Lords Boyd of Kilmarnock (1454)

1^st Lord Boyd, Robert Boyd, b.?, a.1454, d.1480-1482

Scion of an old Scottish family, probably Anglo-Norman in origin and vassals of the powerful de Moreville, Robert Boyd was Regent of Scotland during the minority of James III in 1460, and was a Commissioner for a truce with Edward IV of England in 1464. In 1464, he conspired with his brother Alexander Boyd to hold the King captive, and made himself Governor of Scotland, Great Chamberlain and Lord Justice General. He arranged for the marriage of James III to Margaret of Norway in 1469, securing the Orkney Islands for the Scottish Crown, and also had his son Thomas Boyd, created 1^st Earl of Arran and married to the King’s older sister, Princess Mary Stewart. While he and his son were out of the country, his regime was overthrown He escaped to the Continent and died there, while his brother was captured and executed.

2^nd Lord Boyd, James Boyd, b.c.1469, a.1482, d.1484

Grandson of the 1^st Lord and Mariot Maxwell (b.?, d.1472-1473), and son of Thomas Boyd, 1^st Earl of Arran, and Princess Mary Stewart of Scotland. The Boyd estates were restored to him on his grandfather’s death, though he died early in a duel.

3^rd Lord Boyd, Alexander Boyd, b.?, a.1484, d.1508

Uncle of the 2^nd Lord, being a younger son of the 1^st Lord.

4^th Lord Boyd, Robert Boyd, b.?, a.1508, d.1557-1558

Son of the 3^rd Lord and Janet Colville, daughter of Sir Robert Colville of Ochiltree.

5^th Lord Boyd, Robert Boyd, b.c.1517, a.1557-1558, d.1589-1590

Son of the 4^th Lord and Helen Somerville (b.c.1489, d.1536), daughter of Sir John Somerville of Quothquan. He was a supporter of the Regent Arran after the death of James V and became an advisor to Queen Mary, becoming a Privy Counsellor in 1567 and fighting on her side at the Battle of Langside. After her imprisonment, he continued to operate on her behalf until her death. He continued as a Privy Counsellor for the Regent Morton until his involvement in the Raid of Ruthven. After the King’s escape he was banished to France, but soon returned, and remained involved in politics until his death.

6^th Lord Boyd, Thomas Boyd, b.c.1547, a.1589-1590, d.1611

Son of the 5^th Lord and Margaret Colquhoun (b.?, d.1601). He fought alongside his father at the Battle of Langside.

7^th Lord Boyd, Robert Boyd, b.1595, a.1611, d.1628

Grandson of the 6^th Lord and Margaret Campbell, daughter of Sir Matthew Campbell of Loudoun, and son of Robert Boyd (b.b.1579, d.1597) and Lady Jean Kerr (b.?, d.1632), daughter of Mark Kerr, 1^st Earl of Lothian.

8^th Lord Boyd, Robert Boyd, b.c.1618, a.1628, d.1640

Son of the 7^th Lord and Lady Christian Hamilton (b.1588-1594, d.1645-1646), daughter of Sir Thomas Hamilton, 1^st Earl of Haddington.

9^th Lord Boyd, James Boyd, b.1596-1597, a.1640, d.1654

Younger brother of the 7^th Lord.

10^th Lord Boyd, William Boyd, b.?, a.1654, d.1692

Son of the 9^th Lord and Catherine Creyke. In 1661 he was created 1^st Earl of Kilmarnock.

Earls of Kilmarnock (1661)

1^st Earl of Kilmarnock, William Boyd, as above

2^nd Earl of Kilmarnock, William Boyd, b.1663-1664, a.1692, d.c.1692

Son of the 1^st Earl and Lady Jean Cunningham, daughter of William Cunningham, 9^th Earl of Glencairn. He outlived his father by only two months.

3^rd Earl of Kilmarnock, William Boyd, b.1683-1684, a.1692, d.1717

Son of the 2^nd Earl and Letitia Boyd.

4^th Earl of Kilmarnock, William Boyd, b.1705, a.1717, d.1746

Son of the 3^rd Earl and Eupheme Ross, daughter of William Ross, 12 Lord Ross of Halkhead. He was a Jacobite and led the Young Pretender’s cavalry at the Battle of Culloden, where he was captured, and taken to London. He was executed and attainted. His son James Boyd, however, became 15^th Earl of Erroll via his maternal grandmother.

(Last updated: 24/06/2009)