Bothwell, a village of Lanarkshire, on the right bank of the Clyde, 8 miles SE. of Glasgow. The parish church includes the choir of the old collegiate church (1398; restored 1898–99). The river is crossed here by Bothwell Brig, the scene of Monmouth's bloody defeat of the Covenanters in 1679. A mile from the village are the stately ruins of Bothwell Castle, at whose base the Clyde washes the fair scenery of 'Bothwell Bank,' famous for centuries in Scottish song. Held before that by Olifards and Murrays, Bothwell Castle was possessed by the Douglasses from 1365 till 1455; and to them it reverted in 1492, being now owned by their representative, the Earl of Home. Thus, contrary to Professor Schiern's statement, the infamous Earl of Bothwell had no personal connection with the castle, as neither had his nephew, Francis
Stewart (circa 1563–1624), who in 1576 was created Earl of Bothwell, and who figures in history through his daring attempts to obtain possession of the person of James VI. Bothwellhaugh, about 2 miles ESE., gave designation to James Hamilton, assassin of the Regent Moray. Joanna Baillie was a native of Bothwell. Pop. (1891) 2400. See Sir W. Fraser's Douglas Book (4 vols. 1885).