William Comyn | |
|---|---|
 Map of Scotland, showing the area of Buchan which Comyn ruled over, on the north-east coast, c. 1230 | |
| Sheriff of Forfar | |
| In office 1195–1211 | |
| Justiciar of Scotia | |
| In office 1205–1233 | |
| Preceded by | Gille Brigte, Earl of Strathearn |
| Succeeded by | Walter Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland |
| Warden of Moray / Guardian of Moray | |
| In office 1211–1212 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1163 Altyre, Moray |
| Died | 1233 Buchan, Aberdeenshire |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Fitzhugh (1193–1204) Marjory, Countess of Buchan (1212–death) |
| Children | est. 13 (see family tree at bottom) |
| Parent(s) | Richard Comyn Hextilda of Tynedale |
William Comyn (1163 - 1233) was Lord of Badenoch and Earl of Buchan. He was one of the seven children of Richard Comyn, Justiciar of Lothian, and Hextilda of Tynedale. Born in Altyre, Moray, Scotland, he died in Buchan and is buried in Deer Abbey.
William made his fortune in the service of King William I of Scotland fighting the Meic Uilleims in the north. William witnesses no fewer than 88 charters of the king. William was sheriff of Forfar (1195–1211), Justiciar of Scotia (1205–1233) and warden of Moray (1211–12). Between 1199 and 1200, William was sent to England to discuss important matters on King William's behalf with the new king, John.
William was appointed to the prestigious office of Justiciar of Scotia, the most senior royal office in the kingdom, in 1205. Between 1211 and 1212, William, as Warden of Moray (or Guardian of Moray) fought against the insurgency of Gofraid mac Domnaill (of the Meic Uilleim family), whom William beheaded in Kincardine in 1213. Upon finally destroying the Meic Uilleims in 1229, he was given the Lordship of Badenoch and the lands it controlled.
From an unknown date, William held the title Lord of Kilbride.
He helped oversee the construction of St Mungo's Cathedral in Glasgow and after his death, Marjory continued his work there.