1566 in Scotland

Events from 1566 in the Kingdom of Scotland.

Incumbents

• Monarch – Mary, Queen of Scots

Events

• 24 February – Wedding of Jean Gordon and James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell.
• 9 March – David Rizzio is murdered in front of Mary, Queen of Scots at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh by a group of nobles led by Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven with the support of Mary's husband Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley.
• 11 March – Mary escapes to Dunbar Castle after convincing Lord Darnley to help her.
• 18 March – Mary returns to Edinburgh with an army raised by James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell.
• April – Mary takes up residence at Edinburgh Castle in preparation to give birth.
• 19 June – Mary gives birth to her son James at Edinburgh Castle.
• 17 December – James is baptised at Stirling Castle.

Births

• Thomas Erskine, 1st Earl of Kellie
• John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl (1566–1603)
• 19 June – James VI and I, King of Scotland from 1567 and King of England and Ireland from 1603 (died 1625 in England)
• James Sempill, courtier and poet (died 1626)

Deaths

• Robert Carnegie, Lord Kinnaird
• 9 March – David Rizzio, Italian courtier (born 1533 in the Duchy of Savoy)
• 26 March – Laurence Oliphant, 3rd Lord Oliphant
• 13 June – Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven

References