Alexander Campbell of Carco
Alexander Campbell Alasdair Caimbeul | |
---|---|
John Sinclair | |
Successor | Andrew Lamb |
Orders | |
Consecration | 21 July 1566 x 23 July 1569 |
Personal details | |
Born | c. mid-16th century Probably Atholl |
Died | February 1608 Kinclaven parish, Atholl |
Alasdair Caimbeul or Alexander Campbell of Carco (died February 1608) was a
After some traveling to receive a
Accession and alienation
A native of
Still a minor, on 6 May 1566, at the instigation of
The earl's purpose in pushing his young kinsman into the bishopric was made clear by the new bishop's following actions. Bishop Alasdair proceeded to alienate most of the bishopric's lands and revenues, giving the lion's share to the earl. According to the historian Robert Keith, Bishop Alasdair "retained for his successors scarce so much as would be a moderate competency for a minister in Brechin".[4]
Travels
In May 1567, Alasdair Caimbeul received royal licence to leave Scotland, though he was still in the country in July 1569, when he voted against the proposal to annul the divorce between
Later episcopate
After returning to his native country, he resumed his charge as minister and titular Bishop of Brechin, attending
Five years later, Bishop Alasdair was once again in trouble with the church. He failed to attend a summons issued to him by the Dundee assembly of July 1580, and in 1582 another assembly ordered the Presbytery of the Mearns to bring charges against him.[1] The outcome of these charges is, however, not known, as the records do not survive.[1] In the following two decades, though, Caimbeul can be seen to take an active part in establishment politics, attending many assemblies, parliaments and meetings of the privy council, often acting as a supporter of Argyll.[1] Notably, the privy council which met at Brechin in April 1602 denounced him as a traitor, even though Caimbeul himself was sitting on it.[1] That was the last time that Caimbeul sat on the privy council.[1]
Death and family
Caimbeul resigned the bishopric of Brechin on or before 22 April 1607.[1] He retired to his estates at Carco, near Kinclaven in Atholl. He died the following year, in February 1608.[5]
As marriage became acceptable in post-Reformation Scotland, Caimbeul was married twice, firstly to the daughter of the laird of Circlet, Margaret Bethune, and secondly to Helen Clephane.[1] Clephane, who bore him two daughters and one son survived her husband's death as a widow.[1]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o MacDonald, "Campbell, Alexander".
- ^ Keith, Historical Catalogue, p. 166; Watt & Murray, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 56.
- ^ Watt & Murray, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 56.
- ^ Keith, Historical Catalogue, p. 166; MacDonald, "Campbell, Alexander".
- ^ MacDonald, "Campbell, Alexander"; Watt & Murray, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 56.
References
- Keith, Robert (1824), An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops: Down to the Year 1688 (New ed.), London
- MacDonald, Alan R. (2004), "Campbell, Alexander, of Carco (d. 1608)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford: Oxford University Press
- edited by D.E.R. Watt and A.L. Murray. (2003), )