William Bellenden, Lord Bellenden PC (died 1671), was

Treasurer-depute The Treasurer-depute was a senior post in the pre-Union government of Scotland. It was the equivalent of the English post of Chancellor of the Exchequer. Originally a deputy to the Treasurer, the Treasurer-depute emerged as a separate Crown app ...

of Scotland.

Early life

Bellenden was born before 1606. He was the only son and heir of Sir James Bellenden of Broughton, and Margaret Ker. His mother was the sister of

Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe (1650) was a Scottish nobleman. Early life He was the eldest son of William Ker of Cessford (died 1605), and Janet Douglas. His mother was the widow of James Tweedie of Drumelzier, and the third daughter of ...

, and the second daughter of Sir William Ker of Cessford.

Career

A staunch adherent of the

Royal Family A royal family is the immediate family of kings/queens, emirs/emiras, sultans/ sultanas, or raja/ rani and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, and the term ...

during the

Civil Wars A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

, on 10 June 1661 he was created Lord Bellenden, was made

, and was placed on the

privy council of Scotland The Privy Council of Scotland ( — 1 May 1708) was a body that advised the Scottish monarch. In the range of its functions the council was often more important than the Estates in the running the country. Its registers include a wide range of ...

. He was made heretable Usher of the Exchequer on 13 December 1663 and one of the Treasury Commissioners of Scotland in 1668. In 1662,

John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale John Maitland, 1st Duke and 2nd Earl of Lauderdale, 3rd Lord Maitland of Thirlestane KG PC (24 May 1616, Lethington, East Lothian – 24 August 1682), was a Scottish politician, and leader within the Cabal Ministry. Background Maitlan ...

, on the advice of his brother, managed to secure Bellenden's interest in his struggle with

John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton ( – 3 July 1674) was a professional soldier and mercenary from Kincardineshire in Scotland. Beginning his career in the Thirty Years War, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms he fought for the Covenanters ...

and faction over religious policy; and he is from that time one of his most frequent correspondents. He kept Lauderdale informed on the plans of James Sharp, to whom he was hostile. When the treasurership was taken from

John Leslie, 7th Earl of Rothes John Leslie (c. 163027 July 1681), son of John Leslie, 6th Earl of Rothes, was the 7th Earl of Rothes and 1st Duke of Rothes. According to tradition, he was a descendant of Princess Beatrix, sister of King Malcolm III of Scotland. His family had ...

in 1668 and was put into commission, Bellenden was one of the commissioners. He was then in failing health, and was noted for his overbearing manners at the treasury board meetings, especially when, as was the case, his own accounts as treasurer-depute were called in question, or when any matter of precedence was in dispute.

Personal life

As Bellenden was unmarried and childless, on 14 April 1671, he resigned his peerage in favour of his first cousin twice times removed, Hon. John Ker (later

John Bellenden, 2nd Lord Bellenden John Bellenden, 2nd Lord Bellenden (died March 1707) was a Scottish nobleman. Early life Born John Ker, he was the fourth son of William Ker, 2nd Earl of Roxburghe (born William Drummond) and the Hon. Jane Ker. Among his elder brothers was Robe ...

), the youngest son of

William Ker, 2nd Earl of Roxburghe William Ker, 2nd Earl of Roxburghe PC (16222 July 1675) was a Scottish nobleman who inherited his title from his maternal grandfather, Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe. Early life He was born William Drummond in 1622. He was the fifth and ...

, and his heirs of entail, which was confirmed by

Royal charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, bu ...

on 12 December 1673. He was buried on 6 September 1671 at

St Martin-in-the-Fields St Martin-in-the-Fields is a Church of England parish church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. It is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. There has been a church on the site since at least the mediev ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bellenden, William Year of birth missing 1671 deaths 17th-century Scottish people Members of the Privy Council of Scotland Lords of Parliament (pre-1707) Lords of Bellenden Treasurers-depute Members of the Convention of the Estates of Scotland 1667 Peers of Scotland created by Charles II