George, Bishop of the Isles

THE RIGHT REVEREND GEORGE HEPBURN

Bishop of the Isles; Postulate Abbot of Arbroath; Commendator of the Abbeys of Arbroath and Iona; Treasurer of Scotland

According to the Scots Peerage, the Right Reverend George Hepburn, here treated, is the third son of Adam Hepburn, Master of Hailes, and his wife Elyne Home, and the younger brother of the first Earl of Bothwell. The Scots Peerage II: 150 Catalogue of Scottish Bishops disagrees. It identifies him as the uncle to the first Earl of Bothwell, rather than his brother. An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops down to the year 1688: pp. 304-5

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

17 October 1510: Royal chapel in Edinburgh Castle. Instrument of resignation by sir John Tyrie, provost of Methven, in hands of King James IV, of his tenement of land in the Watergate of Perth. Notary: Walter Chapman, clerk, Glasgow diocese. Witnesses: Andrew, Bishop of Moray; David, Bishop of Lismore; George, abbot of Arbroath, postulate bishop of the Isles; George, abbot of Holyrood; James, Earl of Arran, Lord Hamilton; Sir William Cockburn of Langton; Sir William Scott of Balwearie; Sir Walter Forrester of Torwood; Mr Patrick Coventry; Mr Andrew Makbrek, chaplains. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Smythe Family of Methven, Perthshire, reference GD190/3/16

                   2

3 June 1513: Abirbrothoc. Precept of sasine by George, bishop of the Isles and perpetual commendator of Abirbrothoc, to Alexander Wishart of Logyvischart, of the lands of Kennymukkart otherwise Kennyneill; proceeding on decreet of the Lords of Council declaring that Peter Dempstar, son and heir of deceased John Dempstar of Carrestoun, although many times required to enter heir, has not done so and thereby forfeits the superiority of the said lands. Abirbrothoc. [878.5] National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Earls of Airlie, reference GD16/14/7

Biographical Summary by the Scots Peerage

George Hepburn was the son of Adam, Master of Hailes, and Elyne Home: "Mr. George Hepburne, a Churchman, was first preferred to the Provostry of the Collegiate Church of Lincluden, in the Diocese of Glasgow. On 9th February 1503-4 he was postulate Abbot of Arbroath, when George Hepburne, Dean of Dunkeld, designate his paternal uncle, was a witness to the instrument of postulation. He was appointed Lord High Treasurer of Scotland in 1509, but resigned the appointment in a few months; consecrated Bishop of the Isles 1510 ; and was Commendator of the Abbeys of Arbroath and Icolmkill. He was killed at the battle of Flodden, 9 September 1513". The Scots Peerage II: p.150

Biographical Summary by Scottish Bishops

George Hepburn, uncle to the first Earl of Bothwell, who succeeded in 1510. He was first preferred to the provostry of Bothwell, but, according to others, (of as good, and rather better authority.) to the provostry of Lincluden, as will immediately appear; and, on the 9th day of February 1503-4, was unanimously elected abbot of the monastery of Aberbrothock ; one clause of which election is so very singular, that I chuse to set it down here : — ' In nomine Domini, — Quod anno 1503, Feb. 9- 4 Subprior et conventus, in termino eis praefixo, pro eleva- ' done seu postulatione futuri abbatis, — per obitum illustrissimi principis Jacobi, Sti Andreae archiepiscopi, et ( abbatis monasterii de Aberbrothock, nullo reclamante, Spiritu Sancto, ut pie creditur, inspirante, nobilem et ' egregium virum, Georgium Hepburn, ecclesiae collegiatae de Lincluden, Glasguen. diocesis praepositum postularunt. In the year 1509 he was made lord treasurer, [Officers of State.] The next year he was elected bishop of this see, and the year after that he resigned the treasury, [Ibid.] He stiles himself "Georgius Sodoren. episcopus, et monasterii Ioniae commendatarius perpetuus" anno 1511, "et consecrationis nostrae primo" and he was commendator both of Arbroath and Icolumkill anno 1512, [Reg. Chart.] This prelate was slain with the king in the unfortunate field of Flodden, September 9. 1513. An historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops down to the year 1688: pp. 304-5

Biographical Summary by Wikipedia

George Hepburn (died 9 September 1513) was the son of Adam Hepburn and brother to Patrick Hepburn, the first Earl of Bothwell. He was a churchman, and served firstly as postulate Abbot of Arbroath, before becoming Lord High Treasurer of Scotland for a brief spell in 1509. Serving in that role only for a short time, he was consecrated as Bishop of the Isles in 1510 and was also Commendator of the Abbeys of Arbroath and Icolmkill (Iona). He was killed in action on 9 September 1513, at the Battle of Flodden.

Genealogy

The Scots Peerage II: pp. 147-8