Alexander Sutherland, 1st Lord Duffus

He was the eldest son of William Sutherland, 10th of Duffus and his wife Jean, daughter of John Grant of Freuchie.

[3] In 1641, after the Scottish army had invaded England and occupied Newcastle upon Tyne, the Sutherland Laird of Duffus joined the Earl of Sutherland on a visit to the camp but returned with the earl's train to attend the Parliament at Edinburgh in July, 1641.

[3] His wife died in 1648 and so he traveled abroad through France and Holland, returning with Charles II of England on June 24, 1650.

[2][3] He was not part of the Scottish army that subsequently marched to England, but was sent from Stirling to Perth to defend it from the attack of Oliver Cromwell, but was forced to surrender the town which he had only occupied for twelve hours previously with just 600 men.

His first wife was Jean, daughter and co-heiress of Colin Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth and who was also the widow of John Sinclair, Master of Berriedale.