Career
He was justiciar of Galloway in 1258. He held lands in Nithsdale (Dalswinton, a Comyn stronghold, and Duncow) and Tynedale. The Comyn family were in effective power in Scotland from 1249 to 1255, when Alexander III of Scotland was a minor.
John was one of those with court influence.
The Comyns were ousted, by Alan Durward, but returned to power in 1257-1258, before provoking a strong English reaction. He fought for Henry III of England at the Battle of Lewes (1265), with John Baliol the elder and Robert Bruce the elder, and was captured.
In 1267 he was given license to crenellate Tarset Castle in Tynedale (by present-day Lanehead, near Hexham), by Henry III. Tarset had previously been held by Walter Comyn. He started castle construction at Blair Castle with a tower built in 1269.
The place was soon taken back by David, Earl of Atholl.
John was the son of a Richard Comyn and was the grandson (through Richard) of William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan. His date of death is also given as 1277.
John II
a daughter who married Alexander of Argyll
a daughter who married Sir William Galbraith, 4th Chief of that Ilk, Lord of Kyncaith
a daughter who married Galfrid de Mowbray
a daughter who married Sir Andrew Moray.
