Robert Boyd, 1st Lord Boyd

Robert Boyd (d. c1470) Lord Boyd, was a Scottish statesman.

A son of Sir Thomas Boyd (d. 1439), Robert Boyd belonged to an old and distinguished family, of which one earlier Sir Robert Boyd, had fought with Sir William Wallace and Robert The Bruce.

Created Lord Boyd in 1454, he was one of the Regents during the minority of King James III, in 1460. He conspired with his brother, Sir Alexander Boyd, and obtained possession of the King's person in 1466 and was made by Act of Parliament sole Governor of the Realm.

He negotiated the marriage between James and Margaret of Norway in 1469 and secured with it the cession of the Orkney Islands by Norway. He was appointed Great Chamberlain for life, and Lord Justice General in 1467.

Conflict broke out between the King and the Boyd family. Robert, and his son Thomas Boyd, 1st Earl of Arran (who was married to Princess Mary), were out of the country involved in diplomatic activities when their "regime" was overthrown. Robert, 1st Lord Boyd was pronounced guilty of treason and fled firstly to Alnwick, Northumberland. His brother and assistant, Sir Alexander Boyd, was captured and beheaded on November 22, 1469.

Robert 1st Lord Boyd fought in the English service in the French wars, and died in exile.

He married Mariotta, daughter of Sir John Maxwell of Calderwood, and had numerous issue. One of his daughters, Elizabeth, married Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus.

References

*1911
* Townend, Peter, editor, "Burke's Peerage, Baronetage, & Knightage", 105th edition, London, 1970, p.1486.