David Forman

The Life of Andrew Forman (Archbishop of St Andrew s 1516 1521) David Forman

Andrew Forman was born in 1465 to Nicholas Forman of Hutton and Janet Blackadder. He grew up as a protege of Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus, and Alexander Lord Home. No wife is identified, probably because he planned a career in the church. His children were illegitimate but they all married prominent persons. Andrew left the University of St Andrews in 1483 and started working for James IV in 1489. He became a firm favourite of James IV and of the Spanish ambassador, Pedro de Ayala. He was appointed prior of Pittenweem in 1495 and ambassador to Henry VII in 1497. In 1510, he left Scotland for Europe where he carried out important duties as ambassador for the Pope and Louis XII, returning to Scotland in 1512, and back to France and Rome in 1513. Louis XII granted Bourges to Andrew. Late in 1514, the Pope appointed Andrew Archbishop of St Andrews, but the governor, Albany, did not agree to his admission until 1516. Andrew died in 1521.