Francis Stuart (sailor)

Sir Francis Stuart or Stewart sailor, aristocrat, Member of Parliament and courtier (1589-1635)

Born at Donibristle in Fife, Scotland, the son of James Stewart, 2nd Earl of Moray and Elizabeth Stuart, 2nd Countess of Moray. Frances Stuart was educated at Christ Church, Oxford. There he was involved in the investigation of Anne Gunter's accusations of witchcraft against Elizabeth Gregory. He gave evidence in February 1606 in the Star Chamber of witnessing Anne loosen her clothing for dramatic effect.

In 1603 his sister Margaret married the Admiral Charles Howard, Earl of Nottingham. Frances was knighted in 1610 and joined the navy. In 1614 William Cavendish recommended his full naturalization in Parliament.

He was sent to Spain in May 1623 during the Spanish Match to carry the patent to make George Villiers Duke of Buckingham and Earl of Coventry. In June 1625 he sailed to the Mediterranean with the Lion and Rainbow to combat Turkish pirates. An incident in July 1627 near the Azores where Francis avoided a Spanish fleet in conditions of poor visibility was widely reported.

In April 1626 Charles I discharged Francis from court. The Earl of Pembroke was asked to give him the news but spoke in his favour to the king, saying that King James had loved him as well as any in the court of England.

There is evidence of his interest in science. According to John Aubrey, Sir Robert Moray presented observations on comets to the Royal Society made by Thomas Harriot, which he had heard from Sir Francis.

John Cleland dedicated a section of his conduct book Ero-paideia (1607) to Francis and John Stuart, a son of the Duke of Lennox. Ben Jonson dedicated the 1619 edition of the play Epicœne, or The silent woman to Francis, who had defended the play from charges of libel brought by Arbella Stuart in 1610. It had been suggested that a reference to a Prince of Moldavia in the play reflected on her plans for marriage. Francis Stuart died unmarried in Chelsea in 1635.