Alexander Lindsay, 1st Earl of Balcarres

Alexander Lindsay, 2nd Lord Balcarres and 1st Earl of Balcarres (6 July 1618 – 30 August 1659) was a Scottish nobleman.

Gules, a fess checky Argent and Azure all within a bordure Azure charged with fourteen mullets Or.

Life

The eldest son of David Lindsay, 1st Lord Balcarres, and grandson of John Lindsay, Lord Menmuir. In April 1640, he married Lady Anna Mackenzie (b.1621), daughter of Colin Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth.^[1][2]

Lindsay succeeded his father as Lord Balcarres in 1641. Originally a Covenanter, he was present at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644. However in 1648 he became an Engager seeking an alliance with Charles I, leading to a break with the majority of the Covenanters. Admitted to parliament in 1649 he was appointed a commissioner of the Exchequer in 1650.

He was created Earl of Balcarres on Jan 9, 1651, with the subsidiary title Lord Lindsay and Balneil, and hereditary governor of Edinburgh Castle in 1651. He visited France to advise the king in 1653 and 1654 and finally resided at the court in exile of Charles II in the Netherlands. Lady Anna served as a governess to Prince William of Orange. ^[3] Lord Balcarres died at Breda and was succeeded by his son Charles.

References

•  "Lindsay, Alexander (1618-1659)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

Notes

1. Mary McGrigor: "Anna--Countess of the Covenant"
2. Rosalind K. Marshall, ‘Mackenzie, Anna , countess of Balcarres and countess of Argyll (c.1621–1707)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2006 accessed 29 Nov 2014
3. Mary McGrigor: "Anna--Countess of the Covenant"