Ingram de Umfraville

Sir Ingram de Umfraville was a Scottish noble who played a particularly chequered role in the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In 1284 he joined with other Scottish noblemen who acknowledged Margaret of Norway as the heir of King Alexander III. Ingram inherited the estates of Ingram Baliol on Baliol's death, being Foston in Leicestershire, Wharrington-upon-Tees in County Durham as well as the barony of Urr in Galloway and Red Castle in Angus. He was one of the ambassadors who established the 'Auld alliance' with France and Scotland in 1295. He was present at the siege of Berwick in 1296 with King Edward I of England and fought on the English side during the Battle of Falkirk in 1298.

Fighting on the side of Scotland he participated in the siege of Stirling Castle in 1299. He was appointed joint Guardian of Scotland on 10 May 1300 together with William Lamberton, Bishop of St Andrews, and John Comyn, Lord of Badenoch. He resigned the next year and was being replaced by John de Soules. He participated in the siege of Lochmaben Castle in September 1301. In 1303 he again became an ambassadors to Paris and upon returning from France in 1304, Ingram had his lands forfeited to King Edward I, who gave them to Sir Henry de Percy. He received his lands back upon Robert the Bruce declaring himself King in 1306.

Ingram switched sides to the English and in 1307 became one of their commanders in the Carrick and Galloway area and held the Bruce and his small army in the hill country south of the Forth. King Edward II of England made Ingram Guardian of South and West Scotland. Edward Bruce defeated Ingram during the Battle of the River Dee in 1308. He fought on the side of the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. After the battle Ingram fled the field to Bothwell Castle, where he was captured and later ransomed. Ingram left Scotland in 1320 and settled in his English estates. He had two daughters, Eva and Isabella and a son called Ingram.