John Wishart of Pitarrow facts for kids
Sir John Wishart of Pitarrow (died 1585) was an important Scottish leader. He was a lawyer, worked for the royal family, and managed the country's money. He was also involved in a big religious change in Scotland.
Early Life and Work
John Wishart was the oldest son of James Wishart of Cairnbeg. His grandfather, also named James Wishart, was a lawyer for the king. John took over the lands of Pitarrow in 1545 from his uncle. Pitarrow is sometimes spelled "Pitarro."
In 1557, John Wishart joined other powerful Scottish nobles. They wrote a letter to John Knox, a famous religious leader, asking him to come back to Scotland. John Wishart became a key member of the Protestant group in Scotland. This group wanted to change the country's religion from Catholic to Protestant.
In May 1559, these Protestant leaders met in Perth. They wanted to organize their efforts against Mary of Guise, who was the Queen's mother and ruled Scotland at the time. Wishart and another leader, John Erskine, told Mary of Guise's messengers that they were loyal. However, they also said they would stand up for their rights.
Wishart continued to be a main negotiator. He tried to get Mary of Guise to agree to allow people to worship freely. When she didn't give clear promises, the Protestant lords met again. They decided that Mary of Guise should no longer be the ruler.
In 1560, Wishart helped make an agreement with Queen Elizabeth of England. This agreement meant England would send soldiers to help the Protestant lords. When the English army arrived in Edinburgh, Wishart was there to welcome them.
Working for the Queen
In August 1560, John Wishart was part of a special meeting of leaders called the Reformation Parliament. This parliament officially made Protestantism the religion of Scotland.
After the Queen's mother died, a group of leaders was chosen to govern Scotland. John Wishart was one of these chosen leaders. In 1562, he was asked to help figure out how much money the church had. This was to make sure some of the church's money could be used to support the royal family.
On February 8, 1562, John Wishart was made a knight. This happened during the wedding of the Earl of Mar.
Soon after, on March 1, he was given a very important job. He became the Comptroller and chief tax collector. This meant he was in charge of all the country's money. He also became a member of the Privy Council, a group of important advisors to the Queen. As Comptroller, he paid the Protestant religious leaders. Some of them complained that they didn't get paid enough!
In November 1562, Wishart showed bravery at the battle of Corrichie. He helped fight against the followers of the Earl of Huntly.
Rebellion Against Mary, Queen of Scots
John Wishart received land grants between 1557 and 1565. However, his good fortune changed. It's said that Mary, Queen of Scots didn't like him because he didn't flatter her.
In August 1565, Wishart joined the Earl of Moray in opposing Queen Mary's marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. Because of this, he was declared a rebel and had to flee to England.
He was able to return to Scotland in March 1566. This was after David Rizzio, Queen Mary's secretary, was killed. Wishart received a royal pardon, but he did not get his job as Comptroller back.
In 1567, he joined a group against the Earl of Bothwell, who was a powerful noble. In November, he became a special judge. In 1568, he went to York, England, with the Regent Moray. There, they presented evidence against Queen Mary.
Wishart remained loyal during another rebellion in 1568. He helped decide how people who suffered from the rebellion should be paid back. However, before the Regent Moray was killed in 1570, Wishart changed his loyalty. He joined the party of the Duke of Châtelherault, another powerful noble.
In 1573, Wishart joined William Kirkcaldy of Grange in Edinburgh Castle. He became the castle's constable, meaning he was in charge of its defense. When the castle surrendered in May 1573, he was taken prisoner. He lost his lands and his job as a judge. However, in January 1574, he was reappointed as a special judge. He also rejoined the Privy Council.
John Wishart died on September 25, 1576. He was married to Janet Falconer, but they did not have children. His nephew, John Wishart, inherited his estates.
The English diplomat Thomas Randolph thought very highly of Wishart. He described him as "a man marvelously wise, discreet, and godly, without spot or wrinkle."
