Alexander Cuninghame, 1st Earl of Glencairn, 1st Lord Kilmaurs (1426 – 11 June 1488) was a Scottish nobleman. He became Lord of Kilmaurs on 8 February 1464 and Earl of Glencairn on 28 May 1488 Alexander of Kilmaurs succeeded his father before 20 March 1451, when he granted to the Friars-Preachers of Glasgow a yearly sum of four and a half

merks The merk () is a long-obsolete Scotland, Scottish silver coin. Originally the same word as a Mark (currency), money mark of silver, the merk was in circulation at the end of the 16th century and in the 17th century. It was originally valued at 1 ...

from the lands of Finlaystone for masses on behalf of his grandfather and grandmother. Alexander was of the Court of

King James II James II and VII (14 October 1633 – 16 September 1701) was King of England and Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II, on 6 February 1685, until he was deposed in the 1688 Glori ...

, while on his expedition to the south country against James, 9th and last

Earl of Douglas This page is concerned with the holders of the forfeit title Earl of Douglas and the preceding Scottish feudal barony, feudal barons of Douglas, South Lanarkshire. The title was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1358 for William Douglas, 1 ...

. On 18 July 1452, he went into the tent of Lord Chancellor of Scotland (Crichton), where he resigned into the King's hands his lands in Ayr including

Kilmaurs Kilmaurs () is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland which lies just outside of the largest settlement in East Ayrshire, Kilmarnock. It lies on the Carmel Water, southwest of Glasgow. Population recorded for the village in the 2001 Census record ...

, as well as the sheriffdom of

Ayr Ayr ( ; ; , meaning "confluence of the River Àir"), is a town situated on the southwest coast of Scotland. A former royal burgh, today it is the administrative centre of South Ayrshire Council, and the historic county town of Ayrshire. With ...

, and the lands of Kilmarnock in Stirling, Finlaystone in Renfrew, Glencairn in Dumfries, and Hilton in Berwick. After a pause, King James II regranted and gave the said lands to Alexander and his heirs. In 1458 Alexander acted as

Bailie A bailie or baillie is a civic officer in the local government of Scotland. The position arose in the burghs, where bailies formerly held a post similar to that of an alderman or magistrate (see bailiff). Baillies appointed the high constables ...

of Cunningham in 1458. Alexander was subsequently accused of having dealings with the traitor

, and on 13 January 1464, he complained to the King in Parliament that there was a rumor that he had assisted James of Douglas, notwithstanding a letter of 8 February 1463, from King James III declaring him innocent. He then offered purgation by a court of his peers, by the purgation of 100 knights and esquires, or to defend himself according to the laws of arms. Parliament declared him innocent. That is the first reference to Alexander as Lord Kilmaurs, a dignity to which he had been raised between 8 February 1463, the date of the royal letter, where he is styled Alexander Cunynghame, Lord of Kilmaurs, and 13 January 1464, when as Lord Kilmaurs he complained in Parliament. On 15 October 1464, Alexander witnessed a charter ' Alexander Dominus Kilmaurs. On 13 January 1478, he had a charter as Alexander Dominus de Kilmaweris of his lands of Drips, in the lordship of Kilbride, Lanark. Alexander sat continually in Parliament as Lord Kilmaurs from 1464 to 1488. In 1488 a great part of the Scottish nobles rebelled against King James III, on 2 February 1488, the prince his son, then about sixteen years of age, left Stirling Castle and joined the rebels. Alexander, Lord Kilmaurs, who was then very powerful, brought his forces to aid the King's party and assisted in the defeat of the rebels at Battle of Blackness. For his service, and as a mark of Royal favor, Alexander Cuninghame, Lord Kilmaurs was, on 28 May 1488, advanced to the dignity of

Earl of Glencairn Earl of Glencairn was a title in the Peerage of Scotland. King James III of Scotland, James III created the title in 1488 by royal charter for Alexander Cunningham, 1st Earl of Glencairn, Alexander Cunningham, 1st Lord Kilmaurs. He held the e ...

by royal charter, in which he is designated Alexander, Earl of Glencairn and Lord Kilmaurs. The words used are 'facimus et creamus eundem nostrum consanguineum Comitem in exaltationem sui honoris, perpetuis futuris temporibus Comitem de Glencairn et Dominum de Kilmauris nuncupandum.' In support of this honor, King James III, by the same deed, granted Alexander, Earl of Glencairn thirty-pound lands of Drummond and the ten-pound lands of Duchray, in the

Earldom of Lennox The Earl or Mormaer of Lennox was the ruler of the region of the Lennox in western Scotland. It was first created in the 12th century for David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon and later held by the Stewart dynasty. Ancient earls The first ea ...

, to be held by the Earl and his heirs and successors forever. Alter the battle of Blackness a proposal was made for a treaty between the opposite parties, and articles were drawn up for that purpose. These articles were not observed. The prince's party accused the King and others of having entered into a treaty with England. The war broke out again, and on 11 June 1488, during the

Battle of Sauchieburn The Battle of Sauchieburn was fought on 11 June 1488, at the side of Sauchie Burn, a stream about south of Stirling, Scotland. The battle was fought between the followers of King James III of Scotland and a large group of rebellious Scottish ...

near Stirling, Alexander Cuninghame, Earl of Glencairn was killed. King James III was either killed during the battle or shortly thereafter.

Offspring

Known children of Alexander: 1. Robert Cunningham, 2nd Earl of Glencairn. Alexander passed his title on to him upon his death. 2. William of Craigends, ancestor of that family, and the ancestor of the Cuninghams of Robertland, Carncurin, Bedlaw, Auchinharvie, and Auchinyards. On 4 February 1479 William received from his father a charter of the lands of Craiganys (Craigends) in the lordship of Ranfurley 3. Alexander, mentioned in a charter dated 1483 4. Edward, also mentioned in a charter dated 1483

References

*The Scots Peerage, Vol IV Edited by James Balfour Paul, Lord Lyon King of Arms – 1907 (https://archive.org/stream/scotspeeragefoun04pauluoft#page/222/mode/2up) *History of the County of Ayr, Vol II, James Paterson, Edinburgh, 1867 (https://archive.org/stream/historyofcountyo02pateuoft#page/214/mode/2up) *Dictionary of National Biography, Vol XIII, Leslie Stephen, New York, 1888 (https://archive.org/stream/dictionaryofnati13stepuoft#page/302/mode/2up) *The Scottish Nation, Vol II, William Anderson, Edinburgh, 1863 (https://archive.org/stream/b21974354_0002#page/310/mode/2up/search/Cuninghame) {{DEFAULTSORT:Glencairn, Alexander Cunningham 1st Earl 1426 births Cunningham,Glencairn, Alexander, 1st Earl of Glencairn People from Kilmaurs Nobility from East Ayrshire 1 Cunningham, Alexander Cunningham, 1st Earl of Glencairn Peers created by James III