Career
In 1626 he moved to Germany to become a soldier of fortune, eventually rising to the rank of major under Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, during the Thirty Years War. He returned to Scotland in 1636 to serve in the covenanting army, becoming colonel of a horse regiment under General John Middleton. In 1647 he purchased the lands and barony of Urie in Kincardineshire from William Keith, 7th Earl of Marischal.
David Barclay was the son of David Barclay (1580–1660), 11th of Mathers, of Kincardineshire, Scotland and Elizabeth Livingstone, daughter of John Livingston of Dunipace.
Katherine was a third cousin of Charles I. Lucy died unmarried. Jean married Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel, to whom she bore eight children.
David died unmarried.
