John Keith, 1st Earl of Kintore

Sir John Keith, 1st Earl of Kintore (died 1715) was a Scottish nobleman.

Life

Born the Hon. John Keith Dec 12,1611, he was the fourth son of William Keith, 6th Earl Marischal, and Lady Mary Erskine, a daughter of John Erskine, Earl of Mar.

In 1651 Keith with his nephew William Keith, 7th Earl Marischal held Dunnottar Castle against Oliver Cromwell's forces. The Honours of Scotland had been placed at Dunnottar for safety during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, and Robert Overton, commanding a force of the New Model Army besieged the Castle hoping to recover them.

While the regalia was smuggled out of the castle to be hidden at Kinneff Parish church, Keith boarded ship for France, and was captured on his return by the parliamentarians. Keith insisted that he had delivered them to Charles II. The regalia remained at Knneff until the Restoration.

He was created Knight Marischal of Scotland upon Charles II return, and in 1677 was created Earl of Kintore along with the subsidiary title of Lord Keith of Inverugie and Keith Hall. Between 1684-87 Kintore was Treasurer-depute of Scotland. He was Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland in 1689. Lord Kintore was a supporter of both the Glorious Revolution and the 1707 Acts of Union.

The 1st Earl of Kintore died in 1715. Archives of the 1st and 2nd Earls are held by the University of Aberdeen Library (in MS 3064).

Marriage and issue

Lord Kintore married in 1662 to Lady Margaret Hamilton, the posthumous daughter of Thomas Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Haddington, and had issue:

• William Keith, 2nd Earl of Kintore 1695-
• Lady Jean Keith 1678-, married Sir William Forbes, 4th Baronet of Monymusk
• Lady Margaret Keith, married Gavin Hamilton of Raploch