Background
He was son of the famous Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, a companion-in-arms of Robert the Bruce.
He was son of the famous Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, a companion-in-arms of Robert the Bruce.
He also had a famous sister Agnes Randolph, "Black Agnes of Dunbar". Escaping from the carnage there he retired to France. John returned to Scotland the following year, when he and the High Steward of Scotland (the future King Robert II of Scotland) were appointed joint Regents, and set about trying to restore order to the nation.
He was successful in taking prisoner the Comyn Earl of Atholl, commander of the English forces in Scotland, but, on his swearing allegiance to the Scottish Crown he was set free.
Comyn, however, disregarded his oath, returned to the English camp, and resumed his hostilities. In August 1335 led an attack on the Burgh Muir near Edinburgh against a body of Flemish auxiliaries in the English service, under Count Guy de Namur, and forced them to surrender.
But escorting the Count to the Borders he fell into an ambush and was made prisoner by William de Pressen, (English) Warden of Jedburgh. He was confined first at Nottingham Castle, and afterwards in the Tower of London.
On 25 July 1340, he was removed to Windsor Castle.
In 1341 he was exchanged for the Earl of Salisbury, a prisoner with the French, and Moray then returned to Scotland. In February 1342 he invaded England with David II of Scotland. At the Battle of Neville"s Cross, outside Durham, on 17 October 1346 John, with Douglas, Knight of Liddesdale, commanded the right wing of the Scottish army.
He was killed during the first English attack.