Buchan, John Stewart, 3rd earl of

views updated

Buchan, John Stewart, 3rd earl of [S] (d. 1424). A younger son of Robert, duke of Albany, governor of Scotland, who made him earl of Buchan (1406). Albany appointed Buchan chamberlain (1407), in which post he oversaw widespread embezzling of royal funds. In 1419 Buchan travelled to France with 6,000 Scots to fight for the Dauphin Charles (later Charles VII) against the English. They played an important role and won a small victory at Baugé in Anjou (1421). Made constable of France, and leader of the French forces, Buchan came close to fighting James I, involved on the English side, at Beaugency (1421). Buchan was killed, with most of his army, at Verneuil (1424). This outcome was as welcome to James I as to the English, as it enabled him to turn against Buchan's family, the Albany Stewarts, and their estates, without fear of reprisal.

Roland Tanner

More From encyclopedia.com