Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Montgomerie, Alexander de
MONTGOMERIE, Sir ALEXANDER de, of Ardrossan, first Lord Montgomerie (d. 1470?), was the eldest son of Sir John Montgomerie of Eaglesham, Eglinton, and Ardrossan, by his wife Agnes, daughter of Alexander, earl of Ross, lord of the Isles. His grandfather, Sir John Montgomerie (d. 1398?), is separately noticed. The father was a hostage for the Earl of Douglas in 1408, a hostage for James I in 1423, and one of the jury on the trial of Murdac, duke of Albany, in 1425. In 1425 the son was chosen a member of the privy council of James I. He succeeded his father some time before 22 Nov. 1429, and in August 1430 he was, jointly with his brother-in-law, Sir Robert Cunningham of Kilmaurs, appointed governor of Cantyre and Knapdale. On 30 Nov. 1436 he was appointed a commissioner to conclude a treaty with England (Cal. Documents relating to Scotland, iv. 1103), and he was one of the conservators of the truce concluded on 31 March for nine years (ib. p. 1111). With the other Scottish commissioners he received the present of a silver cup from Henry VI (ib. p. 1109). On 5 Feb. 1444 he had a safe-conduct to go to Durham to treat for the extension of the truce and the return of the Scottish hostages (ib. p. 1162).
In 1444 Montgomerie was appointed keeper of Brodick Castle in the Isle of Arran (Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, v. 163). He was one of those who set their seals to instruments passed by the parliament held at Perth on 9 June 1445 against those lords who had rebelled against James II. He was created a lord of parliament by the title of Lord Montgomerie some time before 3 July 1445 (Acta Parl. Scot. ii. 59; Hist. MSS. Comm. 11th Rep. pt. vi. p. 16). On 31 Jan. 1448-9 he had a grant of the office of bailiary of Cunningham. On 14 Aug. 1451 he was a conservator for a truce with England (Cal. Documents relating to Scotland, iv. 1239), and in subsequent years he was sent to England on various other important embassies. He died about 1470. By his wife Margaret, second daughter of Sir Thomas Boyd of Kilmarnock, father of the first Lord Boyd, he had three, or possibly four sons and three daughters: Alexander, master of Montgomerie, who died in 1452, leaving by his wife Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir Adam Hepburn of Hales a son, Alexander, second lord Montgomerie, father of Hugh, first earl of Eglinton [q. v.]; George, ancestor of the Montgomeries of Skelmorlie; Thomas, parson of Eaglesham, and rector of the university of Glasgow; John of Giffen (doubtful); Margaret, married to Sir John Stewart of Darnley, who was created Lord Darnley, and for a time was titular Earl of Lennox; Elizabeth, to John, lord Kennedy, seventh earl of Cassillis; and Agnes, to William Cunningham of Glengarnock.
[Cal. Documents relating to Scotland, vol. iv.; Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, vol. ii.; Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. vol. i.; Sir William Fraser's Earls of Eglinton; Douglas's Scottish Peerage (Wood), i. 495-6.]