MORTON, JAMES DOUGLAS, 4TH EARL OF


Meaning of MORTON, JAMES DOUGLAS, 4TH EARL OF in English

born 0441; 1516

died June 2, 1581, Edinburgh, Scot.

Scottish nobleman.

Appointed chancellor by Mary, Queen of Scots , in 1563, he conspired with other Protestant nobles to murder Mary's adviser David Riccio and probably was involved in the murder of Lord Darnley . He led the nobles that drove Mary's husband, the earl of Bothwell, from Scotland and forced her to abdicate in favour of her infant son, James (later James I of England). He became regent for James in 1572 and restored the rule of law to Scotland. Resented by the other nobles, he was forced to resign in 1578; he was later charged with complicity in Darnley's murder and executed.

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