Secretary of State, Scotland
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The Secretary of Scotland was a senior post in the pre-Union government of Scotland.
The office appeared in the 14th century (or earlier) when it was combined with Keepership of the Privy Seal. Called Clericus Regis (although some have applied that to the Lord Clerk Register), he was regarded as an Officer of State. The Secretary was constantly to attend the King's person, receive the petitions and memorials that were presented to him, and write the King's answers upon them. All Letters Patent passed through his hands, and were drawn up by him as with all the King's letters and dispatches, warrants, orders, &c. In the case of lengthy documents a short docket was also subscribed by the Secretary for the King's perusal, as a summary; and as all the writings signed by the King came through his hands, he was answerable for them if they contained anything derogatory to the laws or the dignity of The Crown.[1]
From 1626 until their respective deaths, King Charles I divided the duties between two Secretaries, the Earl of Glencairn and Sir Archibald Achison of Glencairn.
The Secretary did not invariably sit in the Parliament of Scotland after 1603, because his duties normally involved his attendance upon the monarch who was thereafter resident in England. Between 1608 and 1640 there were often two Secretaries, which became normal practice after 1680, although only one could sit in Parliament.
The office was abolished as such in 1709, though from then until 1725 and again from 1742 to 1746 there was a third Secretary of State with particular responsibility for Scottish affairs, for those posts, see Secretary of State for Scotland.
[edit] Secretaries of Scotland
| Holder | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas, in the reign of Malcolm IV | |||
| Duncan Pecoce, to Robert II | 1380 | ||
| Andrew de Hawick, Rector of Linton | 1410 | ||
| John Stewart, Earl of Buchan | 1418 | ||
| John Cameron, later Bishop of Glasgow, to James I | 1424 | ||
| William Foulis | 1429 | ||
| John Methven | 1432 | ||
| John de Ralston, Bishop of Dunkeld, to James II | 1448 | ||
| William Otterburn | 1452 | ||
| George de Shoriswood | 1453 | ||
| John Arouse, Archdeacon of Glasgow | 1454 | ||
| Thomas de Vans, Deacon of Glasgow | |||
| James Law, Archdeacon of Glasgow | 1463 | ||
| Archibald Whitelaw, Archdeacon of (1) Glasgow (2) Lothian | 1463 | ||
| Alexander Inglis, later Bishop of Dunkeld | 1488 | ||
| Patrick Panter, Rector of Tarmadies, then Archdeacon of Moray, later Abbot of Cambuskenneth, to James IV | 1490 | ||
| Richard Muirhead, Dean of Glasgow, (also to James V in 1535) | 1490 | ||
| Michael Balfour, Abbot of Melrose | 1496 | ||
| Thomas Hay, to James V | 1516 | ||
| Patrick Hepburn, Rector of Whiteston | 1524 | ||
| Thomas Erskine, later Bishop of Brechin | 1524 | ||
| Patrick, Abbot of Cambuskenneth | 1528 | ||
| David Paniter, Bishop of Ross | 1543 | 1558 | |
| James Strachan, a Canon of Aberdeen | |||
| David Rizzio, to Mary, Queen of Scots | 1559 | ||
| William Maitland, younger of Lethington | 1561 | ||
| Sir James Balfour of Pittendreich, to Queen Mary | 1564 | ||
| James Maxwell of Cramond, to Queen Mary | |||
| Robert Pitcairn, advocate, Commendator of Dunfermline Abbey & Archdeacon of St. Andrews | 1572 | ||
| Sir John Maitland of Thirlestane | 1584 | ||
| Sir Richard Cockburn of Clerkington | 1591 | ||
| Sir John Lindsay of Balcarras | 1596 | ||
| James Elphinston, later Lord Balmerino | 1597 | ||
| Sir Alexander Hay of Newton | 1608 | ||
| Sir John Preston, President of the Court of Session | |||
| Sir Thomas Hamilton, Earl of Melrose | 1612 | ||
| William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling (shared) | 1626 | 1640 (died) | |
| Sir Archibald Acheson of Glencairnie (shared) | 1626 | 1634 (died) | |
| William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton | 1641 | 1649 | |
| Sir Robert Spottiswood of New Abbey | 1644 | 1644 | |
| William Ker, 3rd Earl of Lothian (made Secretary by Parliament) | 10 Mar 1649 | ||
| John Maitland, 2nd Earl of Lauderdale | 19 Jan 1661 | 1680 (dismissed) | |
| Alexander Stewart, 5th Earl of Moray | 11 Oct 1680 | 1688 | |
| Charles Middleton, 2nd Earl of Middleton | 26 Sep 1682 | 1684 | |
| John Drummond, 1st Earl of Melfort | 15 Sep 1684 | 1689 | |
| George Melville, 1st Earl of Melville | 13 May 1689 | 1691 | |
| John Dalrymple, Master of Stair | 1 Jan 1691 | 1695 | |
| James Johnston | 3 Mar 1692 | 1696 | |
| John Murray, Earl of Tullibardine | 15 Jan 1696 | 31 Mar 1698 | |
| James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Seafield | 5 Feb 1696 | 21 Nov 1702 | |
| John Carmichael, 1st Earl of Hyndford | 31 Jan 1699 | 6 May 1702 | |
| James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry | 6 May 1702 | 16 Oct 1704 (vac) | |
| George Mackenzie, 1st Viscount Tarbat | 21 Nov 1702 | 17 Oct 1704 (vac) | |
| John Ker, 5th Earl of Roxburghe | 16 Oct 1704 | 5 Jun 1705 | |
| James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Seafield | 17 Oct 1704 | Mar 1705 | |
| William Johnstone, 1st Marquess of Annandale | 10 Mar 1705 | Sep 1705 | |
| Hugh Campbell, 3rd Earl of Loudoun | 5 Jun 1705 | 25 May 1708 | |
| John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar | 19 Sep 1705 | Feb 1709 (dism) |
[edit] References
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