CARNEGIE,
a local surname, derived from the lands and barony of Carnegie in the
county of Forfar.
In the reign
of King David the Second, Walter Maule granted to John de Bonhard, a
charger of the lands of Carnegie, in the barony of Panmure and parish of
Carmylie, when the latter assumed, in consequence, the surname of
Carnegie.
The family of
Carnegie of that ilk became extinct in the direct line. The next
principal family of that name was Carnegie of Kinniard. The first of it
was Duthacus, a descendant of Carnegie of that ilk, who obtained a
charter from Robert duke of Albany, governor of Scotland, of half of the
lands of Kinniard, in Forfarshire, and the superiority.
From him
lineally descended Sir Robert Carnegie of Kinnaird, appointed one of the
senators of the College of Justice in 1547, and ambassador to France in
1551; of whom a notice is subjoined. he and his predecessors were said
to be cupbearers to the kings of Scotland, for which they were in use to
carry a cup of gold on the breast of their eagle to show their office.
His grandson,
Sir David, was created Lord Carnegie of Kinniard, 14th April,
1616, in which year he was constituted one of the lords of session. In
June 1633, he was elevated to the earldom of Southesk. [See SOUTHESK,
Earl of.] These honours were attainted, under James, the fifth earl, for
being engaged in the rebellion of 1715; but restored in 1855.
Sir John
Carnegie, the second son of David Carnegie of Panbride, designed of
Coluthie, and brother of David, first earl of Southesk, obtained from
his father the lands of Aithie, &c., in Forfarshire, and was elevated to
the peerage, 20th April, 1639, as Lord Lour or Lower, and
advanced 1st November, 1647, to the dignity of earl of Ethie.
He suffered for his fidelity to Charles the First, and after the
restoration his lordship, in 1662, got an exchange of his titles for
those of Baron Rosehill of Rosehill, and earl of Northesk. [See NORTHESK,
Earl of.] He died in 1667, at the age of about 88.
The seventh
earl of Northesk, who distinguished himself as a naval officer, will be
noticed in the article NORTHESK.
CARNEGIE, SIR ROBERT,
of Kinniard, a lawyer and statesman, the son of John de Carnegie, who
was killed at the battle of Flodden, was some time chamberlain of
Arbroath, and having attached himself to the regent Arran, was, July 4,
1547, appointed a lord of session; but on the condition that, until an
actual vacancy occurred, he should be entitled to no salary or
emolument. In 1548 he was sent to England to treat for the ransom of the
earl of Huntly, chancellor of Scotland, who had been taken prisoner at
the battle of Pinkie. Soon afterwards he was despatched on a mission to
France; and when there, was requested by the French king, Henry the
Second, to use his influence with the duke of Chatelherault, on his
return, for the resignation of the regency in favour of Mary of Guise,
the queen dowager. In 1551 we find him clerk to the treasurer of
Scotland, and one of the commissioners named to conclude a peace with
England. In 1554 and 1556 he was similarly employed. When the
Reformation took place, he at first attached himself to the queen
regent’s party, and was employed by her majesty in negociating with the
lords of the congregation. He afterwards joined the latter, and was sent
by them to the courts of England and France to explain and vindicate
their intentions. He died July 5, 1566. In the queen’s letter,
nominating his successor on the bench, he is described as a person “well
inclined to justice, and expert in matters concerning the common weill
of this reals.” He is supposed to have been the author of the work on
Scots law, cited in Balfour’s Practicks as Lib. Carneg.; or
Carnegie’s Book. By Margaret, his wife, daughter of Guthrie of Lunan, he
had, with other sons, David, one of the eight commissioners of the
Treasury, called Octavians, who, by his second wife, a daughter of Sir
David Wemyss of that ilk, had Sir David Carnegie, abovementioned, first
earl of Southesk.
CARNEGIE, WILLIAM,
seventh earl of Northesk. See NORTHESK, Earl of.
