Secretary of State (Kingdom of Scotland)

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The Secretary of Scotland or Lord Secretary was a senior post in the government of the Kingdom of Scotland.

The office appeared in the 14th century (or earlier) when it was combined with that of Keeper of the Privy Seal. Called Clericus Regis (although some have applied that to the Lord Clerk Register), he was regarded as an Officer of State. The Secretary was constantly to attend the King's person, receive the petitions and memorials that were presented to him, and write the King's answers upon them. All Letters Patent passed through his hands, and were drawn up by him as with all the King's letters and dispatches, warrants, orders, &c. In the case of lengthy documents a short docket was also subscribed by the Secretary for the King's perusal, as a summary; and as all the writings signed by the King came through his hands, he was answerable for them if they contained anything derogatory to the laws or the dignity of The Crown. [1]

From 1626 until their respective deaths, King Charles I divided the duties between two Secretaries, the Earl of Glencairn and Sir Archibald Achison of Glencairn.

The Secretary did not invariably sit in the Parliament of Scotland after 1603, because his duties normally involved his attendance upon the monarch who was thereafter resident in England. Between 1608 and 1640 there were often two Secretaries, which became normal practice after 1680, although only one could sit in Parliament.

The office was abolished as such in 1709, though from then until 1725 and again from 1742 to 1746 there was a third Secretary of State with particular responsibility for Scottish affairs, for those posts, see Secretary of State for Scotland.

Secretaries of State

ImageSecretaryFromToMonarch
Nicholas Malcolm IV
Duncan Pecoce 1380 Robert II
Andrew de Hawick, Rector of Linton1410 James I
John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Buchan.jpg John Stewart, Earl of Buchan 1418
John Cameron (later Bishop of Glasgow)1424
William Foulis 1429
John Methven 1432
John de Ralston, Bishop of Dunkeld 14421448 James II
Nicholas Otterburn 14491452
George Shoreswood, Chancellor of Dunkeld (later Bishop of Brechin)14531454
Thomas Vaus, Dean of Glasgow4 December 145621 October 1458
John Arous, Archdeacon of Glasgow 9 November 145824 July 1459
George Ledale, Parson of Forest18 September 145910 February 1462 James II / James III
Archibald Whitelaw, Archdeacon of Lothian 27 August 14621493 James III / James IV
Richard Muirhead, Dean of Glasgow4 August 14934 March 1506 James IV
Patrick Panter, Abbot of Cambuskenneth 22 November 150618 November 1519 James IV / James V
Thomas Hay, Parson of Rathven1 April 15171 August 1524 James V
Patrick Hepburn, Prior of St Andrews8 March 152515 June 1526
Sir Thomas Erskine of Haltoun 5 October 152610 January 1543 James V / Mary, Queen of Scots
David Paniter, Bishop of Ross 20 January 154328 February 1543 Mary, Queen of Scots
Henry Balnaves of Halhill 28 February 15434 May 1543
David Paniter, Bishop of Ross 4 May 15431558
William Maitland of Lethington.jpg William Maitland of Lethington 155816 May 1571 Mary, Queen of Scots / James VI
Robert Pitcairn, Commendator of Dunfermline Abbey 28 August 15711583 James VI
Portrait of Sir John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane, attributed to Adrian Vanson.jpg Sir John Maitland of Thirlestane 15841591
Sir Richard Cockburn of Clerkington 15911596
Sir John Lindsay of Balcarres 15961598
James Elphinstone 15981609
Sir Alexander Hay of Whitburgh 16081612
First Earl of Haddington.jpg Sir Thomas Hamilton 16121626 James VI / Charles I
William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling - Project Gutenberg etext 20110.jpg William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling 16261640 Charles I
Sir Archibald Acheson by George Jamesone, 1631.JPG Sir Archibald Acheson of Glencairnie 16261634
William Hamilton.jpg William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton 16411649
Sir Robert Spottiswood of New Abbey 16441644
William Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian 10 March 1649Parliament
Duke of Lauderdale.jpg John Maitland, 2nd Earl of Lauderdale 19 January 16611680 (dismissed) Charles II
Charles Middleton, 2nd Earl of Middleton 26 September 16821684
Alexander Stewart, 5th Earl of Moray 11 October 16801688
1stEarlOfMelfort.jpg John Drummond, 1st Earl of Melfort 15 September 16841689 Charles II / James VII /
William II and Mary II
1st Earl of Melville.jpg George Melville, 1st Earl of Melville 13 May 16891691 William II and Mary II
1stEarlOfStair.jpg John Dalrymple, Master of Stair 1 January 16911695 William II and Mary II
(later, only William II)
James Johnston00.png James Johnston 3 March 16921696
1stDukeOfAtholl.jpg John Murray, Earl of Tullibardine 15 January 169631 March 1698 William II
JamesFirstEarlOfSeafield.jpg James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Seafield 5 February 169621 November 1702 William II / Anne
John Carmichael, 1st Earl of Hyndford 31 January 16996 May 1702
John Baptist de Medina (1659-1710) (attributed to) - James Douglas (1662-1711), 2nd Duke of Queensberry, Statesman - PG 2045 - National Galleries of Scotland.jpg James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry 6 May 170216 October 1704 Anne
George Mackenzie, Earl of Cromartie.jpg George Mackenzie, 1st Viscount Tarbat 21 November 170217 October 1704
John Ker, 1st Duke of Roxburghe.jpg John Ker, 5th Earl of Roxburghe 16 October 17045 June 1705
JamesFirstEarlOfSeafield.jpg James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Seafield 17 October 1704March 1705
John Smith after Sir Godfrey Kneller, William Johnston, Marquess of Annandale, 1702, NGA 119660.jpg William Johnstone, 1st Marquess of Annandale 10 March 1705September 1705
Hugh Campbell, 3rd Earl of Loudoun 5 June 17051 May 1707 (and then Secretary of State for Scotland to 25 May 1708)
Thomas and John Erskine (cropped).jpg John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar 19 September 17051 May 1707 (and then Secretary of State for Scotland to February 1709)

For the equivalent position after the 1707 Treaty see Secretary of State for Scotland

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References

  1. Scot of Scotstarvet, Sir John, Director of Chancery, The Staggering State of the Scots' Statesmen, 1550 - 1650, Edinburgh, 1754, xxvii - xxviii