Born: 1542 (at Linlithgow) Died: 1587 The famous 'Mary Queen of Scots' and daughter of James V. She succeeded to the throne as a six day old child. Although originally touted as a bride for the English Prince Edward she was sent to France in 1548 to marry the Dauphin, Francis, which she did in 1558. After his death, as King, in 1560, Mary returned to Scotland in 1561. Things started to go wrong when she married Henry, Lord Darnley in 1565. Her son, the future James VI, was born in 1566 but she and Darnley became estranged and he was murdered in 1567. A few weeks later she married James, Earl of Bothwell, surrendered to rebels a month later then abdicated a month after that. She was held captive in Lochleven castle but escaped in 1568. Her forces were defeated at the Battle of Langside by those of the Regent, the Earl of Moray. She escaped to England but Elizabeth I imprisoned her for nineteen years before finally executing her in 1587.
© Copyright Len Nicholson, 1996