George Seton, 5th Lord Seton (1530-1585) was the eldest son of George, 4th Lord Seton, and Elizabeth daughter of John, Lord Hay of Yester. He was a loyal supporter and close friend to Mary, Queen of Scots whom he faithfully served in Court and Battle. His political career began in 1558, when he was appointed the Provost of Edinburgh. Together with the Earl of Huntly, Lord Seton promoted the Queen's desire for the people to choose their religious destiny. This inevitably caused John Knox much fustration as he had successfully preached in the city in favour of the Reformation and had gathered support from notable members of the aristocracy, such as Lord Erskine, later 4th Earl of Mar.

After the triumph of the Protestants, Seton left for a brief visit to France commenting though he had been "evily used" in Scotland, he intended to go home and "live and die a good Scotsman".

Following Queen Mary's return to Scotland in 1561, he became a member of her Privy Council and Master of the Royal Household, supporting her through the assassination of Lord Darnley, and her subsequent marriage to Lord Bothwell. In defence of the Crown, Seton supported Queen Mary throughout her reign, was present at her surrender at Carberry in 1567, and instrumental in her escape from imprisonment at Loch Leven in May 1558.