Alexander Gordon, 1st Earl of Huntly

Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Huntly (died 15 July 1470), who adopted the family name of Gordon from about 1457, was a powerful 15th-century Scottish magnate. He was knighted in 1439/1440 and was Lord of Badenoch, Gordon, Strathbogie and Cluny.

Life He was the son of Alexander Seton, Lord Gordon (died 1440) (2nd son of Sir William Seton of that Ilk), by his spouse Elizabeth Gordon (died 16 March 1439), daughter and heiress of Sir Adam Gordon of that Ilk. In 1435 he accompanied the princess Margaret to France to marry the 9th Dauphin of France. In a charter dated 23 February 1439–40, he is styled Sir Alexander Seton of Tullibody, heir of Elizabeth Gordon. The charter confirmed an earlier exchange of lands between Sir William Keith and Margaret Fraser (his maternal grandparents) and William Lindsay, Lord of Byres exchanging lands for that of Dunottar.

He succeeded his father as Lord Gordon before April 1441.

In 1449, Alexander was raised to the peerage and created the first Earl of Huntly by King James II of Scotland, sometime before 3 July of that year when he witnessed a charter to James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton under that title. Later in the year he was present at the gates of Arbroath Abbey when the Ogilvies and Lindsays were disputing their claims to the office of justiciary of that abbey; where the Ogilvies were defeated and Earl Alexander, there in support of that family, had to flee the field himself. On 28 April 1451 he received a charter from the king of the lordship of Badenoch and the castle of Ruthven. Gordon fought on the King's side against the Douglases during The Douglas Rebellion and soundly defeated the Crawfords at the Battle of Brechin 18 May 1452.

Huntly adopted the family name of Gordon about 1457. He died on 15 July 1470 at Huntly Castle

Family Alexander Gordon married first, Egidia Hay, daughter and heir of John Hay of Tullibody. Together they had a son: Alexander Seton, ancestor of the Setons of Touch, and Abercorn; succeeded to his mother's lands. Sir Alexander Gordon of Midmar, later of Abergeldie, married Beatrix Hay, daughter of William Hay, 1st Earl of Erroll

Alexander Gordon had two additional children by a daughter of Cumming of Altyre, identified by her byname 'the Fair Maid of Moray'. Some have claimed there is no record of a marriage between them, Alexander's two additional children by the Fair Maid of Moray were: Janet (died 1470–73), married to James Innes of Innes ) Lord of Kilravock