Robert Carnegie, Lord Kinnaird facts for kids

Sir Robert Carnegie, also known as Lord Kinnaird, was an important Scottish person in the 1500s. He owned land, worked as a judge, and was a special member of the College of Justice. He lived from about 1490 to 1566.

Early Life and Home

Robert Carnegie was born around 1490 at Kinnaird Castle. This castle is located near a town called Brechin in Scotland. His parents were John Carnegie and Euphame Strachan.

Sadly, his father died in a big battle called the Battle of Flodden in 1513. His mother passed away shortly after. Robert then inherited Kinnaird Castle. Around 1520, he made the castle bigger by adding a kitchen and a new area for servants.

Becoming a Judge

In July 1547, Robert Carnegie became a judge. He was chosen to be a Senator of the College of Justice. This was a very important job in Scotland's legal system. When he became a judge, he took the special title Lord Kinnaird. He replaced another judge named Henry Balnaves.

Important Missions

In 1548, Lord Kinnaird went on a special trip as a diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in talks with other countries. He was sent to deliver money to free George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly. The Earl had been captured in a battle and was held in the Tower of London.

After this, Robert Carnegie traveled to Blois in France. He went with other important Scottish leaders. Their goal was to help make the Regent Duke of Chatelherault a powerful leader. A regent is someone who rules a country when the king or queen is too young or unable to rule. After two years in France, he came back to Scotland in 1551.

Working for the Government

In 1549, Robert Carnegie worked as a clerk for the treasury. This meant he helped manage the government's money. Sometime between 1551 and 1554, he was knighted. After this, people called him "Sir Robert Carnegie."

He also helped with important discussions about the border between Scotland and England. They talked about which country should control the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed. In 1553, Mary of Guise became the Regent of Scotland. She chose Sir Robert to help manage the treasury again. Later that year, he worked with Sir Robert Bellenden to solve legal problems along the border. They worked for a long time and finally reached an agreement in 1557.

Sir Robert Carnegie was also a member of the Privy Council. This was a group of trusted advisors to the ruler. His last known appearance on the Privy Council was in December 1565.

Later Life and Family

Sir Robert Carnegie passed away on July 5, 1566. He died at either Leuchars Castle or Earlshall Castle in Fife. He was buried in the churchyard in Leuchars.

He was married to Margaret Guthrie. They had many children, including a son named Sir John Carnegie. Another son was David Carnegie of Colluthie. His daughter Helen Carnegie's third husband built Glenbuchat Castle.