Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1587), Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland was queen regnant of Scotland from 1542 to 1567 and briefly queen consort of France from 1559 to 1560. She was the only surviving legitimate child of King James V of Scotland and was just six days old when her father died; she was crowned nine months later. In 1558 she married Francis, Dauphin of France, later King Francis II a was widowed in 1560 after which she returned to Scotland. In 1564 she married her first cousin, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, who was later murdered. It was believed that James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell orchestrated Darnley's death however he was acquitted of the charge and Mary then married him. Following an uprising against the couple, Mary was imprisoned in Loch Leven Castle. In 1567; she sought the protection of her first cousin once removed, Queen Elizabeth I of England. However, Mary was deemed to be a threat and so Elizabeth had her imprisoned. After eighteen and a half years in custody, Mary was found guilty of plotting to assassinate Elizabeth in 1586. She was beheaded the following year at Fotheringhay Castle, Northamptonshire.