Stuart, James, 4th Duke of Lennox and 1st Duke of Richmond (1612 -1655)

James Stuart was the son of Esmé, 3rd Duke of Lennox, and Katherine Clifton, daughter and heir of Gervase, Lord Clifton of Leighton Bromswold. He succeeded his father the 3rd Duke of Lennox in 1624, and James I, being the nearest male of his house became, according to Scots law, his tutor and guardian. He was made a Gentleman of the Bedchamber in 1625, and was knighted on 29 June 1630. After studying at the University of Cambridge, he did the grand tour, travelling in France, Spain and Italy, and in January 1632 was made a Grandee of Spain 1st Class. In 1633 he was chosen a member of the Privy Council, made a Knight of the Garter, and accompanied Charles I on his visit to Scotland. When he returned to Scotland in 1637 to attend the funeral of his mother, he was entrusted with petitions against the Prayer Book that Laud had attempted to impose in that year. In 1638 Lennox was appointed Keeper of Richmond Park, and in 1640, Warden of the Cinque Ports. In 1641 he was created Duke of Richmond in the peerage of England, with a special remainder, failing heirs male, to his younger brother. During the Civil War he was a generous supporter, contributing large sums and taking an active part in the diplomatic moves, and was one of the mourners at the funeral of Charles I. He was never however an object of active hatred among the covenanters. He was Duke of Aubigny by inheritance from his great grandfather, John Lord Aubigny, younger brother of Matthew, Earl of Lennox. He married Mary, daughter of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, and widow of Lord Herbert of Shurland. He was succeeded by his son Esmé, but on the latter’s death in Paris in 1660, the title passed to Charles Stuart, 6th Duke of Lennox and 3rd Duke of Richmond.