William Cranstoun, 3rd Lord Cranstoun was a Scottish Lord of Parliament and a renowned Cavalier.
Background
William Cranstoun was the only son and heir to his father, James, Master of Cranstoun (the second son of William Cranstoun, 1st Lord Cranstoun), by his spouse Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Stewart, 1st Earl of Bothwell. He succeeded to the peerage on the death without issue of his uncle, John Cranstoun, 2nd Lord Cranstoun. The Cranstouns were a prominent Lowland family, whose estates had since at least the 14th century been centred on Cranston (or "Cranstoun"), in Midlothian, and Denholm, in the Borders.
Career
In 1648 he was one of the "Engagers" for King Charles I. He accompanied King Charles II into England in 1651 and was taken prisoner at the battle of Worcester, and remained in confinement for several years in the Tower of London. In 1656 he was allowed to levy 1000 men for the service of king Charles X Gustav of Sweden, and, probably at his instance, was formally pardoned by Parliament in 1657. On 15 January 1661/2 he, being then "of the parish of Saint Margaret"s, Westminster", was found guilty of slaying Alexander Skringer, Esq., with a rapier in self-defence.