KINGHORN, ALEXANDER [SSNE 7394]

Surname

KINGHORN, KINGORN, KINGORNE, KYNGORNE

First name

ALEXANDER

Title/rank

DOCTOR, DEAN, AMBASSADOR

Nationality

SCOT

Region

KINGHORN, FIFE

Social status

DOCTOR, AMBASSADOR

Education

UNIVERSITY

Religion

PROTESTANT

Text source

Alexander Kinghorn was a medical doctor who served at the Danish royal court. He was one of several Scotsmen at the time who had taken service with King Christian II of the Kalmar Union (Denmark, Norway and Sweden) - a common occurrence given the blood and marital ties between the Danish and Scottish courts. He was also Dean of Roskilde Cathedral. James, Archbishop of Glasgow and Chancellor of Scotland, noted him as a "kinsman". Kinghorn is recorded as the first professor of medicine at Copenhagen University c.1513, and later became rector of the university in 1517. DIPLOMACY: In 1519 Kinghorn travelled to Edinburgh from Denmark arriving at the Scottish court on 21 March bringing letters from Christian II, dated 19 January, wherein a request for 2000 trained foot was contained. These foot were to be Scottish and to be used against Christian's Swedish rebels. They were to be transported in Scottish ships and at Scottish expense around Easter, to undertake 4 months' service. This request came at a bad time given James V's preoccupation with hostilities with Henry VIII of England, as well as indigenous rebels. However, James V was convinced by Kinghorn that an efficient method of dealing with Scottish rebels was to allow them to volunteer for Christian's service. Kinghorn also approached the Earl of Arran in search of yet more troops; the Earl responded to Christian on 20 May 1519 recording his inability to comply. By the end of May however James Stewart of Ardgowan was en route to Copenhagen with auxiliary foot, ships, supplies and money, and Kinghorn was sent back to Christian with further news. In 1523 Kinghorn returned to Scotland, specifically to James, Archbishop of Glasgow and Chancellor of Scotland. In April that year he brought letters from King Christian II (at this point about to lose his power in the Kalmar Union, which would soon be broken up on Sweden regaining its independence). Christian was still seeking military aid from Scotland, and the archbishop was unable to comply. The archbishop invited the harangued king to come to Scotland. Two days later King James V also composed a response to Christian for Kinghorn to take back with him. The Scottish king similarly cannot comply with Christian's requests for military aid. In 1524 Kinghorn was once again to go to Scotland as instructions from Christian II dated November that year reveal. The first article of the instructions highlights Kinghorn's allegiance to the exiled king despite his status; Albany had become excluded from the Scottish court and so should be from Christian's circle of confidants; letters directed to the duke of Holstein [Frederik I] had been recalled ; the Scottish court awaited news of Christian's return to Denmark as Kinghorn, supported by Robert Barton and David Falconer and their ships, will be there for him along with other volunteers. The duke of Holstein considers Kinghorn an enemy; but Kinghorn only seeks a positive response from the Scottish court to Christian's requests, and does not seek remuneration. The following year, 1525, it appears that Kinghorn returned to Scotland, along with one of Christian's heralds and master Lambert [Andersson]. Kinghorn was in Leith on 3 June 1525 as he wrote a letter from there, but is said to have lived mostly in Keith after 1523. He died c.1529.

Denys Hay ed., The Letters of James V, Edinburgh 1954, pp.69-70, pp.92-93, pp.107-108, p.120; K. Caræ, Den Danske Lægestand: Doktorer og Licentiater, 1479-1788 (Copenhagen, 1909), p.71.

Service record

DENMARK-NORWAY, COPENHAGEN

Arrived 1513-01-11

Departed 1517-12-11

Capacity PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE, RECTOR, purpose ACADEMIC, MEDICAL

DENMARK, COPENHAGEN

Arrived 1518-01-11, as DOCTOR

Capacity MEDICAL DOCTOR, DIPLOMACY, purpose ROYAL MEDICAL DOCTOR, AMBASSADOR

DENMARK, EDINBURGH

Arrived 1519-03-31

Departed 1519-04-01

Capacity AMBASSADOR, purpose DIPLOMACY

 

Arrived 1523-04-30

Departed 1523-05-03

Capacity AMBASSADOR, purpose DIPLOMACY

 

Arrived 1524-11-21

Departed 1524-11-25

Capacity AMBASSADOR, purpose DIPLOMACY

 

Arrived 1525-06-09

Departed 1526-06-14

Capacity AMBASSADOR, purpose DIPLOMACY