William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn facts for kids
William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn (Scottish Gaelic: Uilleam Coineagan) (1610–1664) was an important Scottish nobleman. He held the high position of Lord Chancellor of Scotland and was a strong supporter of the King, known as a cavalier. He was also the leader of Clan Cunningham.
William was the oldest son of the 8th Earl of Glencairn. In 1637, King Charles I officially confirmed the family's original land rights from 1488.
He became a member of the Privy Council of Scotland, which was a group of advisors to the King. In 1641, he was also made a Commissioner of the Treasury, helping to manage the country's money.
Supporting the King
The Earl of Glencairn was a loyal supporter of King Charles I. In 1643, he joined other powerful nobles like the Duke of Hamilton to stop Scotland from sending an army to help the English Parliament fight against the King. Because of his loyalty, he even received a personal letter from the King!
In 1646, the Scottish Parliament made him Lord Justice General, a top legal job. He was involved in a secret plan to rescue King Charles I in 1648. Because of this, Parliament removed him from his job in 1649. They also tried to cancel his family's land rights from 1488, but this was later overturned when the King returned to power.
Glencairn's Rising
In 1653, Glencairn led a rebellion in the Highlands. This was to support King Charles II, who was in exile, while General Monck controlled Scotland. In 1654, King Charles II asked Glencairn to lead the Royal forces in Scotland, which had about 3,500 men. This rebellion is often called "Glencairn's Rising." He later passed command to General Middleton.
Around this time, Glencairn had a duel with another leader, Sir George Munro, 1st of Newmore. Munro had criticized Glencairn's soldiers, and Glencairn defended them, leading to the duel. Munro lost but was only injured. Glencairn was briefly arrested by Middleton but left the army soon after.
In 1655, Glencairn was arrested by General Monck, but Monck later allowed him to go home.
The King Returns
When General Monck was preparing to march into England in 1659, he called a meeting of Scottish nobles. At this meeting, Glencairn bravely asked Monck to support a free Parliament, which meant bringing the King back.
When King Charles II returned to power in Scotland in 1660, Glencairn went to London to meet him. He was again made a royal advisor and the main Sheriff Principal of Ayrshire. On January 19, 1661, he became the Lord Chancellor of Scotland for the rest of his life. This was a very powerful position, like being the chief minister of the country.
Glencairn also became the Chancellor of the University of Glasgow in 1660. He was a key advisor in bringing back the Episcopal Church in Scotland. However, he was not against the Presbyterian Church. The arguments between these two religious groups, especially with Archbishop James Sharp, upset him greatly and affected his health.
The Earl of Glencairn passed away on May 30, 1663, at the age of 54. Some say he was buried with great ceremony in St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. However, other sources suggest he was not buried there, as it was not a burial church.
There is a legend that his wife loved him so much that she had his head removed and kept it with her. The story says she was buried in the Glencairn Aisle in Kilmaurs, and the Earl's head was buried with her.
Family Life
In 1637, William Cunningham married Lady Ann Ogilvy, the daughter of James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Findlater. They had eight children together: four sons and four daughters.
- William, who died when he was eighteen.
- James, who married Lady Elizabeth Hamilton but passed away before his father.
- Alexander, who became the Earl after his father.
- John, who became the Earl after his brother Alexander.
- Jean, who married William Boyd, 1st Earl of Kilmarnock.
- Margaret, who married John Hamilton, 2nd Lord Bargany.
- Anne, who never married.
- Elizabeth, who married William Hamilton of Colestoun.
After his first wife, Ann, died in 1661, he married Lady Margaret Montgomery. She was the daughter of Alexander Montgomerie, 6th Earl of Eglinton and had been married before. They did not have any children together.
See also
- Kilmaurs place A property of the 9th Earl of Glencairn.
