Patron stone to Alexander Fraser of Philorth, old Rathen church

Alexander Fraser of Philorth (died 1623) was a Scottish landowner and founder of

Fraserburgh Fraserburgh (; sco, The Broch or ; gd, A' Bhruaich) is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland with a population recorded in the 2011 Census at 13,100. It lies at the far northeast corner of Aberdeenshire, about north of Aberdeen, and north of ...

He was the eldest son of Alexander Fraser (died 1564) younger of Philorth and Beatrix Keith, a sister of

William Keith, 4th Earl Marischal William Keith, 4th Earl Marischal (died 7 October 1581) was a Scottish nobleman and politician. Family background and career William Keith was the son of Robert Keith, Master of Marischal and Lady Elizabeth Douglas, daughter of John Douglas, ...

. Their home at Philorth is now known as

Cairnbulg Castle Cairnbulg Castle is a z-plan castle situated in Cairnbulg, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was described by W. Douglas Simpson as one of the nine castles of the Knuckle, referring to the rocky headland of north-east Aberdeenshire. It stands by the ...

. In March 1570 he started building a tower at

Kinnaird Head Kinnaird Head ( gd, An Ceann Àrd, "high headland") is a headland projecting into the North Sea, within the town of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, on the east coast of Scotland. The 16th-century Kinnaird Castle was converted in 1787 for use as the K ...

and a church nearby. He continued to develop the harbour at Faithlie, the modern Fraserburgh, and commenced building a new harbour in 1576. In 1597 he obtained a charter to found a college or university.

James VI James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguat ...

wrote to him in April 1589 asking for money to advance his projected marriage with

Anne of Denmark Anne of Denmark (; 12 December 1574 – 2 March 1619) was the wife of King James VI and I; as such, she was Queen of Scotland from their marriage on 20 August 1589 and Queen of England and Ireland from the union of the Scottish and En ...

. He was knighted at the baptism of Prince Henry at Stirling Castle on 30 August 1594. Fellow knights, including

John Boswell of Balmuto John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

had also contributed to the funds for the royal wedding. He died in July 1623. There is a portrait of him depicted around the year 1597, including a small dog. The

National Museum of Scotland The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland, was formed in 2006 with the merger of the new Museum of Scotland, with collections relating to Scottish antiquities, culture and history, and the adjacent Royal Scottish Museum (opened in ...

has a pair of small miniatures of Alexander Fraser and his wife Magdalen Ogilvie. These were probably originally set within lockets of gold enamel work like similar Scottish examples.

Marriages and children

Fraser married Magdalen Ogilvie, daughter of Walter Ogilvie of Dunlugas. He married a second wife Elizabeth Maxwell in 1606, a daughter of John,

Lord Herries Lord Herries of Terregles (pronounced "''Heh''-reez of Ter-regulls'") is a hereditary title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1490 for Herbert Herries with remainder to his heirs general. On the death of his grandson, William, 3rd ...

, and widow of

John Gordon of Lochinvar Sir John Gordon of Lochinvar and Kenmure (died 1604), was a Scottish courtier, landowner, and supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots. He was the son of Sir James Gordon of Lochinvar and Margaret Crichton. On 20 August 1547 his sister Janet Gordon (die ...

. Her son,

Robert Gordon of Lochinvar Sir Robert Gordon of Lochinvar (died 1628) was a Scottish landowner, courtier, and promoter of colonies in Nova Scotia. He was a son of John Gordon of Lochinvar and his second wife Elizabeth Maxwell, a daughter of John Maxwell 4th Lord Herries. Hi ...

was knighted at Stirling in 1594. The children of Alexander Fraser and Magdalen Ogilvie included: * Alexander Fraser of Philorth, who married Margaret Abernethy, a daughter of George Abernethy,

Lord Saltoun Lord Saltoun, of Abernethy, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1445 for Sir Lawrence Abernethy. The title remained in the Abernethy family until the death in 1669 of his descendant the tenth Lady Saltoun. She was succeeded ...

in 1595. He built a tower and courtyard at Pittullie near Fraserburgh.

Charles McKean Charles McKean FRSE FRSA FRHistS FRIBA (16 July 1946 – 29 September 2013) was a Scottish historian A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the ...

, ''Scottish Chateau'' (Stroud, 2001), pp. 151-2. Their eldest son was

Alexander Fraser, 11th Lord Saltoun Alexander Fraser, 11th Lord Saltoun (March 4, 1604 – August 11, 1693), was a Scottish peer and the 10th Laird of Philorth. Life Fraser was born in 1604 in the young town of Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His father was Alexander Frase ...

* Margaret Fraser, who married William Hay of Urie

External links

Pair of miniatures of Alexander Fraser and Magdalen Ogilvie, NMS

Sketch from the 1597 portrait of Alexander Fraser, NGS

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fraser Alexander 1623 deaths Court of James VI and I