GEORGE GORDON, 1st marquess of Huntly (1562-1636), son of the 5th earl of Huntly, and of Anne, daughter of James Hamilton, earl of Arran and duke of Chatelherault, was born in 1562, and educated in France as a Roman Catholic. He took part in the plot which led to the execution of Morton in 1581 and in the conspir acy which delivered King James VI. from the Ruthven raiders in 1583. In 1588 he signed the Presbyterian confession of faith, but continued to engage in plots for the Spanish invasion of Scot land. On Nov. 28 he was appointed captain of the guard, and while carrying out his duties at Holyrood his treasonable cor respondence was discovered. James, however, pardoned him. In April 1589 he raised a rebellion in the north, but was obliged to submit, and after a short imprisonment in Borthwick Castle was again set at liberty. He next involved himself in a private war with the Grants and the Mackintoshes, who were assisted by the earls of Atholl and Murray; and on Feb. 8, 1592, he set fire to Murray's castle of Donibristle in Fife, and stabbed the earl to death with his own hand. This outrage, which originated the ballad "The Bonnie Earl of Moray," brought down upon Huntly his enemies, who ravaged his lands. In December the "Spanish Blanks" were intercepted (see ERROLL, FRANCIS HAY, 9TH EARL OF), two of which bore Huntly's signature, and a charge of treason was again preferred against him. On Nov. 26, he and the other rebel lords were freed from the charge of treason, being ordered at the same time, however, to renounce Romanism or leave the kingdom. On their refusal they were attainted. Subsequently Huntly joined Erroll and Bothwell in a conspiracy to imprison the king. Huntly and Erroll gained a victory over the king's troops at Glenlivat, but his castle of blown up by James, and he left Scotland about March 1595. He returned secretly, submitted to the Kirk and was restored to his estates. In he was created a marquess and, with Lennox, appointed lieutenant of the north. He was treated with great favour by the king, and was reconciled with Murray and Argyll. Doubts, however, as to the genuineness of his abjuration again troubled the Kirk. On March 19, 1607, he was summoned before the privy council. Huntly thereupon went to England and appealed to James him self. He was excommunicated in 1608, and imprisoned in Stirling Castle till Dec. io, 161o, when he signed again the confession of faith. He was again imprisoned in 1616. At the accession of Charles I. Huntly lost much of his influence at court. For the private war waged against the Crichtons from 163o onwards, he was again summoned before the privy council in 1635, and was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle. He died at Dundee on June 13, 1636, after declaring himself a Roman Catholic.