William Borthwick, 1st Lord Borthwick facts for kids

The first Lord Borthwick at rest in Borthwick Kirk

Sir William Borthwick (born around 1413 – died October 1483) was an important Scottish noble and a diplomat. He was known as the 3rd of Borthwick and later became the 1st Lord Borthwick.

William was the oldest son of Sir William Borthwick, who was in charge of Edinburgh Castle. His mother was Bethoc Sinclair, whose father was the 1st Earl of Orkney.

Early Life and Important Missions

In 1424, William Borthwick was sent to England as a "hostage" for King James I. In those times, a hostage was a person given as a guarantee to make sure an agreement was kept.

In 1425, he traveled to Rome as part of a group of Scottish ambassadors. They were sent to meet with important leaders at the Court of Rome.

In 1430, William was made a knight. This happened during the baptism of King James I's twin sons, Alexander and James.

Becoming a Lord and Building a Castle

Around 1452, William Borthwick was given the title Lord Borthwick. This meant he became a "Lord of Parliament," which was a high rank in the Scottish nobility.

He is famous for building Borthwick Castle in 1430. This castle is a strong and impressive building that still stands today.

In 1455, Lord Borthwick took part in the Parliament of Scotland. This was where important decisions for the country were made.

It's not completely clear if he or his son, also named William Borthwick, served as a Scottish ambassador to England in the years 1459, 1461, 1463, and 1464–65. This is because the exact date of his death is not known.

He is believed to be buried with his wife in Borthwick Kirk, a church in Scotland.

Family Life

Lord Borthwick was married three times and had several children:

• From his first wife (whose name is not known):
  • Agnes

• From his second wife, Mariotta Hoppringle:
  • James Borthwick
  • Sir Thomas Borthwick
  • Alexander Borthwick

• From his third wife (whose name is also not known):
  • Sir William Borthwick, who became the 2nd Lord Borthwick after his father.
  • John Borthwick, who was the first of the Borthwick family to own lands in Crookston.
  • Margaret Borthwick, who married Sir John Maxwell of Calderwood.

Lord Borthwick was followed in his title by his son, William.