SKENE, SIR JOHN [SSNE 1585]

Surname
SKENE
First name
SIR JOHN
Title/rank
SIR JOHN SKENE OF CURRIEHILL
Nationality
SCOT
Region
ABERDEEN
Social status
GENTRY
Education
UNIVERSITY
Religion

Text source

Sir John Skene was the son of James Skene of Westercorse. He went to school at Aberdeen, studied at King's College Aberdeen and continued at St. Andrews where, in 1556 ,he was incorporated in St. Mary's College. After his M.A. degree he became regent of St. Mary's. He also spent part of his adolescence in Norway, Denmark and 'Sarmatia' and was in Poland in 1569. Admitted as an advocate in 1575. In 1577 Skene married Helen Somerville (daughter of Sir John of Camnethan and second consort Catherine Murray), by whom he had four sons and four daughters. Throughout his career, Skene underook several administrative and diplomatic tasks, among them membership of the Earl Marischal's (George Keith) embassy to Denmark 1589. Skene also accompanied James VI to Norway and Denmark that year and undertook joint leadership with William Stewart of an embassy to England, Denmark and German princes 1590. Skene and Stewart sent political news from Saxony and France to Henrik Rantzau in Denmark on 14/9/1590. Skene also later wrote treatises of legal history. He was knighted by 1604 and lived until 1617.

Danish Rigsarkiv TKUA Skotland A II 4, 8/6/ 1590; DNB; T. Riis, Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot (Odense, 1988), p.76.

Service record

SCOTLAND, DENMARK-NORWAY
Arrived 1589-01-01
Departed 1589-12-31
Capacity DIPLOMAT, purpose DIPLOMACY
 
Arrived 1590-01-01
Departed 1590-12-31
Capacity DIPLOMAT, purpose DIPLOMACY