Born in 1575, Patrick Stewart was the son of Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney, and his second wife, Jean Kennedy. His family was one of the most powerful in Scotland, and had held the title of Lord High Admiral of Scotland since the 15th century. Patrick Stewart was educated at the University of Edinburgh and later the Universities of Paris and Douai.
In his youth, Patrick Stewart served as a soldier in the French army and gained valuable experience in warfare. He returned to Scotland in 1601, where he was appointed Governor of Orkney and Shetland by King James VI.
Patrick Stewart’s military children-does-rod-stewart-have” title=”How Many Children Does Rod Stewart Have”>career reached its peak during the Scottish Wars of the Covenant (1639-1651), which began when the Scottish Covenanters rebelled against King Charles I’s attempts to impose the Anglican Book of Common Prayer on Scotland. Patrick Stewart, who sided with the Covenanters, was appointed to several key military positions, including General of Artillery and Governor of Edinburgh Castle.
In 1645, Patrick Stewart led the Covenanters to victory over the Royalist forces at the Battle of Philiphaugh, which marked a turning point in the war. His military prowess earned him the nickname “the Lion of the North,” and he became one of the most respected figures in Scotland.
After the Covenanters’ victory in the Scottish Wars of the Covenant, Patrick Stewart’s career took a different turn. In 1649, he was appointed as Ambassador to the Court of Louis XIV of France, where he remained until 1652. During his time in France, he helped negotiate the Treaty of the Pyrenees, which ended a long-standing conflict between France and Spain.
Patrick Stewart returned to Scotland in 1652 and played a crucial role in the final stages of the Scottish Wars of the Covenant. He was one of the few Covenanters who refused to swear allegiance to the English Commonwealth, and was briefly imprisoned for his resistance.
Patrick Stewart died in 1659, at the age of 84. He was buried in the family vault at the Chapel of St. Lawrence in South Ronaldsay, Orkney.
Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney, was a remarkable figure in Scottish history. He was a skilled military commander, a respected diplomat, and a loyal supporter of the Scottish Covenanters. His legacy lives on in the many historical accounts of his deeds, and in the enduring admiration of the Scottish people.