John Ramsay, Lord Bothwell
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Sir John Ramsay, 1st and last Lord Bothwell, was born before 1464. He was the son of John Ramsay and Janet Napier. He married, firstly, Janet Kennedy, daughter of John Kennedy, 2nd Lord Kennedy, and Lady Elizabeth Seton, c. 6 Nov 1505. He and Janet Kennedy were divorced. Janet Kennedy was a favourite mistress of King James IV of Scotland and this may have been a marriage of political convenience. He then married Isobel Livingston, before February 1507/8.
He was attached to the court of King James III of Scotland. In July 1484 he escaped execution by the King's opponents at Lauder Bridge, the only one of the King's favourites to survive. He was created Lord Bothwell before 9 May 1485. He was Scottish Ambassador to England between 1486 and 1488.
On 8 October 1488, after the death of James III at the battle of Sauchieburn, John Ramsay lost his title and ambassadorship. He took refuge in England, acting as a spy for Henry IV of England, and took payment to deliver the Scottish King James IV to Henry.
On 8 April 1497 he was rehabiltated under the Great Seal, although not restored to his peerage or some of his former titles.
He negotiated the marriage of James IV to the daughter of Henry IV, thereby laying the cornerstone of the United Kingdom.
On 13 May 1510 lands in Kincardineshire, called the Barony of Balmain, were erected into a free barony for him and his successors. He took the title of Sir John Ramsay of Terinzean (near Cumnock) in Ayrshire. He died on 9th December 1513 at Flodden Field, killed in action.
