He fought on the Seventh Crusade under King Louis IX of France, during which his younger brother John was killed at Damietta in Egypt in 1249.

[2] He also seems to have made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain and in honour of the saint baptised his eldest surviving son James, a name rare before then in Scotland.

[2] He commanded Scottish army at Largs in October 1263, successfully defending Scotland against attempted invasion by King Haakon IV of Norway.

[1][2] It appears to have been in his time that the Stewarts acquired the lordship of the Cowal Peninsula, with their castle at Dunoon.

[1] He is recorded as playing a prominent part in affairs during the reign of Alexander, being referred to as senescallus Scotie (steward of Scotland) instead of the older dapifer regis Scotie (steward of the king of Scotland), so indicating that he held a major office of state that was significant nationally rather than just being a courtier in the royal household.