'Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline' (
1555 –
1622) was a
Scottish lawyer, judge and politician. He was Lord President of the Court of Session from 1598 to 1604 and Lord Chancellor of Scotland from 1604 to 1622.
Born in Seton
East Lothian, Alexander Seton became a
Privy Councillor in 1585 and was appointed a
Lord of Session as Lord Urquhart in 1586. The Setons were Roman Catholics who had been supporters of
Mary, Queen of Scots. He rose to be
Lord President of the Court of Session and was created Lord Fyvie on
4 March 1598. He was regarded as the finest legal mind of the time, becoming an advisor to
James VI and guardian and tutor to
Charles I. In 1604 he was appointed
Lord Chancellor of Scotland and was created
Earl of Dunfermline in 1605. He died at
Pinkie and was buried in the family vault in Dalgety Church, near Dunfermline.