- Alexander Seton, 1st Viscount of Kingston
Sir Alexander Seton, 1st Viscount of Kingston, (
March 13 ,1620 - diedOctober 21 ,1691 ). ACavalier , his was the first dignity Charles II conferred as King.Family
Alexander was the son of
George Seton, 3rd Earl of Winton (1584 - 1650) by Anne, daughter toFrancis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll (d.1631).Child Knight
At the early age of twelve, he received King Charles I on a visit to Seton Palace, delivering himself of a Latin oration at the iron gates of the palace in the presence of His Majesty. There and then the King conferred upon him the honour of knighthood, remarking as he did so: "Now, Sir Alexander, see that this does not spoil your school; by the appearance you will be a scholar."
Excommunication
After extensive travels in foreign lands Sir Alexander came home in 1640. But, refusing to sign the Covenant in 1643, he was excommunicated in
Tranent Church, and had to flee to France.Cavalier Upon returning he was entrusted with important State business by King Charles II, who created him Viscount of Kingston
February 14 ,1651 with limitation to the heirs male of his body. His title was taken from a village of that name inDirleton parish, about two miles south-west ofNorth Berwick . On the day of his creation, Sir Alexander was, with a gallant little garrison, defendingTantallon Castle againstOliver Cromwell who had laid siege to it. Following twelve days and a "battering with grate canon" the defenders were compelled to surrender, but only after quarter had been granted to them in recognition of their bravery.In 1668 Lord Kingston was appointed, by the King, commander of the Haddingtonshire Militia.
Marriages
He married four times, of which: (1) February 1650, to Jean (d.August 1651) only daughter of Sir George Fletcher, Gentleman of the Privy Chamber in Ordinary to King Charles I, and brother of Sir
Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun , a senator of theCollege of Justice ; (2) 22 July 1652, Elizabeth (30 May 1632, Stoneypath Tower, nearGarvald , - Wednesday 21 October 1668, Whittingehame) sister and heir of Archibald Douglas of Whittingehame. (No issue to the 3rd & 4th marriages).By his first wife Lord Kingston had one daughter, Ann, born at Seton House on 24 April 1651, who married
James Douglas, 3rd Lord Mordington (b.1651).By his second wife Lord Kingston had ten children, 7 boys and 3 girls. He was succeeded in his honours and estates by his eldest surviving sonArchibald Seton, 2nd Viscount of Kingston (1661 - 1714), who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his brotherJames Seton, 3rd Viscount Kingston , who was disgraced and, says Chambers, forfeited. He too died issueless.Burial
Lord Kingston was buried
October 25 ,1691 , within the parish church ofWhittingehame ,Haddingtonshire .References
* "The House & Surname of Setoun", by Sir
Richard Maitland , et al, reprinted 1830.
* "The Scots' Peerage" by SirJames Balfour Paul , under 'Seton, Viscount of Kingston', page 196.
* "The Seven Ages of an East Lothian Parish - Whittingehame", by the Reverend Marshall . Lang, T.D., Edinburgh, 1929, pps: 142-146.
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