John Graham, 4th Earl of Montrose (1573–1626) was a Scottish nobleman, Earl of Montrose from 1608 to the 1620s. He was for a time Lord President of the

Privy Council of Scotland The Privy Council of Scotland ( — 1 May 1708) was a body that advised the Scottish monarch. During its existence, the Privy Council of Scotland was essentially considered as the government of the Kingdom of Scotland, and was seen as the most ...

. He was a Catholic, as the English ambassador William Asheby noted in November 1589, on the death of his uncle Mungo Graham, Master Household to

James VI James may refer to: People * James (given name) * James (surname) * James (musician), aka Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, (born 1964), Bollywood musician * James, brother of Jesus * King James (disambiguation), various kings named James * Prince Ja ...

. On 31 January 1595, in a feud following the death of his kinsman John Graham of Hallyards, he fought with James Sandilands on the

Royal Mile The Royal Mile () is the nickname of a series of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town, Edinburgh, Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. The term originated in the early 20th century and has since entered popular usage. The Royal ...

. There were over 100 pistol shots and Sandilands was wounded. In the confusion, a rumour spread that King James was besieged in

Holyrood Palace The Palace of Holyroodhouse ( or ), commonly known as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood has s ...

. Sandilands' brother-in-law William Crauford, brother of the laird of Carse was killed. He was at court in Royston in England in 1614 and the court physician

Théodore de Mayerne Sir Théodore Turquet de Mayerne (28 September 1573 – 22 March 1655) was a Genevan-born physician who treated kings of France and England and advanced the theories of Paracelsus. The Young Doctor Mayerne was born in a Huguenot family in G ...

treated him for melancholy. Mayerne offered to write a recipe to treat his wife's eyes in 1616.''Original Letters Relating To The Ecclesiastical Affairs of Scotland'', vol. 2 (Edinburgh: Bannatyne Club, 1851), p. 473.

Marriage and Family

He married Margaret Ruthven, daughter of

William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, 4th Lord of Ruthven (c. 1541May 1584) was a Scottish peer known for devising the Raid of Ruthven. Life and career William Ruthven was born in 1541 in Ruthven Castle, in Perthshire, Scotland, the son of Patr ...

and Dorothea Stewart. Their children included: * James Graham, 5th Earl of Montrose, later 1st Marquess of Montrose. *Lilias Graham, married Sir John Colquhoun of Luss, 1st Baronet. *Elizabeth Graham *Margaret Graham married

Archibald Napier, 1st Lord Napier Archibald Napier, 1st Lord Napier, the 9th Laird Napier of Merchiston (c. 1576 – November 1645), was a Scottish politician and judge. In 1627 he was created Lord Napier of Merchiston and Baronet of Nova Scotia. Biography Archibald Napier was t ...

of Merchiston *Dorothea Graham married Sir James Rollo, Younger of Duncrub. *Katherine Graham *Beatrix Graham married David Drummond, 3rd Lord Maderty.

References

* 1573 births 1626 deaths Year of birth unknown 17th-century Scottish peers Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1617 Earls of Montrose {{scotland-earl-stub