Andrew Stewart, 1st Lord Avandale

Andrew Stewart (x1426–1488) was Lord Chancellor of Scotland from 1460 to 1482 and one of the leading servants of King James III of Scotland.

Illegitimate son of Walter son of Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany, he was said to be a grandson of Duncan Campbell but this is improbable as his sister, or half-sister, Marion married Duncan's son Colin Campbell of Glenorchy. His father and grandfather were executed by the vengeful King James I in 1425 and he was raised at the court of his paternal grandmother Isabella, Countess of Lennox. Andrew attended a university in England, in which country he was knighted before 12 July 1437 with his brother Murdoch. As well as Murdoch and Marion, two other siblings, Arthur and Walter, are known.

Returning to Scotland by 1440, he attended the Parliament of Scotland at Stirling that year. He probably served as a member of the royal household of King James II and was granted lands, including Avondale and Strathavon, which were forfeited by William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas. By 11 June 1457 had been granted the title Lord Avandale. In 1460 he was appointed Chancellor by James II who died later that year.

Avandale retained the officer of Chancellor, and may have served as a regent, in the reign of King James III of Scotland. During the minority of the king, Avandale served as governor of Stirling Castle and as an ambassador and diplomat, taking a leading role in the negotiations which led to the marriage of James and Margaret of Denmark in 1469. In 1471 he was granted the rents of the Earldom of Lennox for life. During the 1470s, he and his brothers and heirs—Avandale had no known legitimate children—were legitimated.

During the crisis of 1482, when James III declared war on England and his brother Albany was recognised as king by the English, Avandale was one of the faction who refused to fight and arrested the king. Whether it was as a result of this, or on Albany's orders, for Avandale had captured Albany's castle of Dumbarton for the king in 1479, Avandale was replaced as Lord Chancellor by John Laing, the Bishop of Glasgow.

In 1483 Avandale sat in the Parliament that condemned Albany and the following year he was one of the ambassadors sent to Louis XI of France. After this he appears to have largely withdrawn from public business. He died in 1488 and was succeeded by his brother Walter's son Alexander. Alexander died circa 1500 and the title Lord Avandale passed to another nephew, Andrew Stewart, 2nd Lord Avandale.

References

* Dictionary of National Biography, vol. XLIV.
* Boardman, Steve, "The Campbells 1250–1513".