Mary Stewart, Countess of Arran
| Mary Stewart | |
|---|---|
| Princess of Scotland; Countess of Arran; Lady Hamilton | |
| Born | 13 May 1453 Stirling Castle, Scotland |
| Died | May 1488 (aged 35) |
| Spouse |
Thomas Boyd, 1st Earl of Arran James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton |
| Issue | Margaret Boyd James Boyd, 2nd Lord Boyd of Kilmarnock James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran Hon. Elizabeth Hamilton, Countess of Lennox Robert Hamilton, Seigneur d'Aubigny |
| House | House of Stewart |
| Father | King James II of Scotland |
| Mother | Mary of Guelders |
Mary Stewart, Countess of Arran (13 May 1453 – May 1488) was the elder daughter of James II of Scotland and Mary of Guelders. Her brother was James III of Scotland. She married twice; firstly to Thomas Boyd, 1st Earl of Arran; secondly to James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton. It was through her children by her second husband that the Hamilton Earls of Arran and Stewart Lennoxes derived their claim to the Kingdom of Scotland.
Mary was born at Stirling Castle on 13 May 1453, the eldest daughter of James II of Scotland and Mary of Guelders. She had five siblings, including James III, who ascended the Scottish throne in 1460 upon their father's accidental death by an exploding cannon. Mary's mother died in 1463, leaving her an orphan at the age of ten.
Mary was married to her first husband Thomas Boyd before 26 April 1467 when she was almost fourteen years old. The Isle of Arran was given as her dowry; Thomas Boyd was subsequently created Earl of Arran.Law Castle, in Ayrshire was built for the couple. In 1469, Thomas was sent to escort King James's future consort Princess Margaret from Denmark to Scotland; during his absence the king became alienated from Thomas by the enemies of the Clan Boyd who brought false charges of treason against Thomas and his brother, Alexander. Mary, upon hearing that Thomas was to be summoned before the king and Parliament to answer the charges, immediately went to the harbour of Leith to forewarn her husband when his ship docked in July. Mary and Thomas promptly sailed to Denmark. On 22 November 1469 he was attainted, and his title, honours, and estates forfeited to the crown. She later returned to Scotland in an attempt to have her husband cleared of all charges laid against him. Upon her arrival in Scotland, King James detained her in custody in Dean Castle at Kilmarnock until her marriage was annulled. Mary's marriage to Thomas was declared void in 1473.
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