Thomas Fraser, 2nd Lord Lovat facts for kids

Thomas Fraser, 2nd Lord Lovat (died 21 October 1524) was an important Scottish noble. He was also the Chief of Clan Fraser of Lovat. He led his clan from around 1500 until 1524. Thomas was the only son of Hugh Fraser, 1st Lord Lovat and Violetta Lyon. His mother was the daughter of Patrick Lyon, 1st Lord Glamis. Through his mother's family, Thomas was a distant relative of King Robert II.

Early Life and Family

Thomas Fraser was born into a powerful Scottish family. He became the head of his clan when his father, Hugh, passed away. Thomas was already an adult at this time.

He married twice during his life. His first wife was Janet Gordon. She was the daughter of Sir Alexander Gordon. Thomas and Janet had three sons together. Their sons were named Hugh, William, and James. They also had three daughters: Margaret, Isobel, and Janet.

Later, Thomas married Janet Gray. She was the daughter of Patrick, Master of Gray. With Janet Gray, Thomas had three more sons. Their names were Robert, Andrew, and Thomas.

A Time of Royal Weddings

Thomas Fraser lived during an interesting time in Scottish history. A very important event was the marriage of Margaret Tudor. She was the sister of King Harry of England. Margaret married King James IV of Scotland. This marriage was meant to bring peace between England and Scotland.

Many important Scottish lords, including Lord Lovat, attended the wedding. It was a grand celebration at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. Bagpipes played, and everyone hoped for a new era of friendship.

Leading the Clan

After the royal wedding, a parliament met in Edinburgh. They decided to appoint sheriffs in the Highlands. This was to help the King control the area better. Lord Lovat was often the Sheriff of Inverness. This meant he had the power to keep law and order. He would travel his lands, stopping people who broke the law. He also punished those who caused trouble.

The King supported Thomas's right to his father's lands. This was confirmed by a special document. It also gave him rights to other lands in the Highlands. In 1501, the King officially recognized his ownership of the barony of Kinnell. A month later, he also gained control of his wife Janet Gray's lands at Dalcorse.

Some people criticized Lord Lovat's way of ruling. They said his decisions were sometimes unfair. He tried to control many things, like the price of food and clothing. He even claimed to use old Viking court traditions. However, many of his own properties were burned down. This showed how difficult it was to control the wild Highland countryside.

Important Events

Around 1505, Lovat Castle caught fire. This was a dangerous event for the clan. Luckily, a young relative named Rory Mackenzie helped. He was able to save important family documents. Lord Lovat was very grateful to Rory for his brave actions. He gave Rory a new hat and new shoes as a reward.

Thomas Fraser was also involved in Scottish politics. In 1514, he was part of a council. This council approved John Stewart, Duke of Albany as the Regent of Scotland. A regent is someone who rules when the King is too young.

Thomas Fraser, Lord Lovat, passed away on October 21, 1524. He died at Beaufort Castle, Scotland.