DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25988#0024
2
Life of Mountstuart Elphinstone.
CH. I.
under the Earl of Angus, at Piperdean, on September 10, 1435.
Alexander Elphinstone, the fifth in descent from Sir William,
was created a lord of Parliament in 1509, and fell with his
royal master, King James IV., at Flodden, September 9, 1513.
The second Lord Elphinstone also died in the field, at the
disastrous battle of Pinkie, September 10, 1547.
Several members of the family have at different times
held high offices of state. The first who rose to distinction in
public lif’e was William Elphinstone, sometime Bishop of Ross,
afterwards of Aberdeen, who was the younger son of William
Elphinstone of Blythswood, and a great-grandson of Sir
William Elphinstone above referred to. In 1478 he was
appointed Lord High Chancellor, but held the office only for a
short time, until the death of King James III., to whose party
he was attached, in opposition to that of the Prince, afterwards
Iving James IV. Bishop Elphinstone also acted as a privy
councillor and an ambassador to various foreign Courts ; but he
enjoys a better title to fame as the founder of the University
of Aberdeen. He obtained from Pope Alexander VI. a papal
Bull of Privileges in 1494, but the real date of the foundation
of his University was 1506. The Bishop became its first
Chancellor, enlarged the endowment provided by King James
LV., and issued the scheme which bears the title of the first
foundation of the eollege.
James, the third son of Robert, third Lord Elphinstone,
became a Lord of Session in 1586. In 1598 he was appointed
Secretary of State. In 1604 King James VI. conferred upon
him the lands which had belonged to the Abbey of Balmerinoch.
ITe was also raised to the peerage, and became the founder of
a new branch of the Elphinstone family, under the title of
Balmerinoeh. This name is familiar to readers of the Jacobite
history of the last century, from the part taken by the sixth
and last Lord Balmerinoch in support of the House of Stuart.
I-Ie joined the Earl of Mar in 1715, and in 1745 he attached
himself to Prince Charles Edward. For thus displaying his
loyalty to the Stuarts he was beheaded on Tower Hill in
August 1746.
Life of Mountstuart Elphinstone.
CH. I.
under the Earl of Angus, at Piperdean, on September 10, 1435.
Alexander Elphinstone, the fifth in descent from Sir William,
was created a lord of Parliament in 1509, and fell with his
royal master, King James IV., at Flodden, September 9, 1513.
The second Lord Elphinstone also died in the field, at the
disastrous battle of Pinkie, September 10, 1547.
Several members of the family have at different times
held high offices of state. The first who rose to distinction in
public lif’e was William Elphinstone, sometime Bishop of Ross,
afterwards of Aberdeen, who was the younger son of William
Elphinstone of Blythswood, and a great-grandson of Sir
William Elphinstone above referred to. In 1478 he was
appointed Lord High Chancellor, but held the office only for a
short time, until the death of King James III., to whose party
he was attached, in opposition to that of the Prince, afterwards
Iving James IV. Bishop Elphinstone also acted as a privy
councillor and an ambassador to various foreign Courts ; but he
enjoys a better title to fame as the founder of the University
of Aberdeen. He obtained from Pope Alexander VI. a papal
Bull of Privileges in 1494, but the real date of the foundation
of his University was 1506. The Bishop became its first
Chancellor, enlarged the endowment provided by King James
LV., and issued the scheme which bears the title of the first
foundation of the eollege.
James, the third son of Robert, third Lord Elphinstone,
became a Lord of Session in 1586. In 1598 he was appointed
Secretary of State. In 1604 King James VI. conferred upon
him the lands which had belonged to the Abbey of Balmerinoch.
ITe was also raised to the peerage, and became the founder of
a new branch of the Elphinstone family, under the title of
Balmerinoeh. This name is familiar to readers of the Jacobite
history of the last century, from the part taken by the sixth
and last Lord Balmerinoch in support of the House of Stuart.
I-Ie joined the Earl of Mar in 1715, and in 1745 he attached
himself to Prince Charles Edward. For thus displaying his
loyalty to the Stuarts he was beheaded on Tower Hill in
August 1746.