John Gordon, 1st Viscount of Kenmure
Encyclopedia
John Gordon, 1st Viscount of Kenmure (1599–1634) was a Scottish nobleman, renowned Presbyterian, and founder of the town of New Galloway
.
(as he was known before his enoblement) was the eldest son of Sir Robert Gordon of Lochinvar (d. November 1628), a Gentleman of the King's Bedchamber, by his wife Lady Isabel Ruthven, daughter of the William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie
.
After completion of his studies he travelled on the continent, and while there he resided in the house of the famous John Welsh
, who was then minister at St. Jean d'Angely in France, having been banished from Scotland.
On his return home Gordon exerted himself with success in getting Anworth, the parish in which the family residence was situated, disjoined from two other parishes with which it had been united; and through his influence, Samuel Rutherford
was appointed minister of the new charge in 1627, which Kenmure later said was "the most meritorious action of my life".
At some point Gordon was knighted. A strong supporter of the Stuart
monarchy, on May 8, 1633, as Sir John Gordon, knight, he was created Viscount of Kenmure and Lord Lochinvar by Charles I
by Letters Patent
, at his Scottish coronation in Edinburgh
. The destination was to heirs male whatsoever bearing the surname and Arms
of Gordon.
He attended the parliament held at Edinburgh the following June, but avoided the debate on the King's measures relative to the church, retiring instead to Kenmure Castle. He later regretted that he took no part but expressed his dilemma at not wishing to upset his monarch.
Among other favours conferred upon him by Charles I was the charter, dated January 15, 1629, of a Royal Burgh
of New Galloway
, a new town which was built within the limits of his estate at Kenmure Castle.
Samuel Rutherford
attended Kenmure on his deathbed and later wrote a tract entitled The last and heavenly Speeches and glorious Departure of John, Viscount Kenmure, printed in Edinburgh in 1649, by Evan Tyler, His Majesty's Printer. It was reprinted in 1827.
John Gordon married Lady Jane Campbell, sister of Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll
.
New Galloway
New Galloway is a town in Dumfries and Galloway Region, southwest Scotland. It lies on the west side of the valley of the Water of Ken, a mile north of the end of Loch Ken...
.
Biography
Sir John Gordon of LochinvarLochinvar
Lochinvar is a loch in Scotland that is now a reservoir. It nestles in the hills of Dumfries and Galloway to the north-east of St. John's Town of Dalry. It is drained by the Lochinvar Burn, which flows south to the Water of Ken. The ruins of a castle stand on a now submerged islet within the loch...
(as he was known before his enoblement) was the eldest son of Sir Robert Gordon of Lochinvar (d. November 1628), a Gentleman of the King's Bedchamber, by his wife Lady Isabel Ruthven, daughter of the William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie
William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie
William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie , known as The Lord Ruthven between 1566 and 1581, was a son of Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven.-Life account:...
.
After completion of his studies he travelled on the continent, and while there he resided in the house of the famous John Welsh
John Welsh of Ayr
John Charles Welsh was a Scottish Presbyterian leader.He was born in Dumfriesshire and, after a wayward youth, attended the University of Edinburgh and obtained his MA in 1588. He became a minister in Selkirk, and prior to 1596 and leaving Selkirk, Rev. Welsh married Elizabeth, a daughter of John...
, who was then minister at St. Jean d'Angely in France, having been banished from Scotland.
On his return home Gordon exerted himself with success in getting Anworth, the parish in which the family residence was situated, disjoined from two other parishes with which it had been united; and through his influence, Samuel Rutherford
Samuel Rutherford
Samuel Rutherford was a Scottish Presbyterian theologian and author, and one of the Scottish Commissioners to the Westminster Assembly.-Life:...
was appointed minister of the new charge in 1627, which Kenmure later said was "the most meritorious action of my life".
At some point Gordon was knighted. A strong supporter of the Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
monarchy, on May 8, 1633, as Sir John Gordon, knight, he was created Viscount of Kenmure and Lord Lochinvar by Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
by Letters Patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
, at his Scottish coronation in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. The destination was to heirs male whatsoever bearing the surname and Arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of Gordon.
He attended the parliament held at Edinburgh the following June, but avoided the debate on the King's measures relative to the church, retiring instead to Kenmure Castle. He later regretted that he took no part but expressed his dilemma at not wishing to upset his monarch.
Among other favours conferred upon him by Charles I was the charter, dated January 15, 1629, of a Royal Burgh
Royal burgh
A royal burgh was a type of Scottish burgh which had been founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter. Although abolished in 1975, the term is still used in many of the former burghs....
of New Galloway
New Galloway
New Galloway is a town in Dumfries and Galloway Region, southwest Scotland. It lies on the west side of the valley of the Water of Ken, a mile north of the end of Loch Ken...
, a new town which was built within the limits of his estate at Kenmure Castle.
Samuel Rutherford
Samuel Rutherford
Samuel Rutherford was a Scottish Presbyterian theologian and author, and one of the Scottish Commissioners to the Westminster Assembly.-Life:...
attended Kenmure on his deathbed and later wrote a tract entitled The last and heavenly Speeches and glorious Departure of John, Viscount Kenmure, printed in Edinburgh in 1649, by Evan Tyler, His Majesty's Printer. It was reprinted in 1827.
John Gordon married Lady Jane Campbell, sister of Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, 8th Earl of Argyll, chief of Clan Campbell, was the de facto head of government in Scotland during most of the conflict known as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, also known as the British Civil War...
.
Widow
When John Gordon died, she remarried, on September 21, 1640, the Sir Harry Montgomerie of Giffen, second son of Alexander Montgomerie, 6th Earl of Eglinton, and they had no children. She lived to a great age and was still alive in 1672.External links
- The Last and Heavenly Speeches, and Glorious Departure of John Viscount Kenmure (generally attributed to Samuel Rutherford), in its entirety (PDF download)