born с 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 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 {{link=James">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.