Stephen Saint George (45th Viscount of Pirbright)
Stephen Saint George (601-679), one of 6 sons and 3 daughters of Iain, the 44th Viscount of Pirbright, was a a long-time regent and advisor to Clan Gordon of Gillivray.
Early Life[edit]
Stephen Iain Roger Saint George, second son of the Viscount of Pirbright, was born on the family estate at Filthmarrow. He started his career as a student at Caledon College in 617.
Military Career[edit]
Taking degrees in rhetoric and history, he spent four years as a platoon leader, captain and chief of staff in the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Pirbright Highlanders (a regiment his family sponsored) before being asked to stand for his father's seat in the House of Lords.
Political Career[edit]
He won the election in 623, and quickly moved to the forward benches as a leader of the Reform faction in the Lords during a very turbulent period in Caledonian politics. He was recognized for an exceptional talent at negotiation and back-room deal-making and problem-solving.
Privy Councilor[edit]
These skills earned him, in 630, an invitation to serve on the Privy Council of Prince Michael II - the prince's kitchen cabinet of close advisors. He worked his way up through the ranks of the Privy Council and, in 638, as Michael pondered stepping down and leaving the throne to his son Fergus, appointed Stephen his Regent.
Regent[edit]
Stephen served as Regent during the reigns of all of Michael's sons, and in the first years of Michael's grandson, Ian X. He was renowned as perhaps the most powerful, skillful Regents in the history of the Principality.
Personal Life[edit]
He wasn't nearly as skillful in his personal life. Married and divorced three times in his career, in his mid-sixties he became involved with Colleen, the mother of Sovereign Prince Ian X. The affair eventually led to the birth of the "Cairnleigh Row" school of entertainment media, with its lurid, sensationalistic coverage of the foibles and seedy underbelly of Caledon's nobility, merchant, entertainment and upper classes.
Later Life[edit]
After stepping down as regent in 674, he lived quietly on his estate on the outskirts of Caledon until his death.
In recognition of his service and achievements as one of the great regents in Caledonian history, Saint George was made a namesake of a Prince Stuart IV class battleship, the Regent Steven Saint George, commissioned in 1099.