Buchanan, George, 1506-1582

George Buchanan (Scots Gaelic: Seòras Bochanan) was born on February 1, 1506, in Killearn, Scotland, to Thomas Buchanan of Moss and Agnes Heriot. He was educated at Scots College, the University of St. Andrews, and the University of Paris. He converted to Lutheran while in school and that choice shaped his life and career. He was arrested for being Lutheran in 1539 and escaped to London. He left London for Paris, but found the Scottish Ambassador there was an enemy of his, so he left for Bordeaux at the invitation of Andrew Govea. There he taught Latin plays at the College of Guienne. After James V died, he went with Govea to the Portuguese University of Coimbra. At some point, after Govea’s death, he returned to Scotland where he read Latin with the young Queen Mary, and continued to serve served Mary, Queen of Scots as her court poet and tutor, but later became a critic, publishing works like Ane Detectioun accusing her of treason and adultery. It was suspected that he, and twenty-three others, were paid a pension of £100 by Elizabeth I to turn on Queen Mary. After Mary’s execution, Buchanan became James VI’s tutor and a member of Scottish Parliament. He died on September 28, 1582, in Edinburgh, Scotland and is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard.