Carmichael, John, second Lord Carmichael and first Earl of Hyndford 1638-1710, son of William, master of Carmichael, and Lady Grizel Douglas, third daughter of the first marquis of Douglas, was born on 28 Feb. 1638. He succeeded his grandfather as Lord Carmichael in 1672. In 1689 he was appointed by William one of the commissioners of the privy seal and a privy councillor. The following year he was appointed William's commissioner to the first general assembly of the newly established church of Scotland. In 1693 he was appointed to the command of a regiment of dragoons, which he held till the peace of Ryswick in 1697. In December 1696 he was made secretary of state for Scotland, and in January 1696-7 was chosen commissioner by the general assembly. On 5 June 1701 he was created Earl of Hyndford. He resigned the office of secretary of state in June 1702, after the accession of Queen Anne. From 1702-5 he was colonel of a regiment of horse. He was one of the commissioners for the treaty of union, and favoured its execution. He died on 20 Sept. 1710. By his wife, Beatrice Drummond, second daughter of the third Lord Madderty, he had seven sons and three daughters.

Sources:
     Douglas's Scottish Peerage, ii. 756
     Irving's Upper Ward of Lanarkshire, i. 21-4
     Luttrell's Relation, ii. iii. iv. v.

Contributor: T. F. H. [Thomas Finlayson Henderson]

Published: 1886