1600-1699, 1700-1799, George Makenzie, Leod Castle, Places, Scotland

GEORGE MACKENZIE, 1ST Earl Of CROMARTY, (1630-1714)~ 10th GGF

George Mackenzie (1630-1714), 1st Earl of Cromartie,

George Mackenzie of Avoch, Tarbat, 1st Earl of Cromarty (10th GGF)

1630–1714

BIRTH 1630 • Innerteil, Kinghorn, Fife, Scotland

DEATH 17 AUG 1714 • Scotland

10th great-grandfather

George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Earl of Cromartie
FRS
The 1st Earl of Cromartie
Secretary of Scotland
In office
21 November 1702 – 17 October 1704
MonarchQueen Anne
Preceded byJames Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry
Succeeded byJohn Ker, 5th Earl of Roxburghe
Personal details
Born1630
Innerteil, FifeScotland
Died17 August 1714 (aged 84)
Tarbat HouseRoss-shireGreat Britain
Alma materUniversity of St Andrews
University of Aberdeen

George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie FRS (1630–1714), known as Sir George Mackenzie, 2nd Baronet from 1654 to 1685 and as The Viscount of Tarbat from 1685 to 1703, was a Scottish statesman.

Contents

Life

He was born at Innerteil, near KinghornFife, in 1630, was eldest son of Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat – grandson of Sir Roderick MacKenzie and great-grandson of Colin Mackenzie of Kintail, and nephew of the first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, Ross-shire, the progenitor of the Mackenzies, earls of Seaforth. His mother was Margaret, daughter of Sir George Erskine of Innerteil, lord Innerteil, a lord of the court of session[1]

He was educated at the St Andrews University and King’s College, Aberdeen, where he graduated in 1646. He became an accomplished classical scholar, and cultivated interests in literature and science, but politics was his chief interest. In 1653, he joined Glencairn’s uprising on behalf of Charles II, and on the defeat of John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton, on 26 July 1654, fled to the castle of Eilean Donan. He succeeded to the family estates on his father’s death on 10 September 1654, but after escaping to the continent, remained in exile until the Restoration, occupying much of his leisure in the study of law. [1]

On the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, Middleton, Mackenzie’s old commander, had the management of Scottish affairs, and Mackenzie was his chief confidant.

His relative, Sir George Mackenzie, describes him as at this time “a passionate cavalier” but keen ambition influenced his political conduct as much as passion or prejudice. [1]

On 14 February 1661, he was nominated a Lord of Session with the judicial title of Lord Tarbat, and was elected the same year a member of the estates for the shire of Ross.

He is credited by Sir George Mackenzie with being the chief originator of the act passed in 1661 rescinding all statutes passed in the Parliament of 1640 and subsequently, but the chief aim of the act was to prepare for the establishment of episcopacy. It was not likely suggested to Tarbat by Archbishop Sharp[1]

In their policy on behalf of episcopacy, Middleton and Tarbat found themselves at this time opposed by John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale, the Minister for Scottish Affairs.

They resolved, therefore, to ruin him, the design being that Tarbat, who ‘was then much considered at court, as one of the most extraordinary men that Scotland had produced’, should succeed to Lauderdale’s place as Secretary of State.

To this end, in 1662, they devised the famous ‘act of billeting,’ the credit of which probably belongs to Tarbat. The proposal was by a secret vote of the estates to declare certain persons incapable of holding any office of public trust; but when the result of the vote – which disqualified Lauderdale among others – was sent up to the king he ‘threw the act of billeting into his cabinet, declaring that he would not follow their advice nor would he disclose their secret’.

Further inquiry, instigated by Lauderdale, led to the discovery that Middleton had been misleading both the king and the parliament, and he was dismissed from office, while Tarbat, for his connection with the intrigue, was on 16 February 1664 deprived of his seat on the bench. [1]

He remained in disgrace till 1678, when, through the offices of Sharp with the Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale, he was on 16 October appointed Lord Justice General of Scotland. On the following day he received a pension of £200 from Charles II, and on November was admitted a privy councillor of Scotland. The day after his admission he presented a letter from the king, to be recorded in the books of sederunt, intimating the king’s pardon for his connection with the act of billeting. On 1 October 1681, he was appointed Lord Clerk Register, and on 11 November following was again admitted one of the ordinary lords of session. [1]

On the fall of Lauderdale in 1682, Tarbat succeeded to the position of chief minister of the king in Scotland, and retained this position till the revolution. Shortly after the accession of James II, he was on 15 Feb. 168S created Viscount of Tarbat and Lord Macleod and Castlehaven in the peerage of Scotland to him and heirs male of his body. [1]

At the revolution Tarbat, so soon as he discerned that the cause of James was lost, resolved if possible to secure his own safety and his continuance in power. By advising in council the disbanding of the militia, he greatly facilitated the peaceful establishment of the new government. In the ‘Leven and Melville Papers’ (p. 14) there is printed, under date 25 April 1689, an exoneration and discharge to him of his office of register, securing him – on account of his faithful service both in putting ‘in order and method’ the various documents under his charge and recovering many that were missing — ‘from all danger in his person or estate, notwithstanding of any acts, writings, councils, speeches, or any crimes committed by him.’ It would appear, however, that he was not finally exonerated until after 17 January 1690. [1]

In 1689, he sent a memorial to the government, proposing a joint recognition of presbytery and episcopacy. After Killiecrankie he was employed by the government to treat with the Highland clans. He thoroughly understood Highland politics, and his prudent counsel was of considerable advantage in bringing about a settlement. If, says Macaulay, his plan (of distributing a few thousands sterling among the Highland chiefs) had been tried when he recommended it, instead of two years later, ‘it would probably have prevented much bloodshed and confusion’. On 5 March 1692, he was restored to the office of clerk register, but resigned it towards the close of 1695. According to Secretary Johnstone, he had been caught ‘grossly malversizing in his office of clerk both in public and in private business’. [1]

On the accession of Queen Anne, Tarbat was on 21 November 1702 appointed one of the Secretaries of State, and on 1 January 1703, was created Earl of Cromarty. Subsequently, he was chosen as a representative peer. In 1704, he resigned the office of secretary, and on 26 June 1705 was made lord justice general, retaining office till 1710. [1]

Lockhart states that though ‘he pretended to favour the Royal Family [the family in exile] and the episcopal clergy, yet he never did one act in favour of any of them, excepting that when he was secretary to Queen Anne he procured an Act of Indemnity and a letter from her recommending the episcopal clergy to the Privy Council’s protection; but whether this proceeded from a desire and design of serving them is easy to determine when we consider that no sooner did Queen Anne desert the Tory party and maxims, but his Lordship turned as great a Whig as the best of them, joined with Tweedale’s party to advance the Hanoverian succession in the Parliament 1704, and was at last a zealous stickler and writer in favour of the Union’. Cromarty’s able and judicious advocacy of the union with England is, however, his chief title to honour as a statesman, and atones for much that was foolish and inconsistent in his career. [1]

He died at New Tarbat 17 August 1714 and was buried, not as he had directed beside his second wife at Wemyss, but besides his ancestors at Dingwall. [1]

Clan-Mackenzie-Wikipedia

Family

By his first wife, Anna, daughter of Sir James Sinclair of Mey, baronet, he had four sons : Roderick, who died young ; John, who succeeded his father; Kenneth, and James. [1] James had a daughter who married to become the eccentric Lady Anne Dick[2]

By his second wife, Margaret, countess of Wemyss, he had no issue. [1]

Castle-Leod-Wikipedia

Works

Cromarty retained through life varied interests outside politics. He was consulted by Sir Robert Moray in regard to the formation of the Royal Society of London, and contributed to its ‘Transactions’ the following papers:

  • ‘Remarks on the Transactions of April 1675’ (‘Transactions,’ x. 305);[3]
  • ‘Account of Severe Wind and Frost’ (ib. x. 307);[4]
  • ‘Observations on Natural History made in Scotland’ (ib. x. 396) ;[5]
  • ‘Mosses in Scotland,’ in a letter to Dr. Hans Sloane, 15 Nov. 1670 (ib; xxvii. 296)[6]

An ‘Account of Hirta and Rona’ (islands of the Hebrides) was published in ‘Miscellanea Scotica,’ 1818, ii. 79. He published a large number of political pamphlets, some of which are now rare. They include:

  • ‘Memorial for his Highness the Prince of Orange in relation to the Affairs of Scotland, together with the Address of the Presbyterian party in that Kingdom to his Highness, and some Observations on that Address by two Persons of Quality,’ published anonymously, London, 1689. 2* ‘Parainesis Pacinca. or a Persuasive to the Union of Britain,’ Edinburgh, 1702, in which he exhaustively demonstrates that ‘there remains but one mode of union, viz. that of being united in one body, under one and the same head, by a perpetual identifying oneness.’
  • ‘A Few Brief and Modest Reflections persuading a Just Indulgence to be granted to the Episcopal Clergy and People of Scotland,’ 1703.
  • ‘Continuation of a Few Brief and Modest Reflections. Together with a Postscript vindicating the Episcopal Doctrine of Passive Obedience,’ 1703.
  • ‘Speech to the Parliament of Scotland, 11 July 1704’ (on the reading of the queen’s speech).
  • ‘A Letter from E. C. [Earl of Cromarty] to E. W. [Earl of Wemyss] concerning the Union, and a Second Letter on the British Union,’ 1706.
  • ‘Letter to M. of P.’ 8.’Trialogues: A Conference between Mr. Con, Mr. Pro, &c, concerning the Union,’ 1706 (anonymous).
  • ‘Friendly Response to a Letter concerning Sir George Mackenzie’s and Sir John Nisbet’s Observations and Response on the Matter of the Union,’ 1706.
  • ‘ Several Proposals conducing to a Further Union of Britain,’ 1711. [1]

His other works are:

  • ‘ A Vindication of King Robert III from the Imputation of Bastardy, by the clear Proof of Elizabeth Mure (daughter to Sir Adam Mure of Rowallan), her being the First Lawful “Wife of Robert the II, then Steward of Scotland and Earl of Strathern,’ Edinburgh, 1695.
  • ‘Several Proposals conducing to a Further Union of Britain,’ 1711.
  • ‘ Historical Account of the Conspiracy of the Earl of Gowrie and of Robert Logan of Restalrig against James VI,’ 1713.
  • ‘A Vindication of the Same from the Mistakes of Mr. John Anderson, preacher of Dumbarton, in his Defence of Presbytery,’ 1714. He also published:
  • ‘Synopsis Apocalyptica, or a Short and Plain Explication of Daniel’s Prophecy and of St. John’s Revelation in concert with it,’ 1707 (an attempt to apply the prophecies to events and to calculate by years when the events predicted will happen). [1]

His ‘Vindication of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, with some Account of the Records,’ was printed in the Scots Magazine for 1802 from a manuscript in the possession of Constable, the publisher. A ‘History of the Family of Mackenzie,’ by Sir George Mackenzie, first earl of Cromarty, is printed in Fraser’s Earls of Cromartie, ii. 462-573. [1]

Outlander-TV-series-Wikipedia

References

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Cromarty, George MacKenzie, 1st Earl of .
  1. Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Henderson 1891.
  2. ^ Jennett Humphreys, ‘Dick , Anne, Lady Dick (d. 1741)’, rev. David Turner, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 retrieved 20 Dec 2014
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ [2]
  5. ^ [3]
  6. ^ [4]

Attribution:

Legal offices
Preceded by
Sir Archibald Primrose of Carrington
Lord Justice General
1678–1680
Succeeded by
The Earl of Queensberry
Preceded by
The Earl of Lothian
Lord Justice General
1704–1710
Succeeded by
Earl of Ilay
Political offices
Preceded by
The Duke of Queensberry
Secretary of State
1702–1704
Succeeded by
The Earl of Seafield
Peerage of Scotland
New creationEarl of Cromartie
1703–1714
Succeeded by
John Mackenzie
Viscount of Tarbat
1685–1714
Baronetage of Nova Scotia
Preceded by
John Mackenzie
Baronet
(of Tarbat)
1654–1704
Resigned
hideAuthority control 
GeneralIntegrated Authority File (Germany)ISNI 1VIAF 1WorldCat
National librariesFrance (data)United StatesJapanAustraliaNetherlands
Scientific databasesCiNii (Japan)
OtherFaceted Application of Subject TerminologySocial Networks and Archival ContextSUDOC (France) 1Trove (Australia) 1

Categories

GEORGE MACKENZIE CROMARTY, 1ST Earl Of (1630-1714), Scottish statesman, was the eldest son of Sir John Mackenzie, Bart., of Tarbat (d. 16J4), and belonged to the same family as the earls of Seaforth. In 1654 he joined the rising in Scotland on behalf of Charles II. and after an exile of six years, he returned to his own country and took some part in public affairs after the Restoration. In 1661 he became a lord of session as Lord Tarbat, but having been concerned in a vain attempt to overthrow Charles II.’s secretary, the earl of Lauderdale, he was dismissed from office in 1664. A period of retirement followed until 1678 when Mackenzie was appointed lord justice general of Scotland; in 1681 he became lord clerk register and a lord of session for the second time, and from 1682 to 1688 he was the chief minister of Charles II. and James II. in Scotland, being created viscount of Tarbat in 1685.

In 1688, however, he deserted James and soon afterward made his peace with William III., his experience was very serviceable to the new government in settling the affairs of Scotland. From 1692 to 1695 Tarbat was again lord clerk register, and having served for a short time as a secretary of state under Queen Anne he was given the new created title of Earl of Cromarty in 1703. He was again lord justice general from 1704 to 1710. He warmly supported the union between England and Scotland, writing some pamphlets in favor of this step, and he died on the 17th of August 1714. Cromarty was a man of much learning, and among his numerous writings may be mentioned his Account of the conspiracies by the earls of Gowry and R. Logan (Edinburgh, 1713).

The earl’s grandson George, the 3rd earl of Cromarty ( c. 1703-1766), succeeded his father John, the 2nd earl, in February 1731. In 1745 he joined Charles Edward, the young pretender, and he served with the Jacobites until April 1746 when he was taken prisoner in Sutherlandshire. He was tried and sentenced to death, but he obtained a conditional pardon although his peerage was forfeited. He died on the 28th of September 1766.

This earl’s eldest son was John Mackenzie, Lord Macleod (1727-1789), who shared his father’s fortunes in 1745 and his fate in 1746. Having pleaded guilty at his trial Macleod was pardoned on condition that he gave up all his rights in the estates of the earldom, and he left England and entered the Swedish army. In this service, he rose to high rank and was made Count Cromarty. The count returned to England in 1777 and was successful in raising, mainly among the Mackenzies, two splendid battalions of Highlanders, the first of which, now the Highland Light Infantry, served under him in India. In 1784 he regained the family estates and he died on the 2nd of April 1789. Macleod wrote an account of the Jacobite rising of 1745, and also one of a campaign in Bohemia in which he took part in 1757; both are printed in Sir W. Fraser’s Earls of Cromartie (Edinburgh, 1876).

Macleod left no children, and his heir was his cousin, Kenneth Mackenzie (d. 1796), a grandson of the 2nd earl, who also died without issue. The estates then passed to Macleod’s sister, Isabel (1725-1801), wife of George Murray, 6th Lord Elibank. In 1861 Isabel’s descendant, Anne (1829-1888), wife of George, 3rd duke of Sutherland, was created countess of Cromartie with remainder to her second son Francis (1852-1893), who became earl of Cromartie in 1888. In 1895, two years after the death of Francis, his daughter Sibell Lilian (b. 1878) was granted by letters patent the title of countess of Cromartie.

Haddington, East Lothian Grid reference: NT 51556 70978 Lat / long: 55.9294, -2.776859 Alternative names: Coalstoun House

“Portrait of Lady Mackenzie” Attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller (British, 1646-1723) Three quarter length figure to the observer in rose beige costume edged with white and a blue cloak, a white spaniel on her lap; sitting before a stone panel on which her left arm rests and with a flowering shrub at her left. 49” x 40”, oil on relined canvas, descriptive label verso. The Mackenzie clan was among the most prominent in Scotland holding titles as Earls of Cromartie, Earls of Seaford, Viscounts of Tarbat etc. Lord George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie, held the office of Secretary of State 1702-1704.

The Isle of Bute, in the Firth of Clyde, is only 15 miles long and 3 miles wide. Bute is separated from the mainland of Scotland by a narrow channel called the Kyles of Bute. Much of the island consists of low hills, more reminiscent of Dorset than the Scottish Highlands. Rothesay’s circular red sandstone castle, much of which dates back to the 13th century, was partly destroyed by Cromwell and the Parliamentarians in the 17th century.

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