Birth of James Hepburn
Birth of James Hepburn, son of Patrich, 3rd Earl of Bothwell
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
James Hepburn Biography and Timeline
Follow James Hepburn through 40 dated historical records for Scotland.
James Hepburn, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
40Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1535–1567Years on this page
1535
1556
Warden
Appointed Warden of the Scottish Marshes
Peerage
Created Earl of Bothwell, 4th
Lord High Admiral
Appointed Lord High Admiral
1557
Invasion of England
Leads an incursion across the English border
1560
Meeting with Mary Queen of Scots
Meets Mary Queen of Scots
Marriage
Marries Anna Throndsson in Denmark
1561
Court Influence
Bothwell participates in Mary's early Scottish court politics
Role range: 1561-1567
Privy Council
Appointed Privy Councillor under Mary Queen of Scots
Role range: 1561-1567
1562
Arrest of Bothwell
Bothwell is arrested during Mary's early personal rule
Role range: 1562-1562
Arrest of James Hepburn
Bothwell is arrested during Mary's early personal rule
Role range: 1562-1562
Arrest of James Hepburn
Arrested for trying to capture the Queen, escapes
1564
Arrest of James Hepburn
Arrested by the English
Exile of James Hepburn
Escapes from English arrest to France
1565
Marriage
Marries Lady Jean Gordon, a Catholic
1566
Assassination of Henry Stewart
A conference takes place between Bothwell, Morton, Archibald Douglas & Maitland
Assassination of Henry Stewart
Mary & Bothwell visit Darnley who is killed by an explosion. Mary & Bothwell visit Darnley at Kirk oField who is killed by an explosion
Siege of Edinburgh
Escorts Queen Mary back to Edinburgh with a force of 8,000
Assassination of David Rizzio
At Holyrood on the night of Rizzios assassination but denies knowledge of it
Casket Letters
If authentic throughout, they provide proof of Marys complicity in the murder of her husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567
Death of James Hepburn
At Holyrood on the night of Rizzios assassination but denies knowledge of it
Group of Eight
Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567
Marriage
Signs a bond at Craigmillar with other nobles to rid Mary of Darnley
Sheriff
Appointed Sheriff of Edinburgh for his loyalty to Queen Mary
Warden
Appointed Warden of the Marches for loyalty to Queen Mary
1567
Assassination of Henry Stewart
Blows up Darnleys house
Trial
Brought to trial for the assassination of Lord Darnley & acquitted
Marriage
28 Lords & prelates sign a docuement supporting Bothwells marriage to Mary
Arrest of Mary of Scots
Intercepts Mary with 800 men & takes her to Dunbar Castle informing her of a rebellion
Marriage
Mary authorizes Bothwells divorce from his wife, a week later they are married. Divorces Lady Jean
Marriage
Marries Queen Mary after allegedly raping her at Dunbar & forcing her consent
Battle of Carberry Hill
Morton leads a force out of Edinburgh, confronts Mary & demands Bothwells surrender
Exile of James Hepburn
Flees to Orkney, Shetland & then to Norway
Plot
Written by Mary to Bothwell. Treasonable letters are taken from 1 of Bothwells servants
Arrest of James Hepburn
Spends the remainder of his days in a Danish cell
Peerage
Created Duke of Orkney after marrying Mary Queen of Scots
Peerage
Created Earl of Shetland after marrying Mary Queen of Scots
Rebellion of Lords
The Lords rebel & forces Bothwells escape to Denmark
Rebellion of Lords
The Lords rebel & forces Bothwells escape to Denmark
Rebellion of Lords
The Lords rebel & forces Bothwells escape to Denmark
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.