William Keith, 6th Earl Marischal facts for kids
William Keith, 6th Earl Marischal (born around 1585 – died October 28, 1635, at Dunnottar Castle) was an important Scottish nobleman. He held the title of Earl Marischal, which was a very old and powerful position in Scotland, and also served as a naval official, helping to manage the country's ships.
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Life of William Keith
William Keith was the oldest son of George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal and his wife, Margaret.
Early Years and Education
In 1601, when he was about 16, William left Scotland to travel and study in Europe. He visited cities like Paris, Orléans, Tours, and Saumur in France, where he lived with a famous scholar named Philippe de Mornay. This was a common way for young noblemen to get a good education back then.
In 1608, William and his father were asked to explain some of William's actions to Francis Sinclair, the son of the Earl of Caithness. A couple of years later, in 1610, William and his wife went to London and stayed there for a year to attend the royal court.
Becoming Earl and Public Service
In June 1621, William helped his father in the Scottish parliament, which was like the country's government meeting. When his father passed away on April 2, 1623, William became the new Earl Marischal.
One of his first actions as Earl was to confirm his father's important work in building Marischal College in Aberdeen, a famous university. He signed a special document for this on October 1, 1623. William also attended the funeral of King James VI and I in 1625 at Westminster Abbey.
Soon after, in May 1625, he was given the title of a baronet of Nova Scotia. In March 1626, when the Scottish privy council (a group of royal advisors) was reorganized, William became a member. He also joined the Scottish council of war in July 1626.
William Keith was put in charge of three ships to help transport soldiers to support Christian IV of Denmark, who was King Charles I's uncle. This caused some disagreements with Scotland's main naval leader, Alexander, Earl of Linlithgow. However, these issues were resolved, and William was officially confirmed as the commander of the king's navy in Scotland on July 9, 1631.
In 1633, he welcomed King Charles I when the king visited Edinburgh after his coronation. The next year, in 1634, William prepared another fleet of ships. He sent these ships to help Władysław IV Vasa, who was the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania.
Family Life
On October 12, 1609, William Keith and Lady Mary Erskine agreed to be married. Mary was the daughter of John Erskine, Earl of Mar, and his second wife, Marie Stewart.
William and Mary had many children, and nine of them were still alive when William passed away. Their children were:
- William Keith, 7th Earl Marischal (1614–1671)
- George Keith, 8th Earl Marischal
- Sir Robert Keith
- Alexander Keith (who died by 1654)
- John Keith, 1st Earl of Kintore (died 1715)
- Mary, who married John, Lord Kinpont, in 1633
- Jean, who married Alexander, Lord Forbes of Pitsligo
- Anne
- Isobel, who married Edward Turnor, a Member of Parliament.
After William's death, his wife, Mary Erskine, later married Patrick Maule, 1st Earl of Panmure.
What is a Coat of Arms?
A coat of arms is a special design that represents a family, a person, or an organization. It's like a unique symbol or logo that has been used for hundreds of years, especially by noble families. Each part of the design, like the animals, colors, and shapes, has a special meaning.
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