Alexander Stewart (archbishop of St Andrews)

Alexander Stuart [ Stewart ] (c. 1493; † September 9, 1513 at the Battle of Flodden Field) was a Scottish humanist and Archbishop of St Andrews.

Life

Alexander was an illegitimate son of the Scottish king James IV with Lady Mary, daughter of Lord Archibald Boyd of Bonshaw. By the king, he was appointed in 1504 to the Archbishop of St. Andrews, but never consecrated. 1506 he went to the Netherlands and France and finally settled in Padua, where he studied with Erasmus of Rotterdam logic and rhetoric. This praised Alexander's character and eagerness to learn. Around 1510, Alexander was appointed Lord Chancellor of Scotland. He promoted the formation and founded the St. Leonard's College. He joined the English invasion attempt on his king and was killed at the Battle of Flodden Field.