ALTRIE,
in the peerage of Scotland, an extinct barony originally conferred on
Robert Keith, the second son of William fourth earl Marischal, who was
commendator of the Cistertian Abbey of Deer in Aberdeenshire, and had
the whole lands belonging to that monastery erected into a temporal
lordship, with the title of Lord Altrie, 29th July 1587. His lordship
was selected by King James VI., to go to Denmark to negotiate his
marriage with the princess Anne in 1589, but excused himself on account
of his age and infirmities, when his nephew George, fifth earl Marischal,
was appointed in his stead. The first Lord Altrie is supposed to have
been dead before 1606. He was succeeded by his said nephew, the fifth
earl Marischal, the founder of Marischal College, Aberdeen, when the
title of Lord Altrie merged in the superior title, and became extinct on
the death of George the tenth earl Marischal. See MARISHAL, earl, and
KEITH, surname of.