Quick Facts
Biography
John Seton, Lord Barns (Born 1553. died 1594) was a Scottish diplomat, courtier and judge.
Life
He was the third son of George Seton, 7th Lord Seton, by his wife Isabel, daughter of Sir William Hamilton of Sanquhar. While still a young man he went to Spain and the court of Philip II, by whom he was made Knight of the Military Order of Santiago and master of the household.
Seton was appointed master of the stable to James VI of Scotland some time before 1581, when he had an encounter with James Stewart, Earl of Arran. The same year he was sent as ambassador to complain to Elizabeth I of England regarding her conduct in interfering on behalf of James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton, but was not permitted to enter England. On 27 January 1587 he was admitted a member of the privy council; and on 17 February 1588 he was appointed, with the title Lord Barns, an extraordinary lord of session, in the place of his brother Alexander Seton.
Seton died on 25 May 1594.
Family
By his wife Anne, daughter of William Forbes, 7th Lord Forbes, Seton had, with other children, a son John who succeeded him.