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11 unusual facts about Privy Council of Scotland


Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus

In 1573 he was made a Privy Councillor and Sheriff of Berwickshire; in 1574 Lieutenant-General in Scotland; in 1577 Warden of the West Marches and Steward of Fife; and in 1578 Lieutenant-General of the realm.

Charles Middleton, 2nd Earl of Middleton

He became a member of the Scottish Privy Council and after a recommendation by the duke, became joint Secretary of State for Scotland with Moray on 26 September 1682.

Lord Neill Campbell

Lord Neill Campbell was brought before the Privy Council of Scotland on 1 August 1684; he was, upon posting £5,000 bond, required to remain within six miles of Edinburgh, and to appear before the Council upon six hours notice.

Michael Balfour, 1st Lord Balfour of Burleigh

Michael Balfour, 1st Lord Balfour of Burleigh PC (died 15 March 1619) was a Scottish peer.

Balfour notably served as Scottish Ambassador to the Grand Duke of Tuscany and the Duke of Lorraine in 1606 and was a member of the Scottish Privy Council.

Peter Hume Brown

In the year the first volume was published, 1898, Hume Brown was asked to succeed David Masson, his old teacher, as editor of the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, which not only brought him financial security, but untrammelled access to historically crucial 17th century documents.

As well as teaching and writing, he spent 16 years as editor of the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, and served as Historiographer Royal.

Privy Council of Scotland

The council supervised the administration of the law, regulated trade and shipping, took emergency measures against the plague, granted licences to travel, administered oaths of allegiance, banished beggars and Gypsies, dealt with witches, recusants, Covenanters and Jacobites and tackled the problem of lawlessness in the Highlands and the Borders.

St. Michael of Scarborough

It was compiled using sources from David Dobsons book regarding Scots Banished to the American Plantations, which makes reference to original sources from the Scottish Privy Council as well as others.

William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus

Angus was again included in the Privy Council, and in June 1598 was appointed the King's Lieutenant in southern Scotland, in which capacity he showed great zeal and conducted the "Raid of Dumfries," as the campaign against the Johnstones was called.

Yester House

His son, the 2nd Earl of Tweeddale, was appointed to the Privy Council of Scotland after the Restoration.


William Johnstone, 1st Marquess of Annandale

He was created Marquess of Annandale in 1701, Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1701 and 1711, Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland in 1702, and president of the Privy Council of Scotland from 1692 to 1695, 1702-4 and 1705-6.