Lords Crichton (c.1443)

1^st Lord Crichton, William Crichton, b.?, a.c.1443, d.1454

The Crichtons were an ancient family from Lothian, first mentioned during the time of Malcolm III, and one Thomas de Crichton swore fealty or Edward I in 1296. One of his three sons, William Crichton, obtained lands in the barony of Sanquhar by marriage and this line became the senior branch of the family, with the holders becoming Sheriff of Dumfries, then raised to the peerage as the lords Crichton of Sanquhar and then further ennobled as the earls of Dumfries. From his eldest son Nicholas de Crichton is descended Sir John Crichton, who obtained a grant of a barony in Lothian which he renamed Crichton. His son William Crichton became head of the house around 1423 and was amongst those barons who travelled to Durham to conduct James I home to Scotland. He was quickly recognised to be an highly capable individual and was sent as an Ambassador to Norway. He soon after became a Privy Counsellor and Master of the Household. After the murder of James, Crichton and Alexander Livingston of Callendar had charge of the young King James II at Edinburgh Castle. Despite their personal rivalries, they united against the threat of the Douglas clan, and Crichton took the office of Lord Chancellor from Bishop Cameron of Glasgow, a Douglas sympathiser, while Livingston became Guardian to the King. Archibald Douglas, 5^th Earl of Douglas, died in 1439, and his successor, William Douglas, was invited to Edinburgh to sort out their differences. While there, Douglas was assassinated on the orders of Crichton and Livingston. The Douglas title passed to William’s great-uncle, James Douglas, who made his peace with the King at the expense of Crichton and Livingston, who fled to their respective estates. Douglas himself laid siege to Crichton Castle for several weeks before finally all parties agreed terms. As the King grew, Crichton’s power decreased, but he remained in favour until his death.

2^nd Lord Crichton, James Crichton, b.?, a.1454, d.c.1469

Son of the 1^st Lord and wife unknown. He married Lady Janet Dunbar, daughter of James Dunbar, 4^th Earl of Moray, and that earl’s co-heiress, from which he obtained the barony of Frendraught in Banffshire. He was made Great Chamberlain in 1430, no doubt at his father’s request. Although belted as an earl in 1452, he was persuaded to relinquish his claims to Moray in favour of Janet’s younger sister Elizabeth Dunbar and her husband Archibald Douglas, younger brother of James Douglas, 9^th Earl of Douglas, and was also replaced as Chamberlain in 1453.

3^rd Lord Crichton, William Crichton, b.?, a.c.1469, d.1493

Son of the 2^nd Lord and Janet Dunbar. He joined with Alexander Stewart, 1^st Duke of Albany, the King’s younger brother, in rebellion and following the failure of this endeavour was attainted for treason in 1483-1484, losing his titles and estates. The lands of Crichton and its castle passed through various hands. He married twice, firstly to Marion Livingston (b.?, d.c.1484), daughter of James Livingston, 1^st Lord Livingston, and secondly to Margaret Stewart, daughter of King James II, although this latter may not have been formalised. It is rumoured that he joined Albany in the first place as James III had seduced Marion, and that he seduced the King’s sister in revenge. His son James Crichton, whose mother may be Marion or Margaret, was the ancestor of the viscounts Frendraught.

(Last updated: 10/01/2010)