James Livingston, 1st Lord Livingston


James Livingston, 1st Lord Livingston was a Scottish nobleman.

Early life

Livingston was born at Callendar House in Scotland around 1410. He was the son and heir of Sir James Livingston of Callendar. His sister, Janet Livingston, was married to James Hamilton of Cadzow. His father was Justiciar of Scotland, and keeper of Stirling Castle who is known for conspiring with Lord Chancellor William Crichton in the assassination of the 6th Earl of Douglas and his brother, David, at the "Black Dinner" at Edinburgh Castle.
His mother was a daughter of James Dundas of Dundas, and his paternal grandparents were Sir John Livingston of Callendar and his wife, a daughter of Sir John Menteith of Kerse. Through his sister, he was uncle to James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton, and Gavin Hamilton.

Career

From 1442 to 1448, Livingston served as Captain of Stirling Castle and in 1444/5, he was Keeper of the King's Person.
Under James II of Scotland, he served as Great Chamberlain of Scotland from 1448 to 1450. From 1451 to 1454, he was keeper of Inverness Castle before again serving as Chamberlain from 1454 to 1467 during the end of James II's reign and into James III of Scotland's reign.
From 1454 to 1455, in 1457, again from 1460 to 1461 and lastly from 1465 to 1466, he was a Commissioner for a truce with England before serving as Scotland's Ambassador to England in 1466.

Personal life

Livingston was married to Marian Oliphant, the daughter of Thomas de Berwick and widow of Sir William Oliphant of Aberdalgie. Together, they were the parents of:
Livingston died sometime between 26 April and 7 November 1467. His widow died sometime between 4 June and 19 October 1478.

Descendants

Through his second son Alexander, he was a grandfather of Sir James Livingston, who became the 3rd Lord Livingston upon the death of his uncle in 1497, and married Agnes Houston, daughter of John Houston of that Ilk.
Through his daughter Eupheme, he was the grandfather of John Fleming, 2nd Lord Fleming and great-grandfather of John's son, Malcolm Fleming, 3rd Lord Fleming, who married Janet Stewart, illegitimate daughter of King James IV of Scotland who was governess to Mary, Queen of Scots in 1548.