William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton

How are you related to William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton?

Connect to the World Family Tree to find out

William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton's Geni Profile

Share your family tree and photos with the people you know and love

  • Build your family tree online
  • Share photos and videos
  • Smart Matching™ technology
  • Free!

Related Projects

William Crichton

Birthdate:
Birthplace: Crichton, Edinburgh, Scotland
Death: July 24, 1454 (70-71)
Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
Immediate Family:

Son of Sir John Crichton, of that Ilk and Christian de Gremislaw
Husband of Margaret Crichton
Father of Elizabeth Crichton, Countess of Huntly; James Crichton, 2nd Lord of Crichton; Agnes Crichton and Sir John de Chrichton
Brother of Patrick Crichton; Douglas Crichton; Sir John de Chrichton; Stephen Crichton; Humphrey Crichton and 4 others

Occupation: Lord 1 of Crichton, of that Ilk., Chancellor of Scotland
Managed by: Private User
Last Updated:

About William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton

From thePeerage.com:

    William Crichton of that Ilk, 1st Lord Crichton was the son of Sir John Crichton. He died between January 1454 and July 1454.

William Crichton of that Ilk, 1st Lord Crichton was created 1st Lord Crichton between 1443 and 1447.
Children of William Crichton of that Ilk, 1st Lord Crichton

   * Agnes Crichton+

* Elizabeth Crichton+ d. 9 Jun 1479
* James Crichton, 2nd Lord Crichton4 d. Aug 1454
Note: "of that Ilk" is a Scottish term meaning that the place is the same as the surname, i.e. William Chrichton of that Ilk = William Chrichton of Chrichton.



William Crichton of that Ilk, 1st Lord Crichton1 M, #21296, d. between January 1454 and July 1454

William Crichton of that Ilk, 1st Lord Crichton|d. bt Jan 1454 - Jul 1454|p2130.htm#i21296|Sir John Crichton||p27807.htm#i278067||||Sir William Crichton||p27807.htm#i278066||||||||||

Last Edited=29 Oct 2009

    William Crichton of that Ilk, 1st Lord Crichton was the son of Sir John Crichton.2 He died between January 1454 and July 1454.1
    William Crichton of that Ilk, 1st Lord Crichton was created 1st Lord Crichton between 1443 and 1447. Children of William Crichton of that Ilk, 1st Lord Crichton 1.Agnes Crichton+ 2.Elizabeth Crichton+3 d. 9 Jun 1479 3.James Crichton, 2nd Lord Crichton+4 d. Aug 1454 Citations 1.[S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 2, page 2565. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition. 2.[S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 1, page 1331. 3.[S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume VII, page 121. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage. 4.[S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 1, page 1207.


The son of Sir John Crichton of Crichton, William Crichton is first attested to as one of the Scots noblemen and gentry who were given safe passage into England to meet James I of Scotland, following the latter's release from captivity.

Crichton was one of eighteen gentlemen to receive the honour of knighthood at the coronation of King James on 21 May 1424, and was made a Gentleman of the Bedchamber.

In 1426, Crichton, described as a knight of the royal chamber, along with William Fowlis, the royal almoner, and Thomas de Cranston, King's squire were sent as envoys to the court of Eric III of Norway, to negotiate a continuation of the peace between their respective countries.[4][5] Upon his return he was appointed governor of Edinburgh Castle, Master of the Royal Household and by 1435 Sheriff of Edinburgh. In 1437 Crichton , as Keeper of Edinburgh, had control of the six year old James II and by 1439 had himself proclaimed Lord Chancellor of Scotland. During the King's minority, Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas was Regent.

At his death Crichton and Sir Alexander Livingston fought to overthrow the power of the Black Douglas family. In 1440 they invited the 16-year-old William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas and his brother to dinner in Edinburgh Castle, and murdered them, despite the young King's pleas for their lives. This brutal incident of murder and betrayal of hospitality has become known as the ‘Black Dinner’ and was an inspiration for the famous "Red Wedding" massacre in the Game of Thrones series.

Crichton was sent in 1448 to the continent, accompanied by the Secretary of State, John de Ralston Bishop of Dunkeld and Nicholas Otterburn who would latterly assume that position. The purpose of this embassy was not only to ratify the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France, but to try to find a bride for the as yet unmarried King James. Crichton and his company proceeded on to the Duchy of Burgundy, where they negotiated with Duke Philip for a suitable match for the King. Mary of Guelders, daughter of Arnold, Duke of Guelders, and niece of Duke Philip was chosen. Crichton escorted the future Queen back to Scotland, where they landed at Leith on June 18, 1449.

In 1450 he made a considerable loan to James II. He also invested his wealth in Crichton Castle, adding to it and transforming it into an impressive courtyard castle. William, 1st Lord Crichton died before July 1454. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Crichton,_1st_Lord_Crichton

Additional details http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=michaelrn...



William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton (died 1454, before July) was an important political figure in the late medieval Kingdom of Scotland.

The son of Sir John Crichton of Crichton, William Crichton is first attested to as one of the Scots noblemen and gentry who were given safe passage into England to meet James I of Scotland, following the latter's release from captivity.

Crichton was one of eighteen gentlemen to receive the honour of knighthood at the coronation of King James on 21 May 1424, and was made a Gentleman of the Bedchamber.

In 1426, Crichton, described as a knight of the royal chamber, along with William Fowlis, the royal almoner, and Thomas de Cranston, King's squire were sent as envoys to the court of Eric III of Norway, to negotiate a continuation of the peace between their respective countries. Upon his return he was appointed governor of Edinburgh Castle, Master of the Royal Household and by 1435 Sheriff of Edinburgh.

In 1437 Crichton, as Keeper of Edinburgh, had control of the six year old James II and by 1439 had himself proclaimed Lord Chancellor of Scotland.

During the King's minority, Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas was Regent. At his death Crichton and Sir Alexander Livingston fought to overthrow the power of the Black Douglas family. In 1440 they invited the 16-year-old William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas and his brother to dinner in Edinburgh Castle, and murdered them, despite the young King's pleas for their lives. This brutal incident of murder and betrayal of hospitality has become known as the ‘Black Dinner’ and was an inspiration for the famous "Red Wedding" massacre in the Game of Thrones series.

Crichton was sent in 1448 to the continent, accompanied by the Secretary of State, John de Ralston Bishop of Dunkeld and Nicholas Otterburn who would latterly assume that position. The purpose of this embassy was not only to ratify the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France, but to try to find a bride for the as yet unmarried King James. Crichton and his company proceeded on to the Duchy of Burgundy, where they negotiated with Duke Philip for a suitable match for the King. Mary of Guelders, daughter of Arnold, Duke of Guelders, and niece of Duke Philip was chosen. Crichton escorted the future Queen back to Scotland, where they landed at Leith on June 18, 1449.

In 1450 he made a considerable loan to James II. He also invested his wealth in Crichton Castle, adding to it and transforming it into an impressive courtyard castle.

Marriage and issue

Lord Crichton had, by his wife Agnes, three children:

  • Sir James Crichton of Frendraught, who succeeded his father as 2nd Lord Crichton
  • Elizabeth Crichton, married Alexander Gordon, 1st Earl of Huntly
  • Agnes Crichton, married Alexander Lyon, 2nd Lord Glamis

Crichton in fiction

Crichton is portrayed as the villain of the story in Black Douglas, a 1968 novel by Nigel Tranter.



He obtained from king Robert II. a charter of the lands of Breadwood, anno 1375.

Sir WILLIAM CRICHTON of Crich∣ton, who was a consummate statesman, and made a great figure in the reigns of king James I. and II

See page 423... https://archive.org/details/completepeerage02cokahrish/page/n423/mo...

view all

William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton's Timeline

1383
1383
Crichton, Edinburgh, Scotland
1410
January 1410
Crichton, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
1415
1415
Crichton, Midlothian, Scotland (United Kingdom)
1435
1435
Crichton Castle, Pathhead, East Lothian, Scotland
1454
July 24, 1454
Age 71
Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
????
????
Sanquhar, Dumfries, Scotland
????
Chancellor of Scotland