Mary Beaton's mother was Jeanne de la Reinville, a French-born lady-in-waiting to Mary of Guise. Jeanne was married to Robert Beaton of Creich, whose family had long been in service to the Scottish royal family. Mary of Guise chose Mary Beaton as one of the four Maries to accompany her daughter, Mary, Queen of Scots, to France when Mary Stuart was five.
She returned to Scotland in 1561 with Mary Stuart and the other three of the Queen's Maries. In 1564, Mary Beaton was pursued by Thomas Randolph, ambassador of Queen Elizabeth to Mary Stuart's court. He was 24 years older than her; he apparently asked her to spy on her Queen for the English. She refused to do so.
Mary Stuart married Lord Darnley in 1565; the following year, Mary Beaton married Alexander Ogilvey of Boyne. They had a son in 1568. She lived until 1597 or 1598.
More women's history biographies, by name:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P/Q | R | S | T | U/V | W | X/Y/Z
