Sir Robert Melville of Murdochcairnie, 1st Lord Melville of Monimail

Biographical Summary

"Sir Robert Melville of Murchochcairnie, first Lord Melville, third son of Sir John Melville, fourth of Raith, was born probably about 1527...

...Three days before he sitting of Parliament, which opened in May 1594, he was made an Extraordinary Lord of Session, and on 11 June following he was admitted to the bench...

...by patent dated 1 April 1616, Sir Robert was created a peer of Parliament by the title Lord Melville of Monimail as recognition of the many and important offices which Sir Robert held during the reign of the King an his predecessors, and of the dignity an efficiency with which he had transacted the affairs committed to him. The Peerage was to Sir Robert for life, and after his death to his eldest son, Sir Robert Melville of Burntisland, and the lawful heirs-male of either of them...

...Lord Melville died in december 1621, aged ninty-four...

...He married, first, Katherine Adamson, said to be a daughter of William Adamson of Craigcrook, a burgess of Edinburgh, and widow of Richard Hooper, also a burgess there. He married, secondly, before 1593, Mary Leslie, daughter of Andrew, fifth Earl of Rothes. She died in March of April 1605. He married, thirdly, Jean, daughter of Robert Stewart, Earl of Orkney, and widow of Patrick Leslie, first Lord Lindores, who survived him and was alive in 1642. He had issue by his first wife only."

SOURCE: The Scots peerage, Vol. VI, page 96-99

Other References

• An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice: From Its Institution in MDXXXII; by George Brunton, David Haig; 1832; Page 227