Robert Spottiswoode
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Spottiswoode (Spottiswood, Spotiswood, Spotswood) (1596 - January 20, 1646) was Lord President of the Court of Session
and member of the Privy Council
to James I of England
, and Lord President of the College of Justice
and Secretary for Scotland, appointed by Charles I of England
and his wife Rachel Lindsay, daughter of David Lindsay (d. 1613)
, Bishop of Ross.
Sir Robert was a man of great learning and merit. His wisdom and knowledge of the law came to the attention of King James VI of Scotland (James I of England
), who appointed him Lord President of the Court of Session and a member of the Privy Council. He was later appointed Lord President of the College of Justice by Charles I of England
.
Charles I
, having erected the Bishopric of Edinburgh, pleaded with Sir Robert to part with his lands of New Abbey in 1634, which he gave as part of a patrimony to his new Bishopric. Though Sir Robert acceded to the wishes of the King, he was not paid for the lands. The estate of the Bishops was soon abrogated, however, and the King restored Sir Robert to his former rights, and gave back his title deeds in 1641. But Sir Robert was obnoxious to the prevailing faction, and was obliged to leave the Kingdom, so the estates continued in possession of the Crown.
. They had three sons:
Lord President of the Court of Session
The Lord President of the Court of Session is head of the judiciary in Scotland, and presiding judge of the College of Justice and Court of Session, as well as being Lord Justice General of Scotland and head of the High Court of Justiciary, the offices having been combined in 1836...
and member of the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
to James I of England
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
, and Lord President of the College of Justice
College of Justice
The College of Justice is a term used to describe the Supreme Courts of Scotland, and its associated bodies.The constituent bodies of the supreme courts of Scotland are the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary, and the Accountant of Court's Office...
and Secretary for Scotland, appointed by Charles I of England
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...
Life
Sir Robert was the son of John SpottiswoodeJohn Spottiswoode
John Spottiswoode was an Archbishop of St Andrews, Primate of All Scotland and historian of Scotland.-Life:...
and his wife Rachel Lindsay, daughter of David Lindsay (d. 1613)
David Lindsay (d. 1613)
David Lindsay was of the twelve original ministers nominated to the "chief places in Scotland" in 1560. In 1589 as one of the recognised leaders of the Kirk and as chaplain of James VI of Scotland, Lindsay accompanied James to Norway to fetch home his bride. He was appointed bishop of Ross and a...
, Bishop of Ross.
Sir Robert was a man of great learning and merit. His wisdom and knowledge of the law came to the attention of King James VI of Scotland (James I of England
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
), who appointed him Lord President of the Court of Session and a member of the Privy Council. He was later appointed Lord President of the College of Justice by Charles I of England
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...
.
Charles I
Charles I
Charles I may refer to:In Kings and Emperors:* Charles I, Holy Roman Emperor or Charlemagne * Charles I of Naples, King of Sicily * Charles I of Hungary, King of Hungary...
, having erected the Bishopric of Edinburgh, pleaded with Sir Robert to part with his lands of New Abbey in 1634, which he gave as part of a patrimony to his new Bishopric. Though Sir Robert acceded to the wishes of the King, he was not paid for the lands. The estate of the Bishops was soon abrogated, however, and the King restored Sir Robert to his former rights, and gave back his title deeds in 1641. But Sir Robert was obnoxious to the prevailing faction, and was obliged to leave the Kingdom, so the estates continued in possession of the Crown.
Family
Sir Robert married in 1629 Bertha Morrison, eldest daughter of Sir Alexander Morrison of Preston Grange, on of the Senators of the College of JusticeCollege of Justice
The College of Justice is a term used to describe the Supreme Courts of Scotland, and its associated bodies.The constituent bodies of the supreme courts of Scotland are the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary, and the Accountant of Court's Office...
. They had three sons:
- John, died shortly before the restoration of Charles II of EnglandCharles II of EnglandCharles 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...
in 1660. - Alexander, succeeded to the barony of Spottiswoode. His descendants resided at Spottiswoode, the hereditary estate.
- Dr. Robert Spottiswoode, appointed by Charles II of EnglandCharles II of EnglandCharles 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...
phyisician to the Governor and Garrison of Tangier, Morocco. He went there with the John Middleton, 1st Earl of MiddletonJohn Middleton, 1st Earl of MiddletonJohn Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton was a Scottish army officer, who belonged to a Kincardineshire family which had held lands at Middleton since the 12th century....
. Dr. Robert married Catherine Maxwell Elliott (c. 1638 - December 1709), a widow, and had one son:
- Alexander SpotswoodAlexander SpotswoodAlexander Spotswood was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the British Army and a noted Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. He is noted in Virginia and American history for a number of his projects as Governor, including his exploring beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains, his establishing what was perhaps the first...