Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland

When he was about fifteen years old in 1567, his father and step mother were poisoned at Helmsdale Castle by Isobel Sinclair, the wife of Gordon of Gartly.

[1] Isobel Sinclair's own son also died, but the fifteen-year-old heir of Sutherland, Alexander Gordon was unharmed.

[5] According to historian Robert Mackay, it was decided at the meeting that the Clan Gunn should be "made away", because they were judged to be the principal authors of these "troubles and commotions", but that both Hugh Mackay and George Sinclair, Earl of Caithness were unwilling to attack their old allies the Clan Gunn and therefore departed from the meeting at Elgin.

[4] He sent a message to both Hugh Mackay and George Sinclair, Earl of Caithness to meet him at Sutherland's seat of Dunrobin Castle.

[5] Robert Mackay also states that the Earl of Caithness agreed with Gordon's proposals at this second meeting to attack the Gunns.

[2] Gordon evidently had poor health and in 1580 he transferred rights of the Sutherland earldom to his young son and heir John.