Alexander Gordon (d. 1518)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Gordon was a late medieval Scottish
churchman. He was member of the kindred of the Earl of Huntly, being cousin to the reigning earl. He was the third son of James Gordon, Laird
of Haddo. From at least 1504, probably earlier, until 1516, he was Precentor
(chanter
) of the diocese of Moray
.
From 1507 until he became Bishop of Aberdeen in 1514 he was the Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland
.
After the death of William Elphinstone
(d. 24 October 1514), the canon
s of Aberdeen prepared to elect a successor. According to later tradition, Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly
, arrived and pressured the canons to elect his own cousin, the Precentor of Moray.
Meanwhile, at Rome Pope Leo X
had provided Robert Forman, dean of Glasgow, to the vacant see, while at the same time the Duke of Albany
had nominated one James Ogilvie
, who quickly became Abbot of Dryburgh
instead. Forman was persuaded by his brother Andrew Forman
, Archbishop of St Andrews
, to yield his claim to Gordon upon the promise of the next vacancy.
He died on 30 June 1518. It is possible that he eventually received the ritual of consecration
, though it is not very likely, although he was clearly ruling bishop for 3 years or over.
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
churchman. He was member of the kindred of the Earl of Huntly, being cousin to the reigning earl. He was the third son of James Gordon, Laird
Laird
A Laird is a member of the gentry and is a heritable title in Scotland. In the non-peerage table of precedence, a Laird ranks below a Baron and above an Esquire.-Etymology:...
of Haddo. From at least 1504, probably earlier, until 1516, he was Precentor
Precentor
A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The Latin derivation is "præcentor", from cantor, meaning "the one who sings before" ....
(chanter
Chanter
The chanter is the part of the bagpipe upon which the player creates the melody. It consists of a number of finger-holes, and in its simpler forms looks similar to a recorder...
) of the diocese of Moray
Diocese of Moray
The Diocese of Moray was one of the most important of the medieval dioceses in Scotland. It was founded in the early years of the 12th century by David I of Scotland under its first bishop, Gregoir...
.
From 1507 until he became Bishop of Aberdeen in 1514 he was the Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland
Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland
The office of Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland, one of the Great Officers of State, first appears in the reign of David II. After the Act of Union 1707 its holder was normally a peer, like the Keeper of the Great Seal...
.
After the death of William Elphinstone
William Elphinstone
William Elphinstone was a Scottish statesman, Bishop of Aberdeen and founder of the University of Aberdeen.He was born in Glasgow, and educated at the University of Glasgow, taking the degree of M.A. in 1452. After practising for a short time as a lawyer in the church courts, he was ordained a...
(d. 24 October 1514), the canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
s of Aberdeen prepared to elect a successor. According to later tradition, Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly
Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly
Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly was a Scottish nobleman and the 3rd Earl of Huntly. He was granted Strathavon in Banffshire and the Brae of Lochaber. He was a member of the Privy Council of Scotland.-Biography:...
, arrived and pressured the canons to elect his own cousin, the Precentor of Moray.
Meanwhile, at Rome Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X , born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, was the Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known for granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 Theses...
had provided Robert Forman, dean of Glasgow, to the vacant see, while at the same time the Duke of Albany
Duke of Albany
Duke of Albany is a peerage title that has occasionally been bestowed on the younger sons in the Scottish, and later the British, royal family, particularly in the Houses of Stuart and Hanover....
had nominated one James Ogilvie
James Ogilvie
James Ogilvie [Ogilvy] was a late medieval Scottish prelate. After the death of William Elphinstone , the bishopric of Aberdeen became vacant. Ogilvy was nominated for the vacancy by John Stewart, Duke of Albany...
, who quickly became Abbot of Dryburgh
Abbot of Dryburgh
The Abbot of Dryburgh was the head of the Premonstratensian community of canons regular of Dryburgh Abbey in the Scottish Borders. The monastery was founded in 1150 by canons regular from Alnwick Abbey with the patronage of Hugh de Morville, Lord of Lauderdale...
instead. Forman was persuaded by his brother Andrew Forman
Andrew Forman
Andrew Forman was a Scottish diplomat and prelate who became Bishop of Moray in 1501, Archbishop of Bourges in France, in 1513, Archbishop of St Andrews in 1514 as well as the headship of several monasteries....
, Archbishop of St Andrews
Archbishop of St Andrews
The Bishop of St. Andrews was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of St Andrews and then, as Archbishop of St Andrews , the Archdiocese of St Andrews.The name St Andrews is not the town or church's original name...
, to yield his claim to Gordon upon the promise of the next vacancy.
He died on 30 June 1518. It is possible that he eventually received the ritual of consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
, though it is not very likely, although he was clearly ruling bishop for 3 years or over.