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Beaton or Bethune, James 1470-1539
Scottish prelate and statesman

He graduated from St Andrews in 1493, and rose rapidly to be Archbishop of Glasgow (1509), and of St Andrews (1522). One of the regents during James V's minority, he upheld the Hamilton against the Douglas faction, and in 1526 had 'to keep sheep in Balgrumo', while the Douglases plundered his castle. He was soon, however, reinstated in his see, and was a zealous supporter of France. An opponent of the Reformation, he initiated persecution of Protestants: Patrick Hamilton and three other Protestants were burnt at the stake during his primacy. He was the uncle of Cardinal David Beaton.