Robert Seton, 2nd Earl of Winton and 9th Lord Seton (c. 1585 – January 1634) was a Scottish

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 net ...

. He succeeded his father

Robert Seton, 1st Earl of Winton Robert Seton, 1st Earl of Winton (1553 – 22 March 1603) was one of the Peerage of Scotland, Scottish peers who supported Mary, Queen of Scots. Early years The son of George Seton, 7th Lord Seton, Robert Seton grew up active in the affairs of h ...

in March, 1603. A devoted Catholic and supporter of the

Stuarts The House of Stuart, originally spelt Stewart, was a royal house of Scotland, England, Ireland and later Great Britain. The family name comes from the office of High Steward of Scotland, which had been held by the family progenitor Walter fi ...

all of his life, he began rebuilding the Seton Palace, which his brother the 3rd Earl continued and completed. Robert, 2nd Earl of Winton was, however, unbalanced, and went mad on his wedding night, emptying a

chamber pot A chamber pot is a portable toilet, meant for nocturnal use in the bedroom. It was common in many cultures before the advent of indoor plumbing and flushing toilets. Names and etymology "Chamber" is an older term for bedroom. The chamber p ...

down his bride's cleavage, and was accordingly kept shut away at Seton, where he diligently worked away on his building project and the management of the family estates, until his death. Because of his incapacity he was prevailed upon to resign the Earldom in favour of his younger brother

George Seton, 3rd Earl of Winton George Seton, 3rd Earl of Winton (December 1584 – 17 December 1650) was a notable Royalist and Cavalier, the second son of Robert Seton, 1st Earl of Winton and 6th Lord Seton, by his spouse Margaret, daughter of Hugh Montgomerie, 3rd Earl of ...

on 26 June 1606, although this was not put into effect until 12 May 1607. It has been said that his brother George's motivation for restoring and rebuilding Winton House, was to ensure that his older brother Robert would be suitably and honorably cared for during the remainder of his life after presenting him with the family honours and estates at such an opportune age in life. Robert, however, continued to manage the family coalmines. During a period when the king and

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 ...

attempted to limit exports and prevent proprietors raising prices, on 12 June 1622

James VI and I James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until ...

wrote to Robert from Whitehall, allowing him to export his coal as he wished. Lord Winton married, on 1 February 1603, Anna (d. 6 July 1609), only daughter of John Maitland, 2nd Lord Maitland of Thirlestane and

Jean Fleming Jean Fleming, Countess of Cassilis (1553/4–1609) was a Scottish noblewoman and courtier at the court of James VI of Scotland, and a survivor of domestic violence. Biography Jean Fleming was born in 1553/4, daughter of James Fleming, 4th Lor ...

. As part of the marriage contract Fleming paid for rebuilding work at Winton Castle.George Seton, ''History of the family of Seton during eight centuries'', vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1896) p. 897. Anna Maitland subsequently petitioned for divorce on the grounds of her husband's impotence.

References

*Mosley, Charles, ''Burke's Peerage and Baronetage'', 106th edition, Crans, Switzerland, 1999, p. 950, {{DEFAULTSORT:Seton, Robert 2nd Earl of Winton Winton, Robert 2nd Earl of Winton, Robert 2nd Earl of Winton, Robert, 2nd Earl of Earls of Winton

Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, h ...