Alexander the second (Alexander II) was a Scottish monarch, born in Haddington (East Lothian) and the son of William I (The Lion) whom he suceeded in1214. An astute politcal King, his first troubles started as soon as he was crowned King on the Stone of Destiny at Scone. Donald MacWilliam (the last of the descendants of Duncan II) invaded Moray and was joined by Kenneth MacHeth in the uprising. However, the Abbot of Applecross came to the rescue of the young King and defeated the rebel forces.

In contrast to these troubles, in 1217 he led an army to Dover in the South of England and made contact with the Dauphin of France, making good use of the troubles of King John of England. However, he returned North without the main prize of the return of the Northern English Earldoms.

The so called "Normanising" of Scotland continued during his reign, with Galloway being divided into three parts and ruled by different Lords. Of course, uprisings and rebellions were all part of the struggle of this time and this did not always go smoothly.

His reign continued (having also married in 1221 & 1238) in an attempt to pacify the rebellious North of Scotland and to regain the Western Isles. Regarded also as an effective politician, offering to buy the Western Isles from Norway, but his offer was spurned, apparently with great derision.Having had no success with diplomacy in terms of recovering the Western Isles, he set out to retrieve them by force, but died suddenly on the Isle of Kerrera, and was buried at Melrose. He was succeeded by his only son Alexander III (1241 - 1286).

Other notable achievements of Alexander was founding abbeys at Balmerino and Pluscarden, the Blackfriars Monastery at Perth and Eilean Donan Castle.