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Glencairn, Earl of (S, 1488 - dormant 1796)

Creation: let.pat. 28 May 1488

Dormant: 24 Sep 1796

Family name: Cunningham

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Arms:

Argent a Shakefork Sable

Crest:

An Unicorn's Head couped Argent armed Or

Supporters:

On either side a Cony proper

Motto:

 Over Fork Over

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Alexander [Cunningham], 1st Lord Kilmaurs later 1st Earl of Glencairn

son and heir of Sir Robert Cunningham of Kilmaurs, by his wife Anne Montgomerie, only dau. of Sir John Montgomerie of Ardrossan

born

after 1425

mar.

Margaret Hepburn, sister of Patrick [Hepburn], 1st Lord Hailes, and dau. of Sir Adam Hepburn of Hailes by his wife Janet Borthwick, dau. of Sir William Borthwick

children

1. Sir Robert Cunningham, later 2nd Earl of Glencairn

2. William Cunningham, 1st of Craigends (d. bef. 19 Jun 1520), mar. after 12 Mar 1497/8 Marion Auchinleek, dau. of Sir John Auchinleek of Auchinleek, and had issue [he was ancestor of the Cunninghams of Craigends and said to be the ancestor of the Cunninghams of Robertland, Carncurin, Bedlaw, Auchinharvie, and Auchinyards)

3. Alexander Cunningham (d. after 1483)

4. Edward Cunningham (d. after 1483)

died

11 Jun 1488

created

betw. 8 Feb 1462/3 and 13 Jan 1463/4 Lord Kilmaurs

28 May 1488 Earl of Glencairn

suc. by

son

note

defeated an uprising against King James III at the Battle of Blackness 1488; killed fighting for King James III against the latter's own son at the Battle of Sauchieburn

Robert [Cunningham], 2nd Earl of Glencairn later known as 2nd Lord Kilmaurs

born

mar.

bef. 19 Jul 1476 Christian Seton (widow of John Seton, Master of Seton, 1st son and heir ap. by his first wife of George [Seton], 1st Lord Seton; d. betw. 1491/2 and 11 Mar 1495/6), 1st dau. of John [Lindsay], 1st Lord Lindsay of the Byres, by his wife ..... Stewart, dau. of Robert [Stewart], 1st Lord Lorne, by his wife Lady Joan Stewart, dau. by his first wife of Robert [Stewart], 1st Duke of Albany

children

1. Sir Cuthbert Cunningham, later 3rd Earl of Glencairn

died

c. 1490

suc. by

son

note

the Earldom of Glencairn was annulled by Act of Parliament 17 Oct 1488 and he was thereafter known as Lord Kilmaurs

Cuthbert [Cunningham], 3rd Lord Kilmaurs later 3rd Earl of Glencairn

born

mar.

after 24 Jun 1492 Lady Mariot Douglas (d. after Jul 1511), 1st dau. of Archibald [Douglas], 5th Earl of Angus, by his first wife Elizabeth Boyd, 1st dau. of Robert [Boyd], 1st Lord Boyd

children

1. Sir William Cunningham, later 4th Earl of Glencairn

died

betw. 23 May 1540 and May 1541

suc. by

son

note

restored to the Earldom of Glencairn c. 1503, confirmed by charter 1511; opposed the Douglas family in their control of King James V and was defeated by them at the Battle of Linlithgow 1526

William [Cunningham], 4th Earl of Glencairn, PC

born

c. 1493

mar. (1)

bef. 10 Jul 1519 Hon Catherine Home (widow of Alexander Home; d. after 17 Jan 1527/8), 2nd dau. of William [Borthwick], 3rd Lord Borthwick, by his wife Margaret Hay, 1st dau. of John [Hay], 1st Lord Hay of Yester, by his second wife Elizabeth Cunningham, dau. and eventual hrss. of George Cunningham, son and heir of Sir William Cunningham of Belton

children by first wife

1. Hon Alexander Cunningham, later 5th Earl of Glencairn

2. Hon Andrew Cunningham of Corsehill (d. 1544), mar. Margaret Cunningham of Polmaise, and had issue:

1a. Cuthbert Cunningham of Corsehill (d. 1575), mar. Maud Cunningham, dau. of John Cunningham of Aiket, and had issue:

1b. Patrick Cunningham of Corsehill, concerned in the slaughter of the Earl of Eglinton 1586 and was himself killed by the Montgomeries (d. 1588)

2b. Alexander of Corsehill (d. May 1646), mar. Marion Porterfield, dau. of William Porterfield of that Ilk and Duchal, and had issue:

1c. Alexander Cunningham of Corsehill (d. c. 1667), mar. Mary Houston, dau. of John Houston of that Ilk, and had issue:

1d. Alexander Cunningham of Corsehill, mar. Anna Crawford, dau. of John Crawford of Kilbirnie. and had issue:

1e. Sir Alexander Cunningham of Corsehill, 1st Bt., mar. Mary Stewart, dau. of John Stewart of Blackhall, and had issue who in default of any nearer heirs-male would be heirs-male of the Earldom of Glencairn

2d. Cuthbert Cunningham of Cockilbie

3. Hon Hugh Cunningham of Watterson (d. after 1541), ancestor of the Cunninghams of Carlung

4. Hon Robert Cunningham of Davidstoun, Minister of Failford, co. Ayr (d. after 12 May 1546), mar. Mariota ...... and was the ancestor of the Cunninghams of Mountgrenan

5. Hon William Cunningham, Bishop of Argyll 1539 and Dean of Brechin 1557 (b. 1513; d. bef. 26 Feb 1561/2)

1. Lady Elizabeth Cunningham, mar. Sir John Cunningham of Caprington, and had issue

2. Lady Jean Cunningham, mar. Robert Fergusson of Craigdarroch

mar. (2)

after Jan 1535/6 Elizabeth Crichton (widow of (1) William Wallace the Elder, Tutor of Craigie, and (2) Robert [Crichton], 4th Lord Crichton of Sanquhar), dau. and hrss. of John Campbell of West Loudoun

died

Mar 1547/8

suc. by

son by first wife

note

knighted before 1509; High Treasurer of Scotland 1526; taken prisoner by the English after the Battle of Solway Moss 1542 and ransomed for £1,000; sent to treat for peace with England 1543; defeated by the Earl of Angus in a skirmish near Glasgow 1544 and took refuge in England, where he became a pensioner of the King of England; he changed sides later that year and appointed Privy Councillor [S] 1545; a staunch Presbyterian

Alexander [Cunningham], 5th Earl of Glencairn

born

mar. (1)

c. 16 Nov 1526 (div. bef. 1545) Janet Hamilton, illeg. dau. of James [Hamilton], 1st Earl of Arran

children by first wife

1. Hon William Cunningham, later 6th Earl of Glencairn

2. Hon Andrew Cunningham of Syid (d. after 26 May 1574)

3. Hon James Cunningham, Prior of Lesmahago

1. Lady Margaret Cunningham (d. Jun 1573), mar. (1) John Wallace of Craigie (d. Aug 1570), and (2) betw. Aug 1570 and Feb 1572/3 as his second wife Andrew [Stewart], 2nd Lord Ochiltree

mar. (2)

after 22 Jan 1549/50 his first cousin Janet Cunningham, dau. of Sir John Cunningham of Caprington by his wife Lady Elizabeth Cunningham, only dau. by his first wife of William [Cunningham], 4th Earl of Glencairn

children by second wife

3. Hon Alexander Cunningham of Mountgrenan, Commendator of Kilwinning 1578 (d. bef. Mar 1598/9), mar. 1582 Jean Blair (mar. (2) 1593 John Stewart of Ardmaloch, Sheriff of Bute), dau. of John Blair of that Ilk, and had issue

2. Lady Janet Cunningham (dsps. bef. 6 Jan 1584), mar. (1) 5 Aug 1573 as his second wife Archibald [Campbell], 5th Earl of Argyll, and (2) after 15 May 1583 Sir Humphrey Colquhoun of Luss, and had issue by her first husband

died

23 Dec 1574

suc. by

son by first wife

note

like his father, a staunch Presbyterian ; assisted the Reformers against the Queen Regent 1559 ; Privy Councillor [S], 1561; in command against Queen Mary at Carberry Hill 1567 and Langside 1568; Joint Lieutenant of West of Scotland

William [Cunningham], 6th Earl of Glencairn, PC

born

mar.

bef. 14 Aug 1549 Janet Gordon (d. 18 Nov 1596), dau. of Sir John Gordon of Lochinvar by his wife Margaret Crichton, dau. of Robert Crichton of Kirkpatrick

children

1. Hon James Cunningham, later 7th Earl of Glencairn

2. Hon John Cunningham of Ross (d. after 2 May 1581), mar., and had issue

3. Hon William Cunningham, Rector of Inchcailleoch (d. after 5 Jan 1626)

1. Lady Jean Cunningham, mar. (1) after 15 Feb 1572 George Haldane of Gleneagles (d. bef. Oct 1574), and (2) after 15 Aug 1577 Thomas Kirkpatrick, 1st son and heir ap. of Roger Kirkpatrick of Closeburn

2. Lady Katherine Cunningham, mar. Robert Fergusson of Craigdarroch

3. Lady Margaret Cunningham, mar. Sir Lachlan Maclean of Dowart (d. 5 Aug 1598), and had issue

4. Lady Elizabeth Cunningham, mar. (1) James Crawford of Auchinames, and (2) bef. 19 Jul 1597 her cousin Alexander Cunningham of Craigends

5. Lady Susanna Cunningham, mar. John Napier of Kilmahew

died

betw. 1576 and 24 Feb 1579/80

suc. by

son

note

Privy Councillor [S] 1569

James [Cunningham], 7th Earl of Glencairn, PC

born

c. 1552

mar. (1)

5 Sep 1574 Margaret Campbell (d. Jun 1610), 1st dau. of Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy by his second wife Hon Catherine Ruthven, 2nd dau. of William [Ruthven], 2nd Lord Ruthven

children by first wife

1. Hon William Cunningham, later 8th Earl of Glencairn

2. Hon John Cunningham of Kilmaronok (d. after 28 Jul 1627), mar. Margaret Knox, dau. of John Knox of Ranfurlie, and had issue:

1a. John Cunningham of Cambuskeith

1a. Elizabeth Cunningham, mar. Sir Alexander Cunningham of Robertland

3. Hon James Cunningham of Stevenstoun and Kerilaw (d. after 8 Aug 1612)

1. Lady Jean Cunningham (d. 23 Nov 1597)

2. Lady Catherine Cunningham, mar. after 24 Mar 1612 her cousin Sir James Cunningham of Glengarnock

3. Lady Margaret Cunningham, mar. (1) after 29 Dec 1597 (div. bef. 1611) James Hamilton of Evandale, 1st son and heir of James Hamilton of Liberton, and (2) 8 Sep 1610 as his third wife Sir James Maxwell of Calderwood, and had issue by both husbands

4. Lady Anne Cunningham (d. 16 Sep 1647), mar. 30 Jan 1602/3 James [Hamilton], 2nd Marquess of Hamilton, and had issue

5. Lady Mary Cunningham, mar. John Crawfurd of Kilbirnie (d. 1629), and had issue

6. Lady Susanna Cunningham, mar. after 24 Jul 1610 Alexander Lauder, 1st son and heir of Alexander Lauder of Hatton

mar. (2)

bef. 14 Jul 1612 Agnes Preston (widow of Sir George Preston of Craigmillar), sister of James [Hay], 1st Earl of Carlisle, and dau. of Sir James Hay of Kingask

died

after Mar 1630

suc. by

son by first wife

note

took part in the "raid of Ruthven" 1582; Privy Councillor [S]

William [Cunningham], 8th Earl of Glencairn

born

mar.

c. 1609 Lady Janet Kerr, dau. of Mark [Kerr], 1st Earl of Lothian, by his wife Hon Margaret Maxwell, 1st dau. of John [Maxwell], jure uxoris Lord Herries of Terregles, by his wife Hon Agnes [Herries], suo jure Lady Herries of Terregles

children

1. Hon William Cunningham, later 9th Earl of Glencairn

2. Col Hon Robert Cunningham, joint Principal Usher to the King 1647 (d. after 10 Mar 1670), mar. Anne Scot, dau. of Sir John Scot of Scotstarvit, and had issue

3. Hon Alexander Cunningham (b. 8 Apr 1613; d. bef. 30 Jul 1647)

1. Lady Elizabeth Cunningham (b. 7 Nov 1611), mar. Sir Ludovic Stewart of Minto

2. Lady Margaret Cunningham (d. 1678), mar. (1) 31 Dec 1639 as his second wife David Beaton of Creich (d. 1661), and (2) ..... Chisholm of Cromlix

3. Lady Jean Cunningham

4. Lady Lilias Cunningham

5. Lady Marion Cunningham (dsp. bef. Jan 1660/1), mar. (1) as his second wife James [Ogilvy], 1st Earl of Findlater, and (2) 29 Oct 1660 as his second wife Hon Alexander Fraser, Master of Saltoun (b. 1630; dvp. Nov 1652), 1st son and heir ap. by his second wife of Alexander [Fraser], 11th Lord Saltoun of Abernethy

6. Lady Anne Cunningham

died

Oct 1631

suc. by

son

note

William [Cunningham], 9th Earl of Glencairn, PC

born

c. 1610

mar. (1)

after 5 Apr 1637 Lady Anne Ogilvy (d. Jan 1660/1), 2nd dau. and cohrss. of James [Ogilvy], 1st Earl of Findlater, by his first wife Lady Elizabeth Wemyss, widow of David Wemyss, Yr. of Wemyss, and 2nd dau. by his first wife of Andrew [Leslie], 5th Earl of Rothes

children by first wife

1. Hon William Cunningham, styled Lord Kilmaurs (dvp. aged under 19)

2. Hon James Cunningham, styled Lord Kilmaurs (dvp. and sp. bef. 1664), mar. after 30 Sep 1662 Lady Elizabeth Hamilton (mar. (2) Sir David Cunningham of Robertland; d. after 1679), 2nd dau. and cohrss. of William [Hamilton], 2nd Duke of Hamilton, by his wife Lady Elizabeth Maxwell, 1st dau. and cohrss. of James [Maxwell], 1st Earl of Dirletoun

3. Hon Alexander Cunningham, later 10th Earl of Glencairn

4. Hon John Cunningham, later 11th Earl of Glencairn

1. Lady Jean Cunningham, mar. 25 Apr 1661 William [Boyd], 1st Earl of Kilmarnock, and had issue

2. Lady Margaret Cunningham, mar. 1662 as his first wife James [Hamilton], 2nd Lord Bargeny, and had issue

3. Lady Anne Cunningham

4. Lady Elizabeth Cunningham, mar. William Hamilton of Colestoun

mar. (2)

Lady Margaret Hay (b. 20 Feb 1616/7; widow of John [Hay], 1st Earl of Tweeddale; d. 27 Jan 1664/5), 1st dau. of Alexander [Seton later Montgomerie], 6th Earl of Eglinton, by his first wife Lady Anne Livingston, 1st dau. of Alexander [Livingston], 1st Earl of Linlithgow

died

30 May 1664

suc. by

son by first wife

note

the original grant of the Earldom in 1488 was confirmed to him, his heirs and successors by charter 21 Jul 1637; Privy Councillor [S] and a Commissioner of the Scottish Treasury 1641; appointed Lord Justice General by the Scottish Parliament 1647 but deprived in 1649 when he tried to rescue King Charles I; his patent of Earldom was annulled by Act of Parliament 2 Mar 1649; a member of the Committee of Estates 1651; Commander of the forces in Scotland for King Charles II 1653-54, arrested 1655 and exempted from Cromwell's Act of Grace; a promoter of the Restoration of the monarchy; Sheriff of Ayrshire and Chancellor of the University of Glasgow 1660-61; Privy Councillor [S] 1660/1 ; Lord Chancellor of Scotland 1661-64

Alexander [Cunningham], 10th Earl of Glencairn

born

mar.

c. 1660 Nicol Stewart, sister and cohrss. of Sir William Stewart, and 1st dau. of Sir James Stewart of Kirkhill

only child

1. Lady Margaret Cunningham (d. 12 May 1742), mar. c. 1680 John [Maitland], 5th Earl of Lauderdale, and had issue

died

s.p.m. 26 May 1670

suc. by

brother

note

John [Cunningham], 11th Earl of Glencairn

born

mar. (1)

5 Aug 1673 Lady Jean Erskine (d. bef. 1695), 2nd dau. of John [Erskine], 20th and de jure 4th Earl of Mar, by his second wife Lady Jean Mackenzie, 1st dau. of George [Mackenzie], 2nd Earl of Seaforth

children by first wife

1. Hon William Cunningham, later 12th Earl of Glencairn

mar. (2)

c. 1695 Margaret Maxwell (widow of Patrick Maxwell of Newark), dau. and cohrss. of John Napier of Kilmahew

died

14 Dec 1703

suc. by

son by first wife

note

his succession to the Earldom as heir male to the grantee was unopposed and was recognised by the Crown in various appointments to him and to his successors; a zealous supporter of King William III and the 1689 Revolution; Privy Councillor [S] 1689; Governor of Dunbarton Castle

William [Cunningham], 12th Earl of Glencairn, PC

born

mar.

20 Nov 1704 Lady Henrietta Stewart (b. c. 1682; d. 21 Oct 1763), 2nd dau. of Alexander [Stewart], 3rd Earl of Galloway, by his wife Lady Mary Douglas, 1st dau. by his second wife of James [Douglas], 2nd Earl of Queensberry

children

1. Hon John Cunningham, styled Lord Kilmaurs (dvp. an infant)

2. Hon William Cunningham, later 13th Earl of Glencairn

3. Hon John Cunningham (d. Jul 1741)

4. Hon James Cunningham (d. an infant)

5. Hon Malcolm Fleming Cunningham (d. unm.)

6. Hon Alexander Cunningham (d. Apr 1740)

7. Hon Charles Cunningham (d. unm.)

8. Hon James Cunningham (bapt. 25 Feb 1711 ; d. 15 Jul 1739)

1. Lady Margaret Cunningham (b. c. 1704; d. 29 Sep 1789), mar. 2 Apr 1732 Nicol Graham of Gartmore (d. 16 Nov 1775), and had issue

2. Lady Henrietta Cunningham (b. 24 Feb 1710; d. 5 May 1774), mar. 20 Apr 1735 as his second wife John Campbell, Yr. of Shawfield and Islay (b. 1696; dvp. 22 Jul 1746), 1st son and heir ap. of Daniel Campbell MP, 1st of Shawfield and Ist of Islay, by his first wife Mary Leckie, dau. of John Leckie of Newlands, and had issue

3. Lady Mary Cunningham

4. Lady Catherine Cunningham

died

14 Mar 1733/4

suc. by

son

note

Privy Councillor [S]; Governor of Dunbarton Castle 1715-34

William [Cunningham], 13th Earl of Glencairn

born

mar.

6 Aug 1744 Elizabeth Macquire (b. c. 1724; d. 25 Jun 1801), 1st dau. and cohrss. of Hugh Macquire, of Drumdow, co. Ayr

children

1. Hon William Cunningham, styled Lord Kilmaurs (b. 29 May 1748; dvp. 3 Feb 1768)

2. Hon James Cunningham, later 14th Earl of Glencairn

3. Rev Hon John Cunningham, later 15th Earl of Glencairn

4. Hon Alexander Cunningham (b. 28 Jun 1754; d. young)

1. Lady Henrietta Cunningham (b. 23 Sep 1752; d. 12 Mar 1801), mar. 1778 Sir Alexander Don of Newton Don, 5th Bt., and had issue

2. Lady Elizabeth Cunningham (d. 6 Aug 1804)

died

9 Sep 1775

suc. by

son

note

entered the Army 1729: Major, 52nd Foot 1741, Lt Col, 9th Foot 1747, Maj Gen 1770

James [Cunningham], 14th Earl of Glencairn

born

6 Jun 1749

died

30 Jan 1791

suc. by

brother

note

Capt, West Fencibles 1778; a Representative Peer for Scotland 1780-84; alienated the ancient family estate of Kilmaurs 1786

John [Cunningham], 15th Earl of Glencairn

born

17 May 1750

mar.

23 Apr 1785 Lady Isabella Hamilton (widow of William Leslie Hamilton; d. 17 May 1824), 2nd dau. of Henry David [Erskine], 10th Earl of Buchan, by his wife Agnes Steuart, 2nd dau. of Sir James Steuart of Goodtrees, Bt., Solicitor General of Scotland

died

s.p. 24 Sep 1796

note

ordained into the Anglican Church

On the death of the 15th Earl of Glencairn the Earldom of Glencairn became dormant. The estate of Finlaystoun devolved in terms of the entail upon Robert Graham of Gartmore, the second but eldest surviving son with male issue of Lady Margaret Cunningham, the eldest daughter of the twelfth Earl. The earldom itself was claimed by Sir Adam Fergusson, Bt., the great-great-grandson of Lady Margaret Cunningham, the daughter and heiress of the tenth Earl by her husband, John, Earl of Lauderdale. Sir Adam claimed as heir-general of the above-mentioned Earl, and was opposed by Sir Walter Montgomery Cunningham, Bt., of Kirktonholm, who claimed as heir-male, being descended from Andrew Cunningham of Corsehill, second son of William, 4th Earl of Glencairn. Opposition was also made by Lady Henrietta Don, sister and heir of the last Earl, he having been heir-male but not heir-general of the original grantee. The House of Lords, 14 Jul 1797, found that Sir Adam Fergusson had shown himself to be the heir-general of Alexander, Earl of Glencairn, who died in 1670, but had not made out the right of such heir-general to the dignity of Earl of Glencairn.

 First written 9 Dec 2003

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