Alexander Cunninghame, 5th Earl of Glencairn

ALEXANDER CUNNINGHAM, EARL OF GLENCAIRN

Alexander Cunningham, Earl of Glencairn, is the son of William Cunningham, Earl of Glencairn, and his wife Catherine Borthwick. According to Darryl Lundy's Peerage he was born in 1515 and died on 23 December 1574. Darryl Lundy's Peerage

Identified as Alexander Cunningham, son and heir of William, Master of Glencairn, he is noticed in a protest which he raised on 7 December 1528 National Records of Scotland, Earls of Glencairn, reference GD39/1/43 On 14 November 1538 Alexander Cunningham, identified as the son and apparent heir of Sir William Cunningham, Master of Glencairn, gave his consent when his father wadset certain of his lands in the barony of Kilmaurs. Ibidem, reference GD39/5/26

Alexander was known as 'the Good Earl' because he was one of the first lords to suuport the Protestant Reformation; he was a zealous Presbyterian by 1540. He was a destroyer of images at Holyrood Chapel and many other churches. He went to England in 1543 as a hostage for his father, but returned in 1544. He led 2500 men against Marie de Guise, the Queen Regent, in 1559, and had high command of the Presbyterian forces against Mary, Queen of Scots at Carberry Hill in 1567 and at Langside in 1568. He bore the sword at the coronation of King James VI in 1567, and was made Joint Lieutenant of the West of Scotland. KiwiGen Genealogy: The Cunninghame Family of Glencairn

• He succeeded to the title of 5th Earl of Glencairn [S., 1488] in March 1547/48.[3]
• He succeeded to the title of 5th Lord Kilmaurs [S., 1464] in March 1547/48.[3]
• He was an enthusiastic Presbyterian during the Reformation, smashing altars and supposedly idolatrous objects in Holyrood Chapel.[3]
• He was invested as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) [Scotland] in 1561.[3]
• He fought in the Battles of Carberry Hill in 1567.[3]
• He held the office of Joint Lieutenant of the West of Scotland.[3]
• He fought in the Battle of Langside in 1568.[3]

First Marriage

Alexander Cunningham, Earl of Glencairn, married Lady Janet Hamilton, daughter of James Hamilton, Earl of Arran and Janet Bethune. According to Darryl Lundy's Peerage, they were married on 26 November 1526 and divorced in 1545. Darryl Lundy's Peerage

Second Marriage

Alexander Cunningham, Earl of Glencairn, married Janet Cuninghame, daughter of Sir John Cuninghame of Caprington and Annabella Campbell. According to Darryl Lundy's Peerage, the marriage contract was agreed on 22 January 1549-50. Darryl Lundy's Peerage

Children of First Marriage

According to Darryl Lundy's Peerage, Alexander Cunningham and Janet Hamilton had the following Children: Darryl Lundy's Peerage

1. Andrew Cuningham
2. Lady Margaret Cuningham
3. William Cuningham, Earl of Glencairn

Child of the Second Marriage

According to Darryl Lundy's Peerage, Alexander Cunningham and Janet Cunningham had the following children: Darryl Lundy's Peerage

1. Lady Janet Cunningham
2. Alexander Cunningham of Mountgreen

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

7 December 1528: Instrument bearing that in presence of the Lords of Council compeared Alexander Cunningham, son and apparent heir of William Master of Glencairn and protested that Dame Isobel Wallace Lady Loudon should not be admitted to give her evidence in the Summons of Error raised at the instance of the King and James Earl of Moray and the said Dame Isobel Wallace against John Perdovan Macer as Sheriff of Ayr and the other persons upon the serving of the breive purchased from Chancery by Marion Campbell as heir of the deceased John Campbell of Wester Loudon, and of the said William Master of Glencairn and Finlay Campbell heir of the said Marion, for his interest because the said Dame Isobel Wallace was excommunicated by Letters of the Official of Glasgow, at the instance of Cuthbert Earl of Glencairn and for the said William Master of Glencairn. Witnesses, William Cunningham of Craigends, William Cunningham of Glengarnock, David Cunningham of Robertland. National Records of Scotland, Earls of Glencairn, reference GD39/1/43

                   2

14 November 1538: Letters of reversion by David Cunninghame of Robertland, in favour of Sir William Cunninghame, kt., Master of Glencairn and fiar of Kilmaurs, of lands of Auldtoun, Newlands, meadows of Knockallan and 4 bolls of beir yearly from lands of Buythstoun, inhabited by David Clark, lying in barony of Kilmaurs, bailiary of Cunninghame and sheriffdom of Ayr, wadset with consent of Cuthbert, Earl of Glencairn, father of said Sir William Cunningham, and Alexander Cunningham, son and apparent heir of said William. Witnesses: Alexander Rutherford, John Robin, Alexander Arbuckle, sir David Cruyk, chaplain and Mr. John Riklintoun, notary public. National Records of Scotland, Earls of Glencairn, reference GD39/5/26

Genealogy

1. Darryl Lundy's Peerage

Citations

• 1. [S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume I, page 201. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.
• 2. [S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003). Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.
• 3. [S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 1, page 993.
• 4. [S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 1, page 994.

Note

John Anderson (1825) identified Lady Jean Hamilton as the daughter of James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, and Janet Betoun. Hamilton Memoirs: 82. She married Alexander, 5th Earl of Glencairn.

Wikipedia

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cunningham-1829

https://www.clanmacfarlanegenealogy.info/genealogy/TNGWebsite/getpe...

http://thepeerage.com/p2209.htm#i22089