A detail of a 1561 painting of the Regent.
The first recorded assassination by firearm happened in Scotland on the 23rd of January, 1570. James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray and Regent of Scotland was killed at Linlithgow Palace.
Miles Birket Foster’s 19th century painting of Linlithgow Palace
The assassin was James Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh, a supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots.
A nineteenth century depiction of the killing.
Some accounts of the execution were recorded centuries after it happened, making some facts a little bit unclear.
One version states that Lady Mondegreen was killed by a second shot, but this is a myth.
In Times Gone By... 