Stewart, John (1528 -1579)

John Stewart was the son of John Stewart, 3^rd Earl of Atholl, and Grizel Rattray. He began as a strong supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots, having voted in Parliament in 1560 against the confession of faith, confirming his allegiance to the Catholic Church. When Mary returned to Scotland from France in 1561, he was greatly favoured by the Queen, but on the murder of Mary’s husband Lord Darnley, in 1567, he joined the Protestant Lords against Mary. When Mary abdicated he was appointed a member of the regent’s council for James VI. By 1569 he was again in Mary’s camp, but failed to prevent the appointment of the Earl of Morton to the regency in 1572. In 1578, however, James dissolved the regency, and appointed John Stewart Lord Chancellor. Following a banquet on 20 April 1579 at Stirling Castle, Stewart became ill, and died several days later, his death widely believed to be the result of poisoning.