Secretary of State (Kingdom of Scotland)

The Secretary of Scotland was a senior post in the government of the Kingdom of Scotland.

Not to be confused with Secretary of State for Scotland.
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The office appeared in the 14th century (or earlier) when it was combined with that of Keeper of the Privy Seal. Called Clericus Regis (although some have applied that to the Lord Clerk Register), he was regarded as an Officer of State. The Secretary was constantly to attend the King's person, receive the petitions and memorials that were presented to him, and write the King's answers upon them. All Letters Patent passed through his hands, and were drawn up by him as with all the King's letters and dispatches, warrants, orders, &c. In the case of lengthy documents a short docket was also subscribed by the Secretary for the King's perusal, as a summary; and as all the writings signed by the King came through his hands, he was answerable for them if they contained anything derogatory to the laws or the dignity of The Crown.[1]

From 1626 until their respective deaths, King Charles I divided the duties between two Secretaries, the Earl of Glencairn and Sir Archibald Achison of Glencairn.

The Secretary did not invariably sit in the Parliament of Scotland after 1603, because his duties normally involved his attendance upon the monarch who was thereafter resident in England. Between 1608 and 1640 there were often two Secretaries, which became normal practice after 1680, although only one could sit in Parliament.

The office was abolished as such in 1709, though from then until 1725 and again from 1742 to 1746 there was a third Secretary of State with particular responsibility for Scottish affairs, for those posts, see Secretary of State for Scotland.

Secretaries of State
SecretaryFromToMonarch
NicholasMalcolm IV
Duncan Pecoce1380Robert II
Andrew de Hawick, Rector of Linton1410James I
John Stewart, Earl of Buchan1418
John Cameron (later Bishop of Glasgow)1424
William Foulis1429
John Methven1432
John de Ralston, Bishop of Dunkeld14421448James II
Nicholas Otterburn14491452
George Shoreswood, Chancellor of Dunkeld (later Bishop of Brechin)14531454
Thomas Vaus, Dean of Glasgow4 December 145621 October 1458
John Arous, Archdeacon of Glasgow9 November 145824 July 1459
George Ledale, Parson of Forest18 September 145910 February 1462James II / James III
Archibald Whitelaw, Archdeacon of Lothian27 August 14621493James III / James IV
Richard Muirhead, Dean of Glasgow4 August 14934 March 1506James IV
Patrick Panter, Abbot of Cambuskenneth22 November 150618 November 1519James IV / James V
Thomas Hay, Parson of Rathven1 April 15171 August 1524James V
Patrick Hepburn, Prior of St Andrews8 March 152515 June 1526
Sir Thomas Erskine of Haltoun5 October 152610 January 1543James V / Mary, Queen of Scots
David Paniter, Bishop of Ross20 January 154328 February 1543Mary, Queen of Scots
Henry Balnaves of Halhill28 February 15434 May 1543
David Paniter, Bishop of Ross4 May 15431558
William Maitland of Lethington155816 May 1571Mary, Queen of Scots / James VI
Robert Pitcairn, Commendator of Dunfermline Abbey28 August 15711583James VI
Sir John Maitland of Thirlestane15841591
Sir Richard Cockburn of Clerkington15911596
Sir John Lindsay of Balcarres15961598
James Elphinstone15981609
Sir Alexander Hay of Whitburgh16081612
Sir Thomas Hamilton16121626James VI / Charles I
William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling16261640Charles I
Sir Archibald Acheson of Glencairnie16261634
William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton16411649
Sir Robert Spottiswood of New Abbey16441644
William Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian10 March 1649Parliament
John Maitland, 2nd Earl of Lauderdale19 January 16611680 (dismissed)Charles II
Charles Middleton, 2nd Earl of Middleton26 September 16821684
Alexander Stewart, 5th Earl of Moray11 October 16801688
John Drummond, 1st Earl of Melfort15 September 16841689Charles II / James VII /
William II and Mary II
George Melville, 1st Earl of Melville13 May 16891691William II and Mary II
John Dalrymple, Master of Stair1 January 16911695William II and Mary II
(later, only William II)
James Johnston3 March 16921696
John Murray, Earl of Tullibardine15 January 169631 March 1698William II
James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Seafield5 February 169621 November 1702William II / Anne
John Carmichael, 1st Earl of Hyndford31 January 16996 May 1702
James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry6 May 170216 October 1704Anne
George Mackenzie, 1st Viscount Tarbat21 November 170217 October 1704
John Ker, 5th Earl of Roxburghe16 October 17045 June 1705
James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Seafield17 October 1704March 1705
William Johnstone, 1st Marquess of Annandale10 March 1705September 1705
Hugh Campbell, 3rd Earl of Loudoun5 June 17051 May 1707 (and then Secretary of State for Scotland to 25 May 1708)
John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar19 September 17051 May 1707 (and then Secretary of State for Scotland to February 1709)

For the equivalent position after the 1707 Treaty see Secretary of State for Scotland

References
  1. Scot of Scotstarvet, Sir John, Director of Chancery, The Staggering State of the Scots' Statesmen, 1550 - 1650, Edinburgh, 1754, xxvii - xxviii
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