Alexander Seton

Who is Alexander Seton?

Sir Alexander Seton, also known as Alexander de Seton was the Governor of Berwick.

He signed the Declaration of Arbroath of 1320 asserting the independence of Scotland. In 1327 he was appointed keeper of Berwick. When it was besieged by the English in 1333, he held command of the town, while Patrick de Dunbar, Earl of March was entrusted with the defence of the castle. After a long siege, an agreement to surrender Berwick within a certain time unless it has been relieved was obtained. Alexander's son, Thomas Seton, was given as a hostage. Sir William Keith succeeded Alexander as the governor of Berwick and refused to surrender. King Edward III of England then hanged Thomas Seton before the gates of the town on the grounds that the treaty had been broken. Another treaty was agreed to so as to protect the other hostages. Berwick was eventually surrendered after the defeat of the Scots at the Battle of Halidon Hill on 19 July 1333.

Alexander was present in Edward Balliol's parliament on 10 February 1334 and witnessed the cession of Berwick to the English.