with the Crown. In 1572, the earldom was conferred upon King James's uncle Charles. He did not long enjoy the title, for he died four years later at the age of twenty-one. It was next granted to the king's great-uncle Robert in 1578. This Robert, described as being "symple and of lyttle action or accomte", was persuaded to exchange the earldom of Lennox for the earldom of March, so that the king could give the former title to his friend and cousin Esmé. In 1581, Esmé's earldom was raised to a dukedom, and his line continued as Dukes of Lennox until the time of his great-grandson Charles, who died childless in 1672 after drowning at Elsinore while on a diplomatic mission to the Danish government. In 1675, the Dukedom of Lennox was conferred upon Charles, bastard son of King Charles II, along with the English Dukedom of Richmond and several other titles. However, he would later sell his lands in the Lennox to the Duke of Montrose, meaning he became Duke of Lennox in name alone. This line survives today, and is currently headed by another Charles. Despite being Stewarts, they used "Lennox" as their surname, which was changed to "Gordon-Lennox" in the 19th century after the fourth Duke married Lady Charlotte Gordon, sister and heiress to George, Duke of Gordon. List of earls and dukes of Lennox Earls of Lennox (12th century) David, Earl of Huntingdon (died 1219) [first known holder] Ailin I, Earl of Lennox (d. c. 1200) Ailin II, Earl of Lennox (d. 1217) Maldouen, Earl of Lennox (d. 1250) Malcolm I, Earl of Lennox (d. 1303) Malcolm II, Earl of Lennox (d. 1333) Donald, Earl of Lennox (d. 1365) Margaret, Countess of Lennox (?) (resigned 1385) m. Walter of Faslane, descendant of the second Earl. Duncan, Earl of Lennox (d. 1425) Isabella, Countess of Lennox (d. 1458) m. Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany The title became extinct c. 1459, as all four sons of Countess Isabella died without legitimate issue. Earls of Lennox (2nd creation) (1488) John Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox (d. 1495); Matthew Stewart, 2nd Earl of Lennox (1488–1513), killed at the Battle of Flodden; John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Lennox (d. 1526); Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox (1516–1571); Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley (1545–1567), eldest son and heir apparent to the earldom who predeceased his father. He married his half-first cousin Mary, Queen