1579 in Scotland

Incumbents

Events

• September
• *11-year old James VI declares the end of his minority and assumes personal rule with a ceremony in Edinburgh.
• *Esmé Stewart, Sieur d'Aubigny, James's cousin, arrives from France and becomes the king's first favourite.
• First of the Scottish Poor Laws passed.

  Births

• 23 August – Thomas Dempster, Catholic scholar and historian
• Jean Kincaid, mariticide
• John Ogilvie, Jesuit
• Approximate date –
• *John Cameron, Calvinist theologian
• *Arthur Johnston, poet and physician
• *Tobias Hume, composer

  Deaths

• 25 April – John Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl, noble
• Mary Livingston, noble and courtier
• Sir James MacGill, courtier
• Possible date –
• *David Peebles, religious composer
• *James Sandilands, 1st Lord Torphichen, noble