Tour Scotland photograph of a cottage in Upper Largo, East Neuk Of Fife, Scotland.
Sir Andrew Wood of Largo, died 1515, was a Scottish sea captain. Beginning as a merchant in Leith, he was involved in national naval actions and rose to become Lord High Admiral of Scotland. He was knighted in 1495. He may have transported King James III across the Firth of Forth to escape the rebels in 1488. He was in charge of the rebuilding of Dunbar Castle in 1497. Wood began his naval career as a privateer under James III, and flourished under James IV. By 1489 he owned the Flower and the Yellow Carvel, both fighting ships, which fought and captured five English ships offshore near Dunbar. In response, the English launched a larger expedition the following year under Stephen Bull, which attacked Wood's ships in the Firth of Forth. The fight lasted two days and was watched by crowds in Edinburgh. Wood eventually triumphed, despite being outnumbered in ships and guns, and the English ships were captured. James IV knighted Wood following this battle, and allowed him to impress some of the captured English sailors, who later were put to work build the now ruined castle at Largo. One of Andrew's sons, John Wood was assassinated in 1570.
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