John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton
Encyclopedia
John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton (c.
1608 – 3 July 1674) was a Scottish
army officer, who belonged to a Kincardineshire
family which had held lands at Middleton since the 12th century.
John was born around 1608 to Robert Middleton of Caldhame and his wife Elizabeth Strachan.
both in England and in Scotland, being especially prominent at the Battle of Philiphaugh
and in other operations against the great Montrose
.
He held a high command in the Scottish army which marched to rescue the king in 1648, and he was taken prisoner after the Battle of Preston
. He joined Charles II
when that monarch reached Scotland in 1650, but he was soon at variance with the party which at that time was dominant in church and state and was only restored to favor after doing a public penance at Dundee. He was a captive for the second time after the Battle of Worcester
, where he commanded the Royalist cavalry, but he escaped from the Tower of London
to Paris
.
In 1653, Middleton was chosen by Charles II to head the projected rising in Scotland. He reached Scotland in February 1654, but the insurrection was a complete failure. Its leader, who could not be held responsible for this result, remained in Scotland until 1655, when he rejoined Charles II, who created him Earl of Middleton
in 1656.
he returned to England with the King in 1660 and was appointed commander-in-chief of the troops in Scotland and Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland
, which he opened in January 1661. He was an ardent advocate of the restoration of episcopacy
, this being one reason which led to serious dissensions between the Earl of Lauderdale
and himself, and in 1663 he was deprived of his offices. In 1667 he was appointed governor of English Tangier on the coast of Morocco
, where he died on 3 July 1674.
Middleton's second wife was Martha Carey (1635/6–1706; married 16 December 1667), daughter of Henry Carey, 2nd Earl of Monmouth
and his wife Martha
.
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1608 – 3 July 1674) was a Scottish
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
army officer, who belonged to a Kincardineshire
Kincardineshire
The County of Kincardine, also known as Kincardineshire or The Mearns was a local government county on the coast of northeast Scotland...
family which had held lands at Middleton since the 12th century.
John was born around 1608 to Robert Middleton of Caldhame and his wife Elizabeth Strachan.
Military Career
In early life he served as a soldier in France; later he fought against Charles ICharles 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...
both in England and in Scotland, being especially prominent at the Battle of Philiphaugh
Battle of Philiphaugh
The Battle of Philiphaugh was fought on 13 September 1645 during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. The Royalist army of the Marquess of Montrose was destroyed by the Covenanter army of Sir David Leslie, restoring the power of the Committee of Estates.-Prelude:When...
and in other operations against the great Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed...
.
He held a high command in the Scottish army which marched to rescue the king in 1648, and he was taken prisoner after the Battle of Preston
Battle of Preston (1648)
The Battle of Preston , fought largely at Walton-le-Dale near Preston in Lancashire, resulted in a victory by the troops of Oliver Cromwell over the Royalists and Scots commanded by the Duke of Hamilton...
. He joined Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
when that monarch reached Scotland in 1650, but he was soon at variance with the party which at that time was dominant in church and state and was only restored to favor after doing a public penance at Dundee. He was a captive for the second time after the Battle of Worcester
Battle of Worcester
The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians defeated the Royalist, predominantly Scottish, forces of King Charles II...
, where he commanded the Royalist cavalry, but he escaped from the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
In 1653, Middleton was chosen by Charles II to head the projected rising in Scotland. He reached Scotland in February 1654, but the insurrection was a complete failure. Its leader, who could not be held responsible for this result, remained in Scotland until 1655, when he rejoined Charles II, who created him Earl of Middleton
Earl of Middleton
The title Earl of Middleton was created in 1656 in the Peerage of Scotland for army officer John Middleton, together with the subsidiary titles Lord Clermont and Fettercairn. He was succeeded by his son, Charles, who served in political offices under Charles II and James II & VI...
in 1656.
Political Career
Following the RestorationRestoration (Scotland)
The Restoration of the monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the government of occupation that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
he returned to England with the King in 1660 and was appointed commander-in-chief of the troops in Scotland and Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland
Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland
The Lord High Commissioners to the Parliament of Scotland, sometimes referred to as the fifth estate of the Estates of Scotland, were the Scottish Sovereign's personal representative to the Parliament of Scotland following James VI of Scotland's accession to the throne of England and his becoming,...
, which he opened in January 1661. He was an ardent advocate of the restoration of episcopacy
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
, this being one reason which led to serious dissensions between the Earl of Lauderdale
Earl of Lauderdale
Earl of Lauderdale is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1624 for John Maitland, 2nd Lord Maitland of Thirlestane, Berwickshire. The second Earl was created Duke of Lauderdale but died without male issue when the dukedom became extinct. The earldom passed to his brother Charles,...
and himself, and in 1663 he was deprived of his offices. In 1667 he was appointed governor of English Tangier on the coast of Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, where he died on 3 July 1674.
Family
He married Grizel Durham, who died in September 1666. They had three children together:- Charles, 2nd Earl of MiddletonCharles Middleton, 2nd Earl of MiddletonCharles Middleton, 2nd Earl of Middleton, Jacobite 1st Earl of Monmouth, PC was a Scottish and English politician who held several offices under Charles II and James II & VI...
(1649/1650–1719), married, had children - Grisel, married William Douglas, 9th Earl of Morton
- Helen, married Patrick Lyon, 3rd Earl of Strathmore and KinghornePatrick Lyon, 3rd Earl of Strathmore and KinghornePatrick Lyon, 3rd Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne was a Scottish peer and the son of John Lyon, 2nd Earl of Kinghorne....
Middleton's second wife was Martha Carey (1635/6–1706; married 16 December 1667), daughter of Henry Carey, 2nd Earl of Monmouth
Henry Carey, 2nd Earl of Monmouth
Henry Carey, 2nd Earl of Monmouth was an English nobleman and translator born in Bolton, Lancashire, England to Robert Carey, 1st Earl of Monmouth and Elizabeth Trevannion. On 6 November 1652 Henry married Martha Cranfield daughter of Lionel Cranfield, 1st Earl of Middlesex and Elizabeth Shepard...
and his wife Martha
Martha Carey, Countess of Monmouth
Martha Carey , Countess of Monmouth was an English noblewoman born in Middlesex, England to Lionel Cranfield, 1st Earl of Middlesex and Elizabeth Shepard. On 6 November 1652 Martha married Henry Carey, 2nd Earl of Monmouth son of Robert Carey, 1st Earl of Monmouth and Elizabeth Trevannion...
.