He was born the son and heir of Sir David II Strathbogie, Earl of Atholl, Constable of Scotland (who had been banished by Robert the Bruce) and Chief Warden of Northumberland, by his spouse Joan, elder daughter of Sir John Comyn of Badenoch, Joint Guardian of Scotland.
In 1330 the English Crown conferred upon him the castle and manor of Odogh, in Ireland, which had belonged to his great-uncle, Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke.
He was killed fighting Sir Andrew Murray at the Battle of Culblean (or Kilblane), in a serious setback for Balliol's forces.
Katherine's dowry included parts of the manor of Ponteland, Little Eland, and Calverdon in Northumberland.
[1] They had one son, and a probable daughter Isabel, wife of Sir Edmund de Cornwall, Knt.