KINGSTON, Viscount
of, a
title (attainted in 1716) in the peerage of Scotland, conferred in
1651, on the Hon. Alexander Seton, second son of the second earl of
Wintoun. In 1633, when Charles I. visited Seton house, Haddingtonshire,
the young Alexander, then only twelve years old, attended by his
preceptor and four other masters of arts, in black cloaks lined with
velvet, welcomed his majesty with a Latin oration, kneeling on one
knee, at the gate of his father’s mansion, the king sitting in state,
with his nobles around him, and the ground being covered, a great way
from the throne, by a carpet. Before he rose off his knee, his majesty
knighted him, and expressed a hope that the honour would not spoil his
learning, as by the appearance he had made that day he saw that he
should be a scholar. In 1636 Sir Alexander went for two years to the
college of La Fleche in France. He then proceeded to Italy and Spain,
and on his return travelled through the greatest part of France. He
arrived in Scotland in 1640, and to avoid subscribing the Covenant,
went to Holland in 1643. On his return eight months afterwards, still
refusing to subscribe, he was excommunicated in Tranent church, 8th
October, 1644. He immediately passed over to France, where he attended
Prince Charles till 1647, when he returned to London, He was employed
in several negotiations of importance by Charles II., who created him,
the first after his coronation in Scotland, viscount of Kingston, with
limitation to the heirs male of his body, 6th February,
1651. He was four times married. By his first wife he had one
daughter; and by his second, of the family of Douglas of Whittingham,
Haddingtonshire, six sons and three daughters. His three eldest sons
and the fifth died young. Archibald, the fourth son, became second
viscount, and dying, unmarried, in 1714, was succeeded by his brother,
James, the youngest son, and third and last viscount of Kingston.
About 1687, when young, he was an ensign in the regiment of Scots
fusileers, commanded by Colonel Buchan. Animated by that unshaken
loyalty to the Stuarts which ever distinguished the family of Seton,
he engaged in the rebellion of 1715, and was attainted by act of
parliament, and his estates and honours forfeited to the crown. He
married Lady Anne Lindsay, eldest daughter of Colin, third earl of
Balcarres, and relict of the fifth earl of Kellie. He died, without
issue, about 1726, and in him terminated the male line of the body of
the first viscount.
