Robert Crichton

Robert Crichton (died 1585) was a 16th-century Scottish Catholic cleric.

Biography He was the son of Sir Patrick Crichton, Laird of Cranstoun. Robert was a younger son and chose an ecclesiastical career. From 1517 he was Provost of St Giles Collegiate Church. Additionally, he was Precentor of Dunkeld Cathedral between 1530 and 1534, and in 1532 almost took part in an exchange with Walter Maxwell for the Chancellorship of the diocese of Moray.

Crichton was the nephew of George Crichton, Bishop of Dunkeld, and in 1543 had been appointed coadjutor and successor to his uncle. As it turned out, 1543 was the year before Bishop George's death, and so when the latter event took place in January 1544, Robert regarded himself as the rightful bishop. However, this had taken place without the consent of the Scottish government. The government thus ignored the appointment, and placed John Hamilton in charge instead. Robert litigated against Hamilton in the Papal see, until in 1547 Hamilton was translated to the archbishopric of St Andrews

The dispute continued into 1553, with Campbell failing to secure papal recognition. Crichton's solid Catholicism was further revealed four years later when he assisted with the Catholic baptism of the infant Prince James in 1566.

Crichton was a firm supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots, and was one of the castilians who held Edinburgh Castle in her name between 1570 and 1573. For this he was forfeited by Parliament in 1571 and when in 1573 the castle was captured by James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton, Crichton was imprisoned in Blackness Castle. In 1576 he was transferred to Edinburgh and kept in the ward of Lord Seton.