Dunrobin Castle (14)
Adam Gordon and Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland, were succeeded by their grandson John Gordon, 11th Earl of Sutherland.  It was during John's time as earl that Mary Queen of Scots, or more particularly her illegitimate half-brother, the Earl of Moray, defeated the Earl of Huntly at the Battle of Corrichie.  Huntly was Earl John's cousin, and following the discovery of secret letters between them, Earl John fled to Louvain in Flanders.  At the Parliament of Scotland held in May 1563, in the presence of the Queen, Huntly and Sutherland were both forfeited, however two years later in 1565 Queen Mary restored both Earls, and others of the name of Gordon who had been forfeited.  On his eventual return to Scotland, Earl John married, as his 3rd wife, Marion, daughter of George 4th Lord Seton, however they were both poisoned while at Helmsdale Castle and died here at Dunrobin on 23 June 1567.  

The poisoner was the earl's aunt-in-law, Isobel Sinclair, wife of Earl John's uncle, Gilbert Gordon of Garty.  Isobel Sinclair was apparently attempting to make her own son Earl.  In order to do this, she also needed to dispose of Earl John's son and heir Alexander, but the cup of poison was accidently drunk by her own son, who died two days later, so Alexander survived to become the 12th Earl.  Isobel Sinclair died before her execution, possibly by poisoning herself.  

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