Margaret Graham

MARGARET GRAHAM ~ The First Lady Napier (1597-1626)
Part is excerpted from article by Phinella Henderson -
Montrose’s sisters – An account
VENTURE FAIRE The Annual of The 1st Marquis of Montrose Society
Issue No. 17 DECEMBER 2012
John Graham, the 4Th Earl of Montrose (1573-1626) and Margaret Ruthven (1577-1618) had six children Margaret Graham was born in 1597, and was the second child born. On 15 April 1619 her marriage contract with Sir Archibald Napier of Merchiston, later Lord Napier, was signed. Her husband was the eldest son of the inventor of logarithms, he had become a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to the King. He was an intellectual with a strong sense of morality and the importance of disinterested public service. However, he was a good twenty years older than Margaret and she may not have viewed the prospect of marriage with much real enthusiasm. The marriage does seem to have been happy and successful. Four children were born: John, born 22 May 1623 who died young; Archibald, second Lord Napier, who married Lady Elizabeth Erskine and who died at Delfshaven in Holland, in 1660; Margaret, married in 1637 to Sir George Stirling of Keir, who died before 1654; and Lilias, born 15 December 1626, who died unmarried after 1665. All of the Napier children were to be fervent supporters of the Marquis of Montrose. Archibald, second Lord Napier joined Montrose in exile, never to return to Scotland.

Margaret stood in for her husband during absences as one of Montrose’s curators or guardians during his  minority. She was described by her husband after her death as “a woman religious, chaste, beautiful, and my chief joy in the world.” The portrait by Adam de Colone now on display in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and painted in 1626 shortly before death shows a smiling red-haired woman with regular features. Archibald Napier became Treasurer Depute of Scotland in 1622, Lord of Session in 1623, and one of the Bearers of the Canopy in the State Procession at the Scottish coronation of Charles Iin 1633. He was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia on 2 May 1627 and two days later was raised to the Scottish Peerage with the title of Lord Napier of Merchiston. He was a mentor to and close friend of Montrose for the rest of his life and he died at Fincastle in Athole, in November 1645.

This portrait of Lady Napier shows she had the same regular features and striking looks as her famous brother, the Marquis of Montrose. Her gown is enriched with embroidery and lace and she wears elaborate jewellery including a delicate diamond and pearl ornament of a pelican feeding her young pinned to her collar. She died young, shortly after this portrait was painted. Her husband, Sir Archibald Napier, described her as 'a woman religious, chaste and beautiful, and my chief joy in the world'.