Robert Seton, 2nd Earl of Winton
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Robert Seton, 2nd Earl of Winton and 9th Lord Seton (1583-1634) was a Scottish nobleman.
He was born in 1583 and succeeded his father Robert Seton, 1st Earl of Winton in March, 1603. He was a devoted Catholic all of his life, and was a wise manager of the family estates, ensuring the continued prosperity that his father had begun. It was he who began the rebuilding of the Palace of Seton, which contruction his brother the 3rd Earl continued and completed. Robert was also raised to be close to the Stuart Monarchy, and though was favoured by the presence of such at the Palace of Seton, he was not extra-ordinarily involved in the events of the time like his predecessors had been, or his brother.
Robert Seton married Ann Maitland, only daughter of John, Lord Thirlestane, but by whom he had no issue which caused him great distress, and in this disappointment he resigned his titles and estates to his younger brother George, upon realizing that he would not produce an Heir. Robert voluntarily resigned the titles of Lord Seton, Tranent, Winton and Wynchburgh and the Earldom of Winton and all of the family estates while comparatively young and died, in a private station of life, in January, 1634 at Seton. It has been said that his brother George's motivation for rebuilding and re-creating Winton House, was to ensure that his older brother would be suitably and honorably cared for during the remainder of his life after presenting him with the Titles at such an opportune age in life.
