forced by torture. Because of this, the case against John and his brothers failed. They were found not guilty.
Later, Earl Patrick was found guilty of serious crimes against the king. He lost his title and was put to death in 1615. After this, John received the lands in Orkney.
John was often called the "Master of Orkney." On August 6, 1600, he rode with James Sandilands. They went to Dirleton Castle to arrest William and Patrick Ruthven. These were the brothers of the Earl of Gowrie. But the brothers had already fled.
Life at Court and New Titles
John Stewart moved to London in 1603 when King James became King of England. He was often seen at court. Lady Anne Clifford wrote that in July 1603, the Master of Orkney was very interested in Mrs. Cary.
The Fight at Whitehall
John Stewart became linked with a widow known as "Mistress Southwell." After she married him, she wrote a letter in 1605. She identified her husband as the brother of the "Master of Orkney."
In November 1604, John Stewart had a fight with Thomas Somerset. This happened in the Baloon Court at Whitehall Palace. John was kept in his room, and Somerset was sent to Fleet Prison. Their argument started after an incident. Somerset, the Duke of Holstein, and the Master of Orkney were at the Queen's apartments. They accused each other of pushing near the door of her private room.
Becoming Lord and Earl
King James gave John Stewart the title of Lord Kincleven on August 10, 1607. In 1621, King James also gave him a pension of 3,600 Scots. The Privy Council (a group of royal advisors) noted that the income from Orkney and Shetland could support this amount. King James urged the Earl of Mar, who was the treasurer of Scotland, to pay the pension in July 1622. He said John "can hardly live without it."
In 1623, John had a disagreement with George Hay. This was about their business projects in Orkney. In 1628, King Charles I, James's successor, gave John an old and important title: Earl of Carrick.
There was some confusion about this title. It seemed to conflict with the earldom of Carrick held by the heir to the throne. However, it was clarified that the titles referred to different places. The royal earldom was for Carrick in Ayrshire. John's earldom was for the lands of Carrick on Eday in Orkney.
Business and Later Life
John Stewart, Earl of Carrick, was not just someone who received money from the king. He was also a clever businessman. He started businesses like salt works and breweries on Eday. In 1619, he received a special permission. This allowed him to make and sell new types of pottery and tobacco pipes. In 1630, he was made a Commissioner of Fisheries. This meant he helped manage fishing.
He was at the funeral of King James VI in London. He had received a pension from the King for his services. The Earl died sometime between 1639 and 1649.
Family Life
John Stewart was either engaged or married to Margaret Stewart. She was a daughter of James Stewart, 1st Lord Doune. But she died soon after.
In 1604, he married Lady Elizabeth Howard in Chelsea. She was the daughter of Charles, Earl of Nottingham. She was also the widow of Sir Robert Southwell. They had one child, Lady Margaret Stewart. She married Sir John Mennes. Their family line later led to the Lords Willoughby de Broke.
John also had two children outside of marriage. One was a son named Henry Stewart. His father gave him some lands on Eday. The other was a daughter, whose name is not known. She married William Craigie of Gairsay.
Since John had no legitimate son, his titles of Earl of Carrick and Lord of Kinclaven ended when he died.
