David Barclay

Who was David Barclay?

Col. David Barclay, of Mathers, St Cyrus, Kincardineshire in Scotland, was 1st Laird of Urie near Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, Scotland, and father of Robert Barclay, the eminent Quaker apologist. Following active service in Europe as a professional soldier under Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, he attained the rank of Colonel and fought in the English Civil War on the side of the King. In 1647 he purchased the lands and barony of Urie in Kincardineshire from William Keith, 7th Earl of Marischal.

As a known associate of the Earl Marischal he was subsequently confined in Edinburgh Castle where he was converted to Quakerism in 1665 by the celebrated laird of Swinton, who was confined in the same prison.