William Stewart

Sir William Stewart of Houston (c. 1540 – c. 1605) was a Scottish soldier, politician and diplomat. He is often known as "Colonel Stewart", or the Commendator of Pittenweem. Life He began his career as a soldier in the Netherlands, where he became a colonel and entered into communications with Lord Burghley on the progress of affairs. In 1582 he was in Scotland, and James VI made him captain of his guard. He visited the English court in the king's interest in 1583 with John Colville and George Young (diplomat). Later that year, Stewart helped to free James from William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, and to bring back his cousin James Stewart, Earl of Arran to power; these acts largely restored the young King James's position, after the Raid of Ruthven. On 4 September 1583 at Falkland Palace James VI ordered that Colonel Stewart be given some of the jewels that had belonged to his mother Mary, Queen of Scots, including a gold cross previously given to his favourite, Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox.