Alexander Elphinstone, 1st Lord Elphinstone

Alexander Elphinstone, 1st Lord Elphinstone (died 9 September 1513) was a Scottish peer. He was the son of Sir John Elphinstone of that ilk and of Pittendreich.

Ruins of Elphinstone Tower in 2009

He was raised to the Peerage of Scotland as Lord Elphinstone, of Elphinstone in the County of Stirling, in 1510. This was a new creation. On the lands of the new barony of Elphinstone a new tower was erected called the tower of Elphinstone, which became the principal messuage of the new barony. It formed the chief residence of the Lords Elphinstone for eight generations of the family down to, and including Charles the ninth Lord.[1]

Alexander Elphinstone may have played a "Squire of the Black Lady" at the royal tournament in Edinburgh in 1507, accounts mention an "Alexander Elphinstone". The role was to escort the "Black Lady" in her triumphal chair from Edinburgh Castle to the tournament ground. Elphinstone and his companion William Ogilvy were dressed in outfits of white damask.[2]

He was created a Lord of Parliament at the christening of Prince Arthur 1509, and in 1513 had Kildrummy regranted to himself and his wife and united with Innernochty into the Lordship of Elphinstone.

He married Elizabeth Barlow or Barlay, an English lady attached to the Court of Margaret Tudor, Queen Consort of King James IV of Scotland.[3] The royal accounts for 1503 and 1506 include her fee of 50 English shillings for six months.[4] She injured her arm in August 1505 and was attended by the royal apothecary, John Mossman.[5] As a New Year's Day gift in 1507 she was given a gold chain worth £15 Scots.[6]

Their daughter Euphemia Elphinstone was a mistress of King James V of Scotland and the mother of the royal bastard Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney.[7]

Lord Elphinstone was killed at the Battle of Flodden in September 1513,[8] along with many other Scottish noblemen, and was succeeded in the lordship by his son Alexander.

Marriage and children

The children of Lord Elphinstone and Elizabeth Barlow included:

Elizabeth Barlow, Lady Elphinstone, later married John Forbes, 6th Lord Forbes.

Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by
New Creation		 Lord Elphinstone
1509–1513		 Succeeded by
Alexander Elphinstone

References
  1. William Fraser, The Elphinstone family book of the lords Elphinstone, Balmerino and Coupar, (Edinburgh, 1897).
  2. James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, vol. 3 (Edinburgh, 1901), pp. xlix, 258-259.
  3. William Fraser, Elphinstone Family Book, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1897), pp. 2, 38-9.
  4. James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 337.
  5. James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 3 (Edinburgh, 1901), pp. 158, 325.
  6. James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 3 (Edinburgh, 1901), p. 360.
  7. Peter D. Anderson, 'James V, mistresses and children of (act. c.1529–1592)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
  8. A general & heraldic dictionary of the Peerage & Baronetage of the British Empire Vol.I, 4th edit.
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