John Cockburn of Ormiston (died 1623) was a Scottish lawyer and landowner.
He was the son ofJohn Cockburn of Ormiston and Alison Sandilands (died 1584), a daughter of Sir John Sandilands of Calder.[1] His older brother Alexander Cockburn died in 1563, his epitaph byGeorge Buchanan recording his travels and achievements engraved on a brass plate is at theNational Museum of Scotland.[2]
John Cockburn succeeded his father as laird ofOrmiston inEast Lothian in 1583.[3]
James VI came to Ormiston to hunt deer on 22 November 1588.[4] Cockburn was a member of thePrivy Council and the council ruling Scotland when James VI was in Norway and Denmark.[5]
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He was knighted at thecoronation ofAnne of Denmark on 17 May 1590, where he gave an oath of loyal service on behalf of the people of Scotland.[6] He was again honored with knighthood at Parliament in 1592.
Cockburn wasLord Justice Clerk afterLewis Bellenden. On 26 October 1591, during theNorth Berwick witch trials James VI gave him a commission to torture and punish those accused of witchcraft who refused to confess.[7] Cockburn questioned David Graham of Fintry about theSpanish Blanks affair in February 1593.[8]
An English diplomatRobert Bowes noted that Cockburn had hosted the Earls of Angus, Huntly, Errol, and Sir James Chisholme at Ormiston on 11 October 1593. The Earls met the King on the road atFala the next day.[9]
In December 1593, Cockburn was appointed to a committee to audit the account of money spent by theChancellor,John Maitland ofThirlestane, on theroyal voyages. The funds in question came from theEnglish subsidy and the dowry of Anne of Denmark.[10]
As a member of the Privy Council, Cockburn went with others toStirling Castle in May 1603 to discuss and investigate a controversy involvingAnne of Denmark who wished to take custody of her son,Prince Henry.[11]
In old age Cockburn lost his eyesight and mobility, and in December 1622 there were discussions about a replacement in the role of Lord Justice Clerk.[12]
He died in June 1623 according to Balfour, but his will gives his date of death as October 1626.[13]
He married Janet Home, a daughter of Alexander Home ofManderston, and sister of the royal favouriteSir George Home.[14] Janet Home was one of the women invited to attendAnne of Denmark at hercoronation in May 1590.[15]
Their children included:[16]
He married, secondly, Elizabeth Bellenden, a daughter ofJohn Bellenden of Auchnoule and Janet Seton, and widow of James Lawson of Humbie.[17]