Atholl, John Stewart, 4th earl of

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Atholl, John Stewart, 4th earl of [S] (c.1528–79). Atholl succeeded his father as a boy. He was a strong Roman catholic and supported the cause of Mary, queen of Scots. He opposed the religious reforms of 1560 and was appointed to the council in 1561 on Mary's return from France. At Corrichie in 1562 he helped to put down a rising by his father-in-law, Lord Huntly. He gave support to the Darnley marriage but opposed Bothwell and was against Mary in the confrontation at Carberry Hill. He was in the Council of Regency until Moray's return in 1567. In 1578 Atholl joined forces with Argyll to challenge the regent Morton and was appointed chancellor [S]. A reconciliation restored Morton to the council but in April 1579, immediately after banqueting with Morton at Stirling, Atholl fell ill and died. Rumours of poison circulated at once but Morton denied it at his own execution in 1581.

J. A. Cannon

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