Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly


Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly was a Scottish nobleman. He was a member of Parliament, a member of the Privy Council, a regent and Lieutenant of the kingdom.

Biography

He was the son of George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly and his second wife, Princess Annabella of Scotland, the youngest daughter of King James I of Scotland.
As a favorite of King James IV of Scotland., he acquired considerable grants of land throughout his career. In 1500, he was made hereditary sheriff of Inverness, giving him considerable powers throughout the north of Scotland, and a year later, in June 1501 succeeded his father as the 3rd Earl of Huntly. He witnessed the marriage contract of James IV in 1503 and was engaged in quelling disturbances in the Isles in 1505. In 1509, he was awarded the comital Lordship of Lochaber.
Alexander fought in the Battle of Flodden on 9 September 1513, where he commanded the Scots left wing and was one of the fortunate few Scottish noblemen who escaped with their lives. He was a member of the council of Regency in 1517 during the minority of King James V of Scotland and was appointed King's Lieutenant over all of Scotland excepting Argyle in 1517–18. He was a supporter of the Duke of Albany in his dispute with the Earl of Angus.
Alexander died on 21 Jan 1524 at Perth. The same year he was succeeded by his grandson, George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly.

Family

Alexander Gordon married by contract on 20 October 1474, Lady Jean Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl and Lady Margaret Douglas, daughter of Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas. Alexander and Jean had the following children:
After the death of his first wife, Alexander Gordon married Elizabeth Gray, daughter of Andrew Gray, 2nd Lord Gray and Janet Keith, some time after 27 July 1511.