Alexander Cunningham, 1st Earl of Glencairn

Who was Alexander Cunningham, 1st Earl of Glencairn?

Alexander Cunningham, 1st Earl of Glencairn, 1st Lord Kilmaurs was a Scottish nobleman.

He was firstly created a Lord of Parliament in 1450, with the title Lord Kilmaurs.

King James III of Scotland created Lord Kilmaurs Earl of Glencairn on 28 May 1488, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal.

Fighting on his king's side, he was slain at the Battle of Sauchieburn on 11 June 1488.

The Earl married Margaret, daughter of Sir Adam Hepburn, Master of Hailes, and sister of Sir Patrick Hepburn, 1st Lord Hailes. They had four sons. The second son, William, was ancestor of the Cunninghams of Craigends, Robertland,Bedlan, Auchenharvey, and Auchenyards.

By the Act Rescissory, passed in the first parliament of James IV, 17 October 1488, all creations of new dignities granted by that monarch's father since the preceding 2 February were annulled, and, in consequence, Robert Cunningham, 2nd Lord Kilmaurs, eldest son of this Earl of Glencairn, was deprived of the title and dignity of Earl. This was, however, overturned by the 1503 Act Revocatory.