James Stewart, 4th Lord Ochiltree explained

James Stewart, 4th Lord Ochiltree (died 1658) was a 17th-century Scottish noble.

He was the son of James Stewart, Earl of Arran and Elizabeth Stewart. He was baptised 14 March 1583 with James VI of Scotland and the Duke of Lennox as godparents.^[1]

His cousin Andrew Stuart sold the title Lord Ochiltree in 1615 to him. In 1621 he accused Sir Gideon Murray of misconduct in office.^[2]

James attempted to found a colony in Cape Breton, Canada in 1629 called Rosemar but was captured by French soldiers and taken to France.^[3] In 1631 he became involved in the investigation of treason committed by David Ramsay according to allegations made by Donald Mackay, 1st Lord Reay, and was indicted for slander against James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton, Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington, Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe, and Francis Scott, 2nd Earl of Buccleuch. He was imprisoned in Blackness Castle.^[4]

Marriage and issue

James married Katherine Kennedy and secondly Mary Livingston, whose son William was 5th Lord Ochiltree.

Notes and References

1. William Boyd, Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1581-1583, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1914), p. 330.
2. John Nichols, The Progresses, Processions, and Magnificent Festivities, of King James the First vol. 3 (London, 1828), p. 312.
3. http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/stewart_james_1E.html Dictionary of Canadian Biography 'STEWART, JAMES, of Killeith, fourth Lord Ochiltree'
4. Historical Manuscript Commission: Report on the Manuscripts of the Earl of Mar And Kellie (London, 1904), pp. 181-192.