Notes:

John Steward, third earl of Buchan, was the second son of Robert Stewart, first duke of Albany (c.1340-1420), the de facto ruler of Scotland for most of the period from 1388 until his death. Buchan's career was thus almost entirely dominated by his father's political ambitions.

It was these ambitions that brought Stewart the title of earl of Buchan, reflecting his father's desire to build up a powerbase in the north east of Scotland. It also brought him a marriage to Elizabeth, the daughter of Archibald Douglas, fourth earl of Douglas, one of the most powerful Scottish nobles. In 1402 Buchan's older brother Murdoch Stewart was captured at the battle of Homildon, and for the next few years Buchan acted in his stead as his father's political heir, at least until Murdoch's own sons came of age. Murdoch was finally exchanged for Henry Percy "Hotspur" in 1416.

This connection to the Douglas family brought Buchan an appointment as the senior commander of a 6,000 strong Scottish army that responded to a French call for aid in 1418-19. The majority of these 6,000 men were members of the Douglas retinue, and the command was shared with Archibald Douglas, earl of Wigtown, his brother-in-law. The first year of the Scottish expedition to France was quiet, with many of the men distributed in garrisons. 1420 also saw the death of Buchan's father Robert Stewart. Buchan's brother Murdoch inherited his titles and most of his posts.

The relative inactivity changed in 1421. Buchan commanded the Franco-Scottish army that won a victory at Baug? on 22 March 1421 which resulted in the death of Thomas, duke of Clarence, Henry V's brother. Buchan was rewarded with the office of constable of France, making him the effective commander-in-chief of the French army. He was also given land at Ch?tillon-sur-Indre, and the services of an astrologer.

This was the high point of Buchan's military career. Later in 1421 he took part in an unsuccessful siege of Alencon, which nearly led to another battle, and also in the successful attack on Montmirail in May-June. Early in 1423 he led an unsuccessful campaign in the Ile-de-France, before returning to Scotland at the head of an embassy seeking further reinforcements. Despite a series of obstacles he was successful in this, and in March 1424 returned to France as part of another large Scottish army, this time under the command of Archibald Douglas, fourth earl of Douglas (and now duke of Touraine).

By the summer of 1424 the English were besieging Ivry, close to Le Mans. A large Franco-Scottish army under the command of Douglas, Buchan, the duke of Alencon and the viscounts of Narbonne and Aum?le moved to relieve the siege, but before they could arrive, the town surrendered. After a council of war it was decided to attack some of the English possession on the border of Normandy. In mid-August the combined army captured Verneuil. The English commander in France, the duke of Bedford, responded quickly, leading an army south to Verneuil. The senior French commanders would have preferred to retire, but it seems that the Scots convinced them to make a stand. On 17 August 1424 the Franco-Scottish army suffered a heavy defeat. Both Buchan and Douglas were killed during the battle, along with around 4,000 of the Scottish contingent.

The defeat at Verneuil seriously weakened the position of Charles VII. It also had a significant impact on Scottish politics. James I had finally returned from captivity in England. The deaths of Douglas and Buchan removed two of the most influential Scottish magnates, and in the following year James ordered the arrest and execution of Murdoch Stewart, second duke of Albany. One unexpected side effect of the battle of Verneuil was a revival in the power of the Scottish kings.

Rickard, J (25 February 2008), John Stewart, third earl of Buchan, 1380-1424 , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/people_stewart_john_third_buchan.html

John Stewart, third Earl of Buchan, son and heir of Alexander, succeeded to the earldom in 1505. He was retoured heir to his father in the earldom and Earlshill in 1519; until then he retained the style of Master of Buchan which he had held in his father's lifetime. On his own resignation, a charter of all his lands, baronies, lordships, and heritable offices, and of the Earlshill, was granted 4 August 1547 to his son John Stewart and his heirs, reserving the Earl's liferent.

He married Margaret, daughter of James Scrymgeour of Dudhope, Clonstable of Dundee, by whom he had:

John, Master of Buchan, who married, first, Mary, only child of James Stewart, Earl of Moray, an illegitimate son of James IV and Janet Kennedy; secondly, Margaret, daughter of Walter Ogilvy of the Boyne, who survived her husband two years at least. He was killed in the battle of Pinkie, 10 September 1547, leaving an only child by Margaret Ogilvy,
Christina, later to become Countess of Buchan.
James, Master of Buchan in 1547, after his brother's death. He married Christian, daughter of John Strang of Balcaskie, by whom he had:
James, served heir to his father, 13 October 1604, and to his grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather 26 March 1618.
Alexander.
Margaret, married to Sir Hadrian Damon of Birtewelte in Denmark.
Isobel.
John Stewart is spoken of as recently dead in 1551. However his first son and heir had predeceased him, so title of the Earldom devolved to his granddaughter Christina.

Family/Spouse: Margaret Scrymgeour. Margaret (daughter of Sir James (of Dudhope) Scrymgeour and Isobel Gray) and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Mary Stewart. Mary (daughter of James (Earl of Moray) Stewart and Elizabeth (of Argyll) Campbell) died in Dsp. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Margaret Ogilvy before 15 May 1547. Margaret (daughter of Walter (of Boyne) Ogilvy) and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Christian Strang. Christian and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Robert (4th Earl of Buchan) Douglas. Robert (son of Sir Robert (of Lochleven) Douglas and Margaret (of Mar) Erskine) died on 18 Aug 1580. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Margaret Ogilvy in 1598. Margaret (daughter of Sir Walter (1st Lord Ogilvy of Deskford) Ogilvy and Mary (of Morton) Douglas) and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth married Andrew (of Muchalls) 1st Lord Fraser in 1592. Andrew (son of Michael (of Muchalls & Stainywood) Fraser and Isobel (Or Elizabeth) (of Monymusk) Forbes) died on 10 Dec 1636. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
The burying-place of her maternal ancestors

Marion married Alexander (9th of Drum) Irvine about 1590. Alexander (son of Alexander (8th of Drum) Irvine and Elizabeth (of Marischall) Keith) was born about 1563; died on 18 Mar 1630 in Kelly; was buried in Arbirlot, Angus, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]