Patrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of Bothwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of Bothwell
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| Nickname(s) | Fair Earl |
| Born | 1512 Kingdom of Scotland |
| Died | September 1556 (aged 44) Dumfries, Kingdom of Scotland |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Scotland |
| Service/ |
 Royal Scots Navy |
| Years of service | 1531–1556 |
| Rank | Lord High Admiral of Scotland |
Patrick Hepburn, the 3rd Earl of Bothwell (born 1512 – died September 1556), was an important Scottish nobleman. He was the son of Adam Hepburn, the 2nd Earl of Bothwell. Sadly, his father died in the Battle of Flodden just one year after Patrick was born.
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Early Life and Nickname
Patrick Hepburn was known as the Fair Earl. This nickname came from his good looks, not necessarily his actions. People described him as "fair and white" when he was a young boy.
Challenges and Shifting Loyalties
In 1529, Patrick Hepburn was put in prison for two years. This was because he had helped some robbers. After he was released, he decided to get back at those who had imprisoned him. He started secretly communicating with England, which was an enemy of Scotland at the time.
He spent many years in England. After James V of Scotland died, Patrick Hepburn made a deal with Henry VIII, the King of England. He promised to serve Henry VIII. He also agreed to help Henry VIII gain control of the young Mary, Queen of Scots, who was just a baby then.
A Change of Heart?
Even though he had promised loyalty to Henry VIII, Patrick Hepburn also received money from Mary of Guise. She was Mary, Queen of Scots' mother and the ruler of Scotland at the time. She gave him an annual payment of £1,000. This was to reward him for being loyal to Scotland.
Some people believed that Hepburn wanted to marry into a royal family. This might have been why he divorced his wife. However, marrying a royal seemed unlikely for him. Even after Henry VIII launched another attack on Scotland, Hepburn continued to talk with the English court.
Return to Scotland
In 1548, Patrick Hepburn decided to stop being loyal to the Scottish crown. He became a paid supporter of England, earning £3,000 each year. He even visited England in July 1549, staying at Naworth Castle for two nights.
However, in 1554, he returned to Scotland. This happened after Mary of Guise officially pardoned him. He later died in Dumfries.
Family Life
The Earl of Bothwell married Agnes (who died in 1572) in 1534. She was the daughter of Henry Sinclair, 4th Lord Sinclair, who also died at the Battle of Flodden. Patrick and Agnes divorced before October 16, 1543. After their divorce, she was known as Lady Morham.
Patrick and Agnes had three children:
- James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell: He was Patrick's son and inherited his title. James later became the third and last husband of Mary, Queen of Scots.
- Jean (Janet) Hepburn: She died before July 27, 1599. Her first husband was John Sinclair, Master of Caithness. They had children together. Her second husband was John Stewart, Commendator of Coldingham, and they had a son named Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell. Her third husband was Archibald Douglas, Parson of Douglas. He was a judge in the College of Justice.
