Cardinal David Beaton
Cardinal Beaton is best known for being Archbishop of St. Andrews and also the last Scottish Cardinal prior to the
Scottish Reformation. Cardinal Beaton was said to have been born in 1494 in Fife and lived until 1546.
Beaton was educated at both Glasgow and St Andrews prior to going to France at the age of 16. He studied in the
arts of politics and civil and canon law. He returned to Scotland in 1524 to take up the position of Commendator of
Arbroath, went back to France in 1537 to take up the position of Bishop of Mirepoix and then finally back to
Scotland in 1539 to take up a position in Cambuslang and then becoming Archbishop of St. Andrews in 1544. He
was also appointed as King James V ambassador to France.
During this time period it was not unusual for senior members of the church to be involved in issues that we
would, in modern times, grant to Governments to deal with. Cardinal Beaton is most often remembered for the trial
and martyrdom of George Wishart in 1546.
This was to prove unpopular and history tells us that on 29th May 1546. Cardinal Beaton was murdered in his
castle in St. Andrews. It has been said that this was done by Norman Leslie, master of Rothes and William
Kirkcaldy of Grange. This is regarded as a turning point in the Scottish Reformation.
What does not bode well for the memory of Beaton is that he is most oft remembered as a lavish statesman. He
had at least one illegitimate daughter who married the 10th Earl of Crawford. His legacy only served to speed up
the Reformation in Scotland.
Uilleam Alba Mac Gafriadh
Cardinal Beaton is best known for being Archbishop of St. Andrews and also the last Scottish Cardinal prior to the
Scottish Reformation. Cardinal Beaton was said to have been born in 1494 in Fife and lived until 1546.
Beaton was educated at both Glasgow and St Andrews prior to going to France at the age of 16. He studied in the
arts of politics and civil and canon law. He returned to Scotland in 1524 to take up the position of Commendator of
Arbroath, went back to France in 1537 to take up the position of Bishop of Mirepoix and then finally back to
Scotland in 1539 to take up a position in Cambuslang and then becoming Archbishop of St. Andrews in 1544. He
was also appointed as King James V ambassador to France.
During this time period it was not unusual for senior members of the church to be involved in issues that we
would, in modern times, grant to Governments to deal with. Cardinal Beaton is most often remembered for the trial
and martyrdom of George Wishart in 1546.
This was to prove unpopular and history tells us that on 29th May 1546. Cardinal Beaton was murdered in his
castle in St. Andrews. It has been said that this was done by Norman Leslie, master of Rothes and William
Kirkcaldy of Grange. This is regarded as a turning point in the Scottish Reformation.
What does not bode well for the memory of Beaton is that he is most oft remembered as a lavish statesman. He
had at least one illegitimate daughter who married the 10th Earl of Crawford. His legacy only served to speed up
the Reformation in Scotland.
Uilleam Alba Mac Gafriadh
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Scottish Christians
Defending the faith of Jesus Christ in Scotland
