James I, b. July 1394, d. Feb. 20, 1437, became titular king of Scotland in 1406. His father, Robert III, shortly before his death (1406), had sent James to France for safety. However, the young prince was captured en route by the English, who detained him until 1424. During James's absence Scotland was governed by James's uncle, Robert Stuart, 1st duke of Albany (d. 1420), and later by Albany's son, Murdoch. Neither of them ruled effectively. In his last year of captivity, James married Joan Beaufort, a cousin of Henry V of England.

After James's return (1424) to Scotland, he quickly subdued the powerful nobility, executing many, including Murdoch (1425). He also reorganized Scotland's financial administration and improved the judicial system by appointing an advocate to represent the poor in court. James was assassinated in the Dominican friary at Perth, apparently at the instigation of rival claimants to the throne; but he was succeeded by his son James II. James I is generally considered to be the author of The Kingis Quair ("The King's Book"; rev. ed. by John Norton-Smith, 1971), a long poem about his captivity and about his romance with Joan.

Haws, Charles H. "James I, King of Scotland." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Grolier Online, 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2012.