Did you know that the first assassination of a head of government by firearm happened in 16th-century Scotland?
On this day in history, 23rd January 1570, James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, regent for the young King James VI and half-brother to Mary, Queen of Scots, met his tragic end in a story of power, betrayal, and vengeance.
Moray, who was about 38 or 39 years of age at his death, was the second eldest of seven – yes, seven - illegitimate sons fathered by King James V of Scotland. The king had nine illegitimate children in all, all born to different mothers. Moray’s mother was Lady Margaret Erskine, daughter of John Erskine, 5th Lord Erskine, and wife of Sir Robert Douglas of Lochleven. His biographer, Mark Loughlin, notes that the king’s affection for the young Moray and his mother are shown clearly from the generous provision that was made for him, and that the king even consulted the pope regarding a divorce for Margaret so that he could marry her. Sadly for Moray, it didn’t happen. But he did become a powerful man.
In July 1567, Moray’s half-sister, Mary, Queen of Scots, who had been imprisoned at Lochleven Castle by the confederate lords following her defeat at Carberry Hill, was forced to abdicate in favour of her one-year-old son, James, who became King James VI. Moray was made regent for his half-nephew.
On 2nd May 1568, Mary escaped from Lochleven and quickly rallied support, gathering 6,000 men. On 13th May, less than two weeks after Mary’s escape, Moray’s crown force met her force at the Battle of Langside. Moray was outnumbered, but Mary’s commander was taken ill during the battle and without his leadership, her men didn’t know what to do. Moray and his men defeated Mary’s in just 45 minutes. Mary fled the battlefield, eventually crossing the border into England, where, of course, she was taken into custody and spent the rest of her life in confinement.
Moray acted a regent of Scotland for just 29 months, but during that time, Scotland was relatively stable, and his former tutor George Buchanan described him as the “good regent”, a view supported by the famous Protestant reformer John Knox. But Moray had his enemies, supporters of the former queen.
Moray was shot dead on this day in 1570 in Linlithgow, Scotland, by James Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh. The Hamiltons were supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots. Moray was processing down the main street of Linlithgow on horseback when Hamilton, who was in home of his uncle, John Hamilton, Archbishop of St Andrews, shot him from a window. Hamilton was hiding behind sheets that were drying there. Following the shot, Hamilton executed a perfect escape plan
Robert Birrel described what happened in his diary:
“The Earl of Moray, the Good Regent, was slain in Linlithgow by James Hamilton of Bothwell-haugh, who shot the said Regent with a gun out at ane window, and presently thereafter fled out at the back, and leapt on a very good horse, which the Hamiltons had ready waiting for him; and, being followed speedily, after that spur and wand had failed him, he drew forth his dagger, and struck his horse behind; whilk causit the horse to leap a very broad stank; by whilk means he escaped.”
As for Moray, he was able to dismount and walk to his lodging, but he died later that day.
Moray was buried at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, in St Anthony’s Aisle, on 14th February 1570, with John Knox preaching at his funeral. Moray’s daughter, Elizabeth, became 2nd Countess of Moray.
Moray is famous for being the first head of government to be assassinated by a firearm. But what happened to his killer and the Hamilton family?
Well, as Robert Birrel described in his diary, Hamilton made it out of Linlithgow and to the safety of his family’s lands. The archbishop’s house was burnt and the archbishop took refuge at Dunbarton castle. However, after an attack on the castle, the archbishop was captured, tried and convicted of art and part in the assassination of the Regent Moray. He was hanged at Stirling. Hamilton escaped into exile in France and in 1579, the Parliament of Scotland, declared the Hamilton family rebels. Arthur Hamilton of Myreton, Captain of Hamilton, was executed and other members of the family were imprisoned, but the assassin got away. He died in 1581.
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