George Gordon 4th earl of Huntly

George Gordon Huntly, 4th earl of 1514-62, Scottish nobleman. He was made lord high chancellor in 1546. Although a Roman Catholic, he led a revolt against Mary Queen of Scots and was killed at the battle of Corrichie. His son, George Gordon, 5th earl of Huntly, d. 1576, was, however, a favorite of Mary and may have been an associate of the earl of Bothwell in the murder (1567) of Lord Darnley. He supported Mary's cause until 1572, when he resigned it as hopeless. His son, George Gordon, 6th earl and 1st marquess of Huntly, 1562-1636, plotted with Spain for the restoration of Catholicism in Scotland and raised a rebellion in 1589. He regained the favor of the young James VI (later James I of England), who commissioned him to murder (1592) the 2d earl of Murray. After another rebellion (1594), however, James blew up his castle at Strathbogie, and Huntly left the country. He was soon pardoned again and made (1599) marquess and lieutenant of the north, but he was in continual trouble with the Presbyterian Church, which doubted the sincerity of his abjuration of Catholicism, and he lost favor after the accession (1625) of Charles I.

Huntly, George Gordon, 4th earl of [S] (1513–62). Gordon's mother was an illegitimate daughter of James IV of Scotland. Huntly won a success against the English at Hadden Rigg in 1542, was a regent after the death of James V, but was captured by Somerset at Pinkie Cleugh in 1547. In 1546–9 he was chancellor [S] and again in 1561, but lost favour with Mary after her return from France. When she gave the earldom of Moray, which he claimed, to her illegitimate brother Lord James Stewart, Huntly rose in rebellion. His troops were defeated at Corrichie and he died immediately after the battle, being ‘gross, corpulent and of short breath’.

Huntly, George Gordon, 4th earl of [S] (1513–62). Gordon's mother was an illegitimate daughter of James IV of Scotland. His father died when he was an infant and Gordon inherited the earldom from his grandfather when he was 11. He won a success against the English at Hadden Rigg in 1542, was a regent after the death of James V, but was defeated and captured by Somerset at Pinkie Cleugh in 1547. In 1546–9 he was chancellor [S] and again in 1561, but lost favour with Mary after her return from France. When she gave the earldom of Moray, which he claimed, to her illegitimate brother Lord James Stewart, Huntly rose in rebellion. His troops were defeated at Corrichie and he died immediately after the battle, being ‘gross, corpulent and of short breath’. His son was restored to favour, served as chancellor [S] 1565–7, and died 1576.

J. A. Cannon