The Lord Chancellor of Scotland, formally the Lord High Chancellor, was a

Great Officer of State Government in medieval monarchies generally comprised the king's companions, later becoming the Royal Household, from which the officers of state arose, initially having household and government duties. Later some of these officers became ...

in the

Kingdom of Scotland The Kingdom of Scotland (; , ) was a sovereign state in northwest Europe traditionally said to have been founded in 843. Its territories expanded and shrank, but it came to occupy the northern third of the island of Great Britain, sharing a l ...

. Holders of the office are known from 1123 onwards, but its duties were occasionally performed by an official of lower status with the title of Keeper of the Great Seal. From the 15th century, the Chancellor was normally a Bishop or a

Peer Peer may refer to: Sociology * Peer, an equal in age, education or social class; see Peer group * Peer, a member of the peerage; related to the term "peer of the realm" Computing * Peer, one of several functional units in the same layer of a ne ...

. At the Union, the

Lord Keeper of the Great Seal The Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England, and later of Great Britain, was formerly an officer of the English Crown charged with physical custody of the Great Seal of England. This position evolved into that of one of the Great Officers of S ...

of England became the first

Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain The lord chancellor, formally the lord high chancellor of Great Britain, is the highest-ranking traditional minister among the Great Officers of State in Scotland and England in the United Kingdom, nominally outranking the prime minister. Th ...

, but the

Earl of Seafield Earl of Seafield is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1701 for James Ogilvy, who in 1711 succeeded his father as 4th Earl of Findlater. The earldoms of Findlater and Seafield continued to be united until 1811, when the earldom ...

continued as Lord Chancellor of Scotland until 1708. He was re-appointed in 1713 and sat as an

Extraordinary Lord of Session Extraordinary Lords of Session were lay members of the Court of Session in Scotland from 1532 to 1762, and were part of the historical judiciary of Scotland. When the Court of Session was founded in 1532, it consisted of the Lord President, 14 ...

in that capacity until his death in 1730.

List of Lords Chancellors of Scotland

David I

* 1124-1126:

John Capellanus John (died 1147) was an early 12th-century Tironensian cleric. He was the chaplain and close confidant of King David I of Scotland, before becoming Bishop of Glasgow and founder of Glasgow Cathedral. He was one of the most significant religious ...

* 1126-1143:

Herbert of Selkirk Herbert of Selkirk was a 12th-century Tironensian monk, who rose to become 3rd Abbot of Selkirk-Kelso and bishop of Glasgow. While abbot of Selkirk, King David I of Scotland moved Selkirk Abbey to nearby Kelso. He was elected to the see of Gl ...

* bef.1143-1145:

Edward Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sax ...

Bishop of Aberdeen The Bishop of Aberdeen (originally Bishop of Mortlach, in Latin Murthlacum) was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Aberdeen, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th-century cleric named Nec ...

* c.1147–c.1150:

William Cumin William Cumin (or de Comyn or de Commines) (died ) was a bishop of Durham, and Justiciar of Scotland. Life Several Cumins were clerks in the chanceries of King Henry I of England and King Henry II of England, as well as in the dioceses of R ...

* bef.1150-1153: Walter, possibly

Walter fitz Alan Walter FitzAlan (1177) was a twelfth-century English baron who became a Scottish magnate and Steward of Scotland. He was a younger son of Alan fitz Flaad and Avelina de Hesdin. In about 1136, Walter entered into the service of David I, King o ...

Malcolm IV

* 1153–1165:

Enguerrand Enguerrand (or Engrand, Ingrand) is a medieval French name, derived from a Germanic name ''Engilram'' (''Engelram'', ''Ingelram''), from ''Angil'', the tribal name of the Angles, and ''hramn'' "raven". The Old Frankish name is recorded in various ...

Bishop of Glasgow The Archbishop of Glasgow is an archiepiscopal title that takes its name after the city of Glasgow in Scotland. The position and title were abolished by the Church of Scotland in 1689; and, in the Scottish Episcopal Church, it is now part of th ...

William I

* 1165-1171: Nicholas * c.1171-1178:

Walter de Bidun Walter de Bidun († 1178) was a clerk of King William of Scotland, Chancellor of Scotland and Bishop-elect of Dunkeld. Walter was a witness to a charter that granted the mainland properties of Iona Abbey, then under the rule of the Lord of the ...

Bishop of Dunkeld The Bishop of Dunkeld is the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunkeld, one of the largest and more important of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th-century cleric named Cormac. However, the first ...

* c.1178–1189:

Roger de Beaumont Roger de Beaumont (c. 1015 – 29 November 1094), feudal lord (French: ''seigneur'') of Beaumont-le-Roger and of Pont-Audemer in Normandy, was a powerful Norman nobleman and close advisor to William the Conqueror. − Origins Roger wa ...

Bishop of St Andrews The Bishop of St. Andrews ( gd, Easbaig Chill Rìmhinn, sco, Beeshop o Saunt Andras) was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of St Andrews in the Catholic Church and then, from 14 August 1472, as Archbishop of St Andrews ( gd, Àrd-easbaig ...

* 1189–1199:

Hugh de Roxburgh Hugh (or Hugo) de Roxburgh (or Hugo Cancellarius) was a late 12th century Chancellor of Scotland and bishop of Glasgow. He was rector of Tullibody and later Archdeacon of St. Andrews. He was elected to the see soon after the death of his predeces ...

* 1199–1202: William de Malveisin,

* 1203-1210:

Florence of Holland Florence (or Florentius) (died 30 November 1210) was a late 12th century and early 13th century nobleman and cleric. He was the son of Florence III, Count of Holland, and Ada of Huntingdon, sister of kings Malcolm IV and William I of Scotla ...

, Bishop-elect of Glasgow * 1211-1224: William del Bois, Archdeacon of Lothian

Alexander II

* 1226-1227: Thomas de Stirling, Archdeacon of Glasgow * 1227-1230: Matthew the Scot, Bishop-elect of Dunkeld * 1231–1233: William de Bondington,

* 1233-1249: Sir

William de Lindsay Sir William de Lindsay (died c.1200), Lord of Ercildum, Crawford, Baron of Luffness, Justiciar of Lothian was a 12th-century Scottish noble. Life Lindsay was a son of Walter de Lindsay. William inherited half moiety of the barony of Cavendi ...

Alexander III

* 1249–1250: Robert de Keldeleth,

Abbot of Dunfermline The Prior, then Abbot and then Commendator of Dunfermline was the head of the Benedictine monastic community of Dunfermline Abbey, Fife, Scotland. The abbey itself was founded in 1128 by King David I of Scotland, but was of earlier origin. King ...

* 1250-1253: Gamelin,

* 1256–1257:

Richard de Inverkeithing Richard de Inverkeithing was a 13th-century cleric from Scotland, probably from Inverkeithing in Fife. He was a Chamberlain of King Alexander II of Scotland and Bishop of Dunkeld. He was King Alexander's chamberlain in the last year of that kin ...

* 1259-1273:

William Wishart :''See also William Wishart (disambiguation)'' William Wishart (or Wischard) (died 28 May 1279) was a 13th-century Bishop of St. Andrews. He was postulated to the see of St. Andrews (''Cell Rígmonaid'' or ''Cill Rìmhinn'') while holding the ...

* 1273–c.1279:

William Fraser William Fraser may refer to: Military people * William W. Fraser (1844–1915), American Civil War soldier and Medal of Honor recipient * William Archibald Kenneth Fraser (1886–1969), British army officer * William Fraser (British Army officer ...

* 1285-1291:

Thomas Charteris Sir Thomas Charteris (born Thomas de Longueville; died 1346) styled "of Amisfield", was a Scottish nobleman. He supported the Bruce family and was appointed ambassador to England. In 1342 he was appointed Lord Chancellor of Scotland by David II ...

Archdeacon of Lothian The Archdeacon of Lothian was the head of the Archdeaconry of Lothian, a sub-division of the Diocese of St Andrews. The position was one of the most important positions within the medieval Scottish church; because of his area's large population an ...

English Appointees during the Interregnum

* 1291:

Alan de St Edmund Alan de St Edmund was a 13th-century English cleric and administrator of the Roman Catholic Church. His name suggests a connection with Bury St. Edmunds Abbey in Suffolk, but there is no direct evidence.Keith, ''Historical Catalogue'', p. 21 ...

Bishop of Caithness The Bishop of Caithness was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Caithness, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. The first referenced bishop of Caithness was Aindréas, a Gael who appears in sources between 1146 and 1151 as bishop. Ai ...

* 1292: William de Dumfries * 1292: Alan de Dumfries * 1294-1295: Thomas de Hunsinghore * 1295-1296: Alexander Kennedy * 1296-1304?:

Walter de Amersham Walter de Amersham, also known as Walter de Agsmundesham (died 1304) was the Lord Chancellor of Scotland during the English administration in Scotland from 1296 to 1304. Biography He was a Royal Clerk and Justice of the Peace during the reign ...

* c.1301–c.1305:

Nicholas de Balmyle Nicholas de Balmyle (d. 1319 × 1320), also called Nicholas of St Andrews, was a Scottish administrator and prelate in the late 13th century and early 14th century. A graduate of an unknown university, he served his earliest years as a clergyman ...

Bishop of Dunblane The Bishop of Dunblane or Bishop of Strathearn was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunblane or Strathearn, one of medieval Scotland's thirteen bishoprics. It was based at Dunblane Cathedral, now a parish church of the Church of Scot ...

* 1304-1306: William de Bevercotes

Robert I

* 1308–1328:

Bernard Bernard ('' Bernhard'') is a French and West Germanic masculine given name. It is also a surname. The name is attested from at least the 9th century. West Germanic ''Bernhard'' is composed from the two elements ''bern'' "bear" and ''hard'' "bra ...

Abbot of Arbroath The Abbot of Arbroath or Abbot of Aberbrothok (and later Commendator) was the head of the Tironensian Benedictine monastic community of Arbroath Abbey, Angus, Scotland, founded under the patronage of King William of Scotland from Kelso Abbey an ...

(later

Bishop of the Isles The Bishop of the Isles or Bishop of Sodor was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of the Isles (or Sodor), one of Scotland's thirteen medieval bishoprics. The bishopric, encompassing both the Hebrides and Mann, probably traces its origins as ...

)

David II

* 1328-1329: Walter de Twynham, Rector of Glasgow ''Primo'' * 1329-1332: Adam de Moravia,

Bishop of Brechin The Bishop of Brechin is the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Brechin or Angus, based at Dundee. Brechin Cathedral, Brechin is a parish church of the established (presbyterian) Church of Scotland. The diocese had a long-established Gaeli ...

* 1338-1341: William Bullock, Chancellor to Edward BaliolCowan, p159 * 1342: William de Bosco * 1335x1340–1346: Sir

* 1350-1352: William Caldwell * 1353–1370: Patrick de Leuchars,

Robert II

* 1370–1377: John de Carrick, Bishop-elect of Dunkeld * 1377–1390:

John de Peebles John de Peebles eblyswas a 14th-century bishop of Dunkeld and chancellor of Scotland. He was a graduate of the University of Paris by 1351, where he became both a determinant and licentiate. He chose to remain there and soon became procurator of ...

Robert III

* 1394: Duncan Petit,

Archdeacon of Glasgow The Archdeacon of Glasgow was the head of the Archdeaconry of Glasgow, a sub-division of the Diocese of Glasgow. He was one of two archdeacons serving the Bishop of Glasgow, the other one being the Archdeacon of Teviotdale. This archdeacon (Glas ...

* 1396-1421: Gilbert de Greenlaw,

James I

* 1422–1425: William Lauder,

* 1426–1439: John Cameron,

James II

* 1439–c.1444:

William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton (died 1454) was an important political figure in the late medieval Kingdom of Scotland. Life The son of Sir John Crichton of Crichton, William Crichton is first attested to as one of the Scots noblemen and g ...

* 1444: James Kennedy, Archbishop of Saint Andrews * 1444-1447: James Bruce, Bishop of Dunkeld and Glasgow * 1447–1453: William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton, * 1454–1456: William Sinclair, Earl of Orkney and Caithness * 1457–1460: George Shoreswood, Bishop of Brechin

James III

* 1460–1482:

Andrew Stewart, 1st Lord Avandale Andrew Stewart (c. 14201488) was Lord Chancellor of Scotland from 1460 to 1482 and one of the leading servants of King James III of Scotland. Early life Andrew Stewart was born c. 1420 and "appears to have been the eldest son of Walter Stewar ...

* 1482–1483: John Laing,

* 1483: James Livingstone,

* 1483–1488:

Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll (c. 1433 – 10 May 1493) was a medieval Scottish nobleman, peer, and politician. He was the son of Archibald Campbell, Master of Campbell and Elizabeth Somerville, daughter of John Somerville, 3rd Lord S ...

James IV

* 1488 (Feb–Jun):

William Elphinstone William Elphinstone (143125 October 1514) was a Scottish statesman, Bishop of Aberdeen and founder of the University of Aberdeen. Biography He was born in Glasgow. His father, also William Elphinstone, later became the first Dean of the Fa ...

* 1488–1492: Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll * 1493–1497:

Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus (c. 1449October 1513), was a Scottish nobleman, peer, politician, and magnate. Tradition has accorded him the nickname Archibald 'Bell-the-Cat' due to his association with the 1482 rebellion against Jam ...

* 1497–1501:

George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly (died 8 June 1501) was a Scottish nobleman and Chancellor of Scotland from 1498 to 1501. Life George was the son of Alexander (Seton) Gordon, 1st Earl of Huntly and his second wife Elizabeth Crichton, daughter ...

* 1501–1504:

James Stewart, Duke of Ross James Stewart, Duke of Ross (March 1476 – January 1504) was a Scottish prince, and the second son of King James III of Scotland and his wife, Margaret of Denmark. James was heir presumptive to his brother until his death, and was Archbishop of ...

* 1510–1513: Alexander Stewart (d. 1513),

Archbishop of St Andrews The Bishop of St. Andrews ( gd, Easbaig Chill Rìmhinn, sco, Beeshop o Saunt Andras) was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of St Andrews in the Catholic Church and then, from 14 August 1472, as Archbishop of St Andrews ( gd, Àrd-easbaig ...

James V

* 1513–1526:

James Beaton James Beaton (or Bethune) (1473–1539) was a Roman Catholic Scottish church leader, the uncle of David Cardinal Beaton and the Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland. Life James Beaton was the sixth and youngest son of John Beaton of Balfour ...

Archbishop of Glasgow The Archbishop of Glasgow is an archiepiscopal title that takes its name after the city of Glasgow in Scotland. The position and title were abolished by the Church of Scotland in 1689; and, in the Scottish Episcopal Church, it is now part of ...

(later

) * 1527–1528:

Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus (c. 148922 January 1557) was a Scottish nobleman active during the reigns of James V and Mary, Queen of Scots. He was the son of George, Master of Angus, who was killed at the Battle of Flodden, and suc ...

* 1528–1543: Gavin Dunbar,

Mary I

* 1543–1546:

David Beaton David Beaton (also Beton or Bethune; 29 May 1546) was Archbishop of St Andrews and the last Scottish cardinal prior to the Reformation. Career Cardinal Beaton was the sixth and youngest son of eleven children of John Beaton (Bethune) of Bal ...

* 1546–1562:

George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly (151428 October 1562) was a Scottish nobleman. Life He was the son of John Gordon, Lord Gordon, and Margaret Stewart, daughter of James IV and Margaret Drummond. George Gordon inherited his earldom and estat ...

* 1563–1566:

James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton (c. 1516 – 2 June 1581, aged 65) was the last of the four regents of Scotland during the minority of King James VI. He was in some ways the most successful of the four, since he won the civil war that had b ...

* 1566–1567:

George Gordon, 5th Earl of Huntly George Gordon, 5th Earl of Huntly (died 19 October 1576), was Lord Chancellor of Scotland and major conspirator of his time. Biography Second son of the 4th Earl, he was Sheriff of Inverness from 1556. As Captain of Badenoch, he was in charge o ...

James VI

* 1567–1573: James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton * 1573 (Jan–Sep):

Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll (1532/1537 – 12 September 1573) was a Scottish nobleman, peer, and politician. He was one of the leading figures in the politics of Scotland during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the early par ...

* 1573–1578:

John Lyon, 8th Lord Glamis John Lyon, 8th Lord Glamis (died 1578) was a Scottish nobleman, judge and Lord High Chancellor of Scotland. Life He was the eldest son of John Lyon, 7th Lord Glamis, by his wife, Janet Keith, daughter of Robert Keith, Master of Marischal, and si ...

* 1578–1579:

John Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl John Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl (died 25 April 1579), called the Fair, was a Scottish nobleman and courtier. He was favoured by Mary, Queen of Scots, but later turned against her. Biography Stewart was the son of John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Atho ...

* 1579–1584:

Colin Campbell, 6th Earl of Argyll Colin Campbell, 6th Earl of Argyll (c. 1542– October 1584) was a Scottish nobleman and politician. He was appointed to the Lord Chancellorship of Scotland. Biography He was the eldest son of Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll and his sec ...

* 1584–1585:

James Stewart, Earl of Arran Captain James Stewart, Earl of Arran (died 1595) was created Earl of Arran by the young King James VI, who wrested the title from James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran. He rose to become Lord Chancellor of Scotland and was eventually murdered in ...

* 1586–1595:

John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane (1537 – 3 October 1595), of Lethington, Knight (1581), was Lord Chancellor of Scotland. Life He was the second son of Sir Richard Maitland of Thirlestane, Berwickshire, and Lethington, Haddi ...

* 1599–1604:

John Graham, 3rd Earl of Montrose John Graham, 3rd Earl of Montrose (1548 – 9 November 1608) was a Scottish peer and Chancellor of the University of St Andrews from 1599 to 1604. He was Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland, from 1605 to 1606. Family backgro ...

* 1604–1622:

Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline (1555–1622) was a Scottish lawyer, judge and politician. He served as Lord President of the Court of Session from 1598 to 1604, Lord Chancellor of Scotland from 1604 to 1622 and as a Lord High Commiss ...

* 1622–1634: George Hay, 1st Earl of Kinnoull

Charles I

* 1635–1638: John Spottiswoode,

* 1638–1641:

James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton, KG, PC (19 June 1606 – 9 March 1649), known as The 3rd Marquess of Hamilton from March 1625 until April 1643, was a Scottish nobleman and influential political and military leader during the Thirty Year ...

* 1641–1660:

John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun (1598 – March 1662) was a Scottish politician and Covenanter. As a young man Campbell travelled abroad. In 1620 married the heiress of the barony of Loudoun; in his wife's right, took his seat in the Parli ...

Charles II

* 1660–1664:

William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn ( gd, Uilleam Coineagan) (1610–1664), was a Scottish nobleman, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, and a cavalier. He was also the chief of Clan Cunningham. The eldest son of William Cunningham, 8th Earl of ...

* 1664–1681:

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 ...

(1st Duke of Rothes from 29 May 1680) * 1681-1682: ''Office vacant'' * 1682–1684:

George Gordon, 1st Earl of Aberdeen George Gordon, 1st Earl of Aberdeen (3 October 163720 April 1720), was a Lord Chancellor of Scotland. Early life Gordon, born on 3 October 1637, the second son of Sir John Gordon, 1st Baronet, of Haddo, Aberdeenshire, (executed in 1644); and h ...

James VII

* 1684–1689:

James Drummond, 4th Earl of Perth James Drummond, 1st Duke of Perth KT PC (164811 May 1716), also 4th Earl of Perth and 7th Lord Drummond, was a Scottish statesman, and Jacobite. Family The eldest son of James Drummond, 3rd Earl of Perth by his spouse Lady Anne, daughter of ...

William III and Mary II

* 1689-1692: ''In commission'' * 1692–1696: John Hay, 1st Marquess of Tweeddale * 1696–1702:

Patrick Hume, 1st Earl of Marchmont Patrick Hume, 1st Earl of Marchmont (13 January 16412 August 1724), known as Sir Patrick Hume, 2nd Baronet from 1648 to 1690 and as Lord Polwarth from 1690 to 1697, was a Scottish statesman. His grandfather was the poet and courtier Sir Patrick ...

Anne

* 1702–1704: James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Seafield * 1704–1705:

John Hay, 2nd Marquess of Tweeddale John Hay, 2nd Marquess of Tweeddale PC (1645 – 20 April 1713) was a Scottish nobleman. Early life Hay was the eldest son of John Hay, 1st Marquess of Tweeddale and his wife, Lady Jean Scott, daughter of Walter Scott, 1st Earl of Buccleuch. H ...

* 1705–1707: James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Seafield

References

Notes

Sources

*Cowan, Samuel, ''The Lord Chancellors of Scotland'' Edinburgh 1911

* "Lord chancellors of Scotland in the Oxford DNB", in the ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Jan 200
accessed 20 Feb 2007
{Dead link, date=July 2018 , bot=InternetArchiveBot , fix-attempted=yes * John Dowden, Dowden, John
''The Bishops of Scotland''
ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912) Members of the Privy Council of Scotland Political office-holders in Scotland

Lord Chancellor The lord chancellor, formally the lord high chancellor of Great Britain, is the highest-ranking traditional minister among the Great Officers of State in Scotland and England in the United Kingdom, nominally outranking the prime minister. Th ...