# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Mackenzie, Kenneth

​MACKENZIE, KENNETH, fourth Earl of Seaforth (d. 1701), was the elder son of Kenneth, third earl, by Isabel, daughter of Sir John Mackenzie, baronet, of Tarbat. On 31 July 1675 the sheriffdom of Ross was renewed to him and his father. He succeeded to the earldom on the death of his father in 1678, and on 31 March 1681 he was served heir male of his grandfather, Kenneth, lord Mackenzie of Kintail. On the accession of James II in 1685 he was made a privy councillor, and in 1687 (on the revival of the order) a companion of the Thistle. At the revolution he adhered to James, whom he followed to France. Returning with him to Ireland he was at the siege of Londonderry, and was subsequently created Marquis of Seaforth. After the battle of Killiecrankie and the death of Claverhouse, James, writing on 30 Nov. 1689 from Dublin Castle to Colonel Cannon, promised to send to him Seaforth to 'head his friends and followers' (Leven and Melville Papers, p. 833). For some time his castle of Brahan was garrisoned by Hugh Mackay [q. v.] After General Thomas Buchan [q. v.] undertook the command of the Jacobite forces, Seaforth prepared to join him with a body of the northern clans, but, on learning of Buchan's defeat at Cromdale on 1 May 1690, he sent two of his clan to arrange terms with the government. He affirmed that he had merely taken up arms for the sake of appearances, and never had any real intention of joining Buchan. He also offered security for his future peaceable behaviour, but Mackay replied that he would ​be satisfied with no other security than the delivery of his person. Thereupon he agreed to deliver himself up to be confined in Inverness, only stipulating that he should be seized at his seat with a show of force to hide his voluntary submission from the clan. On a party being sent to capture him he, however, changed his mind and disappointed them, pleading that his delicate health would suffer from imprisonment. Thereupon Mackay resolved to treat his vassals 'with the rigour of military execution;' but, desirous for their sake to avoid extremities, he caused information of his intentions to be sent to Seaforth (Mackay, Memoirs, p. 102), who thereupon surrendered himself and was confined in the castle of Inverness. In consequence of a warrant of the privy council, 7 Oct. 1690, he was brought to Edinburgh and imprisoned in the castle. His relative George Mackenzie, viscount Tarbat, first earl of Cromarty [q . v.], made strong representations to Lord Melville against the impolicy of his imprisonment (Leven and Melville Papers, pp. 567, 585), but he was retained a prisoner till 7 Jan. 1692, when he was allowed his liberty within ten miles of Edinburgh. On 7 May he was apprehended at Pencaitland and confined to the castle of Inverness, and was not finally liberated till 1 March 1696-7. Afterwards he went to France, and died in Paris in January 1701.
By his wife Lady Frances (d. 1732), second daughter of William Herbert, marquis of Powis, he had two sons, William, fifth earl [q. v.], and Alexander; a daughter, Mary, married John Caryll, son of John Caryll (1666?-1736) [q. v.] A portrait of the fourth earl is at Brahan.
[Leven and Melville Papers (Bannatyne Club); General Mackay's Memoirs (ib.); Mackenzie's History of the Mackenzies, pp. 209-16; Douglas's Scottish Peerage ("Wood), ii. 484.]
T. F. H.