Battle of Kinghorn

The Battle of Kinghorn, was a skirmish fought on 6 August 1332 at Wester Kinghorn (now Burntisland), Fife, Scotland.

A privately financed invasion fleet had sailed a week previously from several ports on the Humber estuary with the aim of pressing the claim of Edward Baliol to the Scottish throne. The invaders had begun their disembarkation when they were confronted by a force of Bruce loyalists led by Duncan, Earl of Fife and Robert Bruce, Lord of Liddesdale. The leaders of the defenders appear to have been confused and indecisive about tactics. When a body of men-at-arms suddenly charged towards the invaders they were cut down by longbow fire. Alexander Seton the younger was killed. On seeing this, the defending host then fled in disarray. Different chroniclers number the Scottish losses as 90, 900 or 1,000. The invaders were then able to resume their disembarkation unhindered before marching unopposed to Dunfermline.