[This is part of a series of articles on the year 1685. You might want to read the
Overview first.]
May 15, 1685
Anna MacKenzie was the Countess of Argyll in 1685. Her marriage in 1670 to the 9th Earl of Argyll was the second for both of them. She was about 49 at the time.
She was an accomplished woman who had grown stronger through many tribulations. Her parents died when she was quite young and she was moved from her home in the Highlands to be raised by relatives in Fife. Her first marriage was to the Earl of Balcarres who was exiled in France, Belgium, and Holland when Cromwell came to power. She elected to join her husband, leaving her daughter and two sons in Scotland for seven years. Her husband died in exile, never to see his homeland or children again. Shortly after returning to Scotland her oldest son died and her oldest daughter ran off to a nunnery in France. Widowed and with her estate in near ruin, she used her organizational talents, family connections, and cunning to leave an orderly inheritance to her son at his marriage. Her long letter to him at this time shows her wisdom, faith, and practicality
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| Anna MacKenzie portrait from Lindsay's Memoir..Now thought to NOT be Anna. |
The marriage to Argyll appeared to be one of deep affection, not of convenience as many of the Campbell marriages tended to be. They acquired a new residence near Sterling Castle which Anna appears to have played a large role in furnishing. Their step children, Sophia (of Anna) and Jean and Archibald (of Argyll) also had suites there.
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| The 9th Earl of Argyll and the Countess of Argyll |
It was there at Sterling in the so-named "
Argyll's Lodging" where Anna was arrested on May 15, 1685 and led to Edinburgh Castle, where she was imprisoned until after her husband's execution.
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| Signage at Argyll's Lodging - "Scotland's finest 17th century townhouse" |
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| Argyll's Lodging |
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| Hall in Argyll's Lodging |
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| Doorway in Lodging - "A" for Argyll or Alexander? It was a medical "Ward" for the military after falling out of Campbell hands. |
Main Source: Alexander Lord Lindsay,
A Memoir of Lady Anna MacKenzie
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