John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton
John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton (c. 1608 – 3 July 1674) was a professional soldier and mercenary from Kincardineshire in Scotland. Beginning his career in the Thirty Years War, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms he fought for the Covenanters and Parliamentarians until 1648, when he switched sides to the Royalists.
The Right Honourable The Earl of Middleton | |
|---|---|
John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton | |
| Governor of Tangier | |
| In office 1670 to 1672 – 1672 to 1674 | |
| Governor of Rochester Castle | |
| In office 1663–1668 | |
| Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland | |
| In office 1661–1662 | |
| Commander in chief Scotland | |
| In office 1646 to 1647 – 1660 to 1663 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1608 Caldhame, Kincardineshire |
| Died | 3 July 1674 (aged 66) Tangier, Morocco |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Spouses | Grizel Durham (m. 1639–1666)Martha Carey (m. 1667) |
| Children |
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| Relatives | John Middleton (great-nephew) |
| Occupation | Soldier |
| Military service | |
| Battles/wars | Thirty Years War Wars of the Three Kingdoms Philiphaugh; Preston; Worcester Glencairn's rising Battle of Dalnaspidal |
One of his colleagues in the 1639 to 1640 Bishops' Wars was Montrose, who later became a Royalist. Despite their similar backgrounds and views, Middleton pursued him with considerable vigour, reportedly because his father died when Montrose's men set fire to his house.
Middleton supported the Royalists in the Second and Third English Civil Wars and took part in the unsuccessful 1654 Glencairn's rising. Rewarded by being appointed Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland after the 1660 Stuart Restoration, he fell out with his political colleagues and was removed from office in 1663.
However, viewed by Charles II as a capable and reliable soldier, he was compensated with two key strategic commands, first Rochester Castle, then English Tangier where he died in July 1674.