Alexander Seton, 1st Viscount of Kingston

Sir Alexander Seton, 1st Viscount of Kingston (13 March 1620 – 21 October 1691), a Cavalier, 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 to Francis 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 on 14 February 1651 with limitation to the heirs male of his body. His title was taken from a village of that name in Dirleton parish, about two miles south-west of North Berwick. On the day of his creation, Sir Alexander was, with a gallant little garrison, defending Tantallon Castle against Oliver 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

Lord Kingston married four times.

Firstly to Jean Fletcher (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 the College of Justice, and had issue:

• Ann, born at Seton House on 24 April 1651, who married James Douglas, 3rd Lord Mordington (b.1651).

Kingston married secondly Elizabeth Douglas (30 May 1632, Stoneypath Tower, near Garvald, - Wednesday 21 October 1668, Whittingehame) sister and heir of Archibald Douglas of Whittingehame, and had issue:

• Charles Seton, Master of Kingston (1653-1682)
• George Seton (1654-1678)
• Alexander Seton (1655-1676)
• Archibald Seton, 2nd Viscount of Kingston
• Arthur Seton (1665-1691), died two days after his father.
• John Seton (1666-1674)
• James Seton, 3rd Viscount of Kingston
• Isobel Seton (1656-1674)
• Barbara Seton (1659-1679)
• Elizabeth Seton (b.1668), married in 1695 to William Hay of Duns, Scottish Borders and Drumelzier

Following the death of Elizabeth Douglas, Kingston married Elizabeth Hamilton, daughter of John Hamilton, 1st Lord Belhaven and Stenton. Following her death he married fourthly, Lady Margaret Douglas, daughter of Archibald Douglas, 1st Earl of Ormond. He had no issue by his last two wives.

Burial

Lord Kingston was buried on 25 October 1691, within the parish church of Whittingehame, Haddingtonshire.

Works

Kingston wrote a continuation of his family history which was begun a century earlier by Sir Richard Maitland;

• Maitland, Richard, and Seton, Alexander, The History of the House of Seytoun to 1559 by Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington continued by Alexnder Viscount Kingston, Maitland Club (1829)

References

• The House & Surname of Setoun, by Sir Richard Maitland, et al., reprinted 1830.
• The Scots Peerage by Sir James 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.