Secretary of State (Kingdom of Scotland) facts for kids

Imagine a very important job in the old Scottish government, like a top assistant to the King or Queen. That was the role of the Secretary of Scotland or Lord Secretary. This person was a key part of the Scottish government in the Kingdom of Scotland.

This important job first appeared around the 1300s, or even earlier. At first, it was combined with another role called the Keeper of the Privy Seal. The Secretary was sometimes called Clericus Regis, which means "King's Clerk." They were seen as a high-ranking official in the government.

The Secretary's main job was to always be with the King. They would receive requests and important notes from people and then write down the King's answers. All official documents, like Letters Patent (special royal orders), went through their hands. They also wrote all the King's letters, messages, and instructions. For very long documents, the Secretary would write a short summary for the King to quickly read. Since all papers signed by the King passed through the Secretary, they were responsible if anything in those papers went against the laws or the King's power.

How the Secretary's Job Changed

From 1626, King Charles I decided to split the Secretary's duties between two people. This continued until they both passed away.

After 1603, the Secretary didn't always attend the Parliament of Scotland (Scotland's law-making body). This was because their main duty was to be with the monarch, who had moved to live in England. Between 1608 and 1640, there were often two Secretaries. Having two became a normal practice after 1680, even though only one could be in Parliament at a time.

The job of Secretary of Scotland officially ended in 1709. However, from then until 1725, and again from 1742 to 1746, there was a special "third Secretary of State." This person was specifically in charge of Scottish affairs. You can find more about those later jobs at Secretary of State for Scotland.

Who Were the Secretaries of State?

Here is a list of some of the people who held this important job throughout history.

Image	Secretary	From	To	Monarch
	Nicholas			Malcolm IV
	Duncan Pecoce	1380		Robert II
	Andrew de Hawick, Rector of Linton	1410		James I
	John Stewart, Earl of Buchan	1418
	John Cameron (later Bishop of Glasgow)	1424
	William Foulis	1429
	John Methven	1432
	John de Ralston, Bishop of Dunkeld	1442	1448	James II
	Nicholas Otterburn	1449	1452
	George Shoreswood, Chancellor of Dunkeld (later Bishop of Brechin)	1453	1454
	Thomas Vaus, Dean of Glasgow	4 December 1456	21 October 1458
	John Arous, Archdeacon of Glasgow	9 November 1458	24 July 1459
	George Ledale, Parson of Forest	18 September 1459	10 February 1462	James II / James III
	Archibald Whitelaw, Archdeacon of Lothian	27 August 1462	1493	James III / James IV
	Richard Muirhead, Dean of Glasgow	4 August 1493	4 March 1506	James IV
	Patrick Panter, Abbot of Cambuskenneth	22 November 1506	18 November 1519	James IV / James V
	Thomas Hay, Parson of Rathven	1 April 1517	1 August 1524	James V
	Patrick Hepburn, Prior of St Andrews	8 March 1525	15 June 1526
	Sir Thomas Erskine of Haltoun	5 October 1526	10 January 1543	James V / Mary, Queen of Scots
	David Paniter, Bishop of Ross	20 January 1543	28 February 1543	Mary, Queen of Scots
	Henry Balnaves of Halhill	28 February 1543	4 May 1543
	David Paniter, Bishop of Ross	4 May 1543	1558
	William Maitland of Lethington	1558	16 May 1571	Mary, Queen of Scots / James VI
	Robert Pitcairn, Commendator of Dunfermline Abbey	28 August 1571	1583	James VI
	Sir John Maitland of Thirlestane	1584	1591
	Sir Richard Cockburn of Clerkington	1591	1596
	Sir John Lindsay of Balcarres	1596	1598
	James Elphinstone	1598	1609
	Sir Alexander Hay of Whitburgh	1608	1612
	Sir Thomas Hamilton	1612	1626	James VI / Charles I
	William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling	1626	1640	Charles I
	Sir Archibald Acheson of Glencairnie	1626	1634
	William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton	1641	1649
	Sir Robert Spottiswood of New Abbey	1644	1644
	William Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian	10 March 1649		Parliament
	John Maitland, 2nd Earl of Lauderdale	19 January 1661	1680 (dismissed)	Charles II
	Charles Middleton, 2nd Earl of Middleton	26 September 1682	1684
	Alexander Stewart, 5th Earl of Moray	11 October 1680	1688
	John Drummond, 1st Earl of Melfort	15 September 1684	1689	Charles II / James VII / William II and Mary II
	George Melville, 1st Earl of Melville	13 May 1689	1691	William II and Mary II
	John Dalrymple, Master of Stair	1 January 1691	1695	William II and Mary II (later, only William II)
	James Johnston	3 March 1692	1696
	John Murray, Earl of Tullibardine	15 January 1696	31 March 1698	William II
	James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Seafield	5 February 1696	21 November 1702	William II / Anne
	John Carmichael, 1st Earl of Hyndford	31 January 1699	6 May 1702
	James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry	6 May 1702	16 October 1704	Anne
	George Mackenzie, 1st Viscount Tarbat	21 November 1702	17 October 1704
	John Ker, 5th Earl of Roxburghe	16 October 1704	5 June 1705
	James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Seafield	17 October 1704	March 1705
	William Johnstone, 1st Marquess of Annandale	10 March 1705	September 1705
	Hugh Campbell, 3rd Earl of Loudoun	5 June 1705	1 May 1707 (and then Secretary of State for Scotland to 25 May 1708)
	John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar	19 September 1705	1 May 1707 (and then Secretary of State for Scotland to February 1709)

For the job that came after the 1707 Treaty (when Scotland and England joined), see Secretary of State for Scotland.