He was the second son of David Drummond, 2nd Lord Drummond, by his wife, Lilias, eldest daughter of William, second Lord Ruthven. On his coming of age his father gave him the lands and titles of the Abbey of Inchaffray in Strathearn, in virtue of which possession he was known as "commendator" of Inchaffray.
He was educated with James VI, who throughout his life treated him with favour.
He also had charters of the baronies of Auchterarder, Kincardine, and Drymen in Perthshire and Stirling, 3 September 1582, and 20 October of the lands of Kirkhill. In 1585 Drummond was appointed a lord of the bedchamber by James VI. He was with the king at Perth 5 August 1600, during the so-called Gowrie plot, and afterwards gave depositions about lieutenant In 1609 (31 January) the king converted the abbey of Inchaffray into a temporal lordship, and made Drummond a peer, with the title of Lord Maderty, the name being that of the parish in which Inchaffray was situated.
Drummond died in September 1623.
