General Notes

REFN: 4517AN
REFN: P4518
Sir Alexander Livingston of Callendar who was the favourite counse llor of
James I (of Scotland), after whose death he acted as guardian to the
young King James II during his minority, and, in that capacity was for
some time the virtual ruler of Scotland.
Click for details of the life of Sir Alex ander Livingston and the Black
Dinner of 1440.
Died: 1451
Married: (first n ame unknown) Dundas; daughter of James Dundas of Dundas,
the elder.
Sir Alex ander Livingston and ? Dundas had the following children:
Sir James Livingston , 1st Lord Livingston of Callendar
Alexander Livingston of Feldes or Phildes, of Perthshire, Constable of
Stirling Castle, Captain of Methven Castle, etc., executed by hanging
and/or beheading on Castle Hill in Edinburgh on January 21, 1449/50 for
high treason. Robert Livingston of Linlithgow, Comptoller, wa s executed
for high treason as well. Alexander Livingston of Feldes or PhilDe s was
the ancestor of the Livingstons of Dunipace, Bantaskine, Kirklands of
Dunipace, Balrownie, and Halls of Airth. See E.B. Livingston: The
Livingston s of Callendar (Edinburgh, 1920) Chapters XIV., XV., and XVI.
for details of this line.
Janet Livingston, born circa 1395, married Sir James Hamilton of Ca dzow,
father of the first Lord Hamilton.
Elizabeth Livingston (doubtful) who is said to have married James Dundas
of Dundas, the younger.
Helen Livingst on who married William Menteith of Carse of Kerse.
Sir Alexander Livingston of Callendar was a relatively unknown Lothian
Baron who played little part in g overnment but who was now appointed
Keeper of Stirling Castle. He competed fo r powerwith Sir William Crichton
during the minority of James II.
The surnam e Livingston or Livingstone is of territorial origin from the
lands of that n ame in West Lothian deriving from a Saxon named Leving,
who settled in Scotla nd during the reign of Edgar (1097-1107). His
grandson is designated in a cha rter of William the Lion "of Livingstone"
. His descendant, Sir William Livin gstone accompanied King David II on
his expedition to England in 1346 and it was from him he acquired the
barony of Callander, Stirlingshire, whose heires s he married. Fr om the
Callander branch descended the Livingstones of Dunipa ce, Kinnaird, Bonton
and Westquarter. Sir James Livingstone of Callander was created Lord
Livingston in 1458 and it was his descendant, William who was gu ardian of
the young Mary Queen of Scots until she was conveyed to Inchmahome after
the Battle of Pinkie. The 7th Lord Alexander was made 1st Earl of
Lin lithgow in 1600, a title that was forfeited when James, 5th Earl "came
out" i n the Rising of 1715. Likewise, Sir James Livingstone of Barncloich
was strip ped of his title of Viscount Kilsyth for the same crime. The
Highland Livings tones from the Isle of Lismore and the districts of Lorn
and Appin in Argyll claim a quite different origin. Their original Gaelic
name was MacLeay from " Mac an Leigh" (son of the physician) or
MacDhunnshleibhe (son of Dunsleve). I n 1641 James Livingston of Skirling,
Baron of Biel was the Keeper of the Priv y Purse to King Charles I and was
granted the lease of the lands and the righ ts of the bishopric of Argyll
and the Isles and in this capacity he resided f or a while at Achandu
castle at Lismore. It was probably at this time that th e MacLeays adopted
the name Livingstone. The Argyll Livingstons became the he reditary
Keepers of the crozier or baculum of the Bishops of Lismore (from St .
Moluag who died in 592) and as such received grants of the land in
Lismor e and the title of Barons of Bachyll. Another branch of the
MacLeays or Livin gstones became followers of the Stewarts of Appin
descending from one of the Beatons, the physicians to the Lord of the
Isles. They were out with the Appi n Stewarts in the '45 and at the Battle
of Culloden Donald Livingstone saved the "White Banner of the Stewarts"
and carried