MELVILLE, JAMES [SSNE 1555]
Text source
Sir James Melville of Halhill was born in 1535, son of Sir John Melville of Raith and his second consort Helen Napier. He was sent with Peter Young as envoy to Denmark to see the Danish princesses. He was also a member of embassy to Denmark under the Earl Marischal (George Keith) 1589. Melville was appointed Councillor to Queen Anne and Gentleman of her Chamber, and knighted in 1590. In 1593 he was placed in charge of the Danish ambassadors to the Stuart court. He married Christina Boswell, and their children included James, Elizabeth, Margaret. He died in 1617.Dictionary of National Biography; T. Riis, Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot (Odense, 1988), p.70. (Sir James Melville's (of Halhill) Memoirs, pp.341-3, 346, 367-8, 394-5, 413-4).
Service record
- SCOTLAND,
- Departed 1587-01-01
- Capacity ENVOY, purpose DIPLOMACY