Marquess of Lothian
Encyclopedia
- For early Earldom of Lothian, see Earl of DunbarEarl of DunbarThe title Earl of Dunbar, also called Earl of Lothian or Earl of March, was the head of a comital lordship in south-eastern Scotland between the early 12th century and the early 15th century. The first man to use the title of Earl in this earldom was Gospatric II, Earl of Lothian, son of Gospatric,...
Peerage of Scotland
The Peerage of Scotland is the division of the British Peerage for those peers created in the Kingdom of Scotland before 1707. With that year's Act of Union, the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England were combined into the Kingdom of Great Britain, and a new Peerage of Great Britain was...
. It was created in 1701 for Robert Kerr, 4th Earl of Lothian
Robert Kerr, 1st Marquess of Lothian
Robert Kerr, 1st Marquess of Lothian PC , known as the 4th Earl of Lothian from 1675 to 1701, was a Scottish nobleman. He was styled Lord Kerr until 1661 and Lord Newbattle from 1661 to 1675....
. The Marquess of Lothian holds the subsidiary titles of Earl of Lothian (created 1606), Earl of Lothian (created again 1631), Earl of Ancram (1633), Earl of Ancram (created again 1701), Viscount of Briene (1701), Lord Newbattle (1591), Lord Jedburgh (1622), Lord Kerr of Newbattle (1631), Lord Kerr of Nisbet, Langnewtoun, and Dolphinstoun (1633), Lord Kerr of Newbattle, Oxnam, Jedburgh, Dolphinstoun and Nisbet (1701), and Baron Ker, of Kersheugh in the County of Roxburgh (1821), all but the last in the Peerage of Scotland. As The Lord Ker in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
, previous Marquesses sat in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
before 1963, when Scottish peers first sat in the House of Lords in their own right.
The current Marquess of Lothian, the 13th, is better known as the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician Michael Ancram
Michael Ancram
Michael Andrew Foster Jude Kerr, 13th Marquess of Lothian, PC, QC , known as Michael Ancram, is a United Kingdom Conservative Party politician. He is a member of the House of Lords, former Member of Parliament, and a former member of the Shadow Cabinet...
. He received a life peerage in November 2010 as Baron Kerr of Monteviot and so became entitled to sit in the House of Lords. He lives at Monteviot House. The family also owned a larger Scottish seat, Newbattle Abbey
Newbattle Abbey
Newbattle Abbey was a Cistercian monastery near the village of Newbattle in Midlothian, Scotland, which has subsequently become a stately home and then an educational institution.-Monastery:...
, which is now a college, and also Blickling Hall
Blickling Hall
Blickling Hall is a stately home in the village of Blickling north of Aylsham in Norfolk, England, that has been in the care of the National Trust since 1940.-History:...
in Norfolk, which belongs to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
.
The heir presumptive to the marquessate is the 13th Marquess younger brother Lord Ralph Kerr, who owns Ferniehirst Castle
Ferniehirst Castle
Ferniehirst Castle is an L-shaped construction on the east bank of the Jed Water, about a mile and a half south of Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, and in the former county of Berwickshire...
, Jedburgh
Jedburgh
Jedburgh is a town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and historically in Roxburghshire.-Location:Jedburgh lies on the Jed Water, a tributary of the River Teviot, it is only ten miles from the border with England and is dominated by the substantial ruins of Jedburgh Abbey...
, Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh is a registration county of Scotland. It borders Dumfries to the west, Selkirk to the north-west, and Berwick to the north. To the south-east it borders Cumbria and Northumberland in England.It was named after the Royal Burgh of Roxburgh...
, which is an ancient family seat that had passed out of family but was repurchased and restored by the 12th Marquess, and Melbourne Hall
Melbourne Hall
Melbourne Hall, Derbyshire, England was once the seat of the Victorian Prime Minister William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, and thus is the ultimate origin for the naming of Melbourne, Australia. The house is now the seat of Lord Ralph Kerr and Lady Kerr and is open to the public...
in Derbyshire.
History of the titles
Mark KerrMark Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian
Mark Kerr , 1st Earl of Lothian was a Scottish nobleman and politician.He was the son of Mark Kerr, abbot of Newbattle, Midlothian, and the sister of the Earl of Rothes. Mark was Vicar of Linton in 1567...
was created Lord Newbattle in 1591 and Earl of Lothian in 1606, both with remainder to his heirs male. In 1621 both titles were surrendered by the 2nd Earl and regranted with a special remainder to his daughters, the eldest of whom, Lady Anne Kerr, succeeded to both titles on his death in 1624. Her husband, Sir William Kerr
William Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian
William Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian was a Scottish nobleman.The eldest son of Sir Robert Kerr, later 1st Earl of Ancram, he was born within St James's Palace in London and was educated at Cambridge University and at Paris...
(eldest son of Sir Robert Kerr, later 1st Earl of Ancram) was created Lord Kerr of Newbattle and Earl of Lothian in 1631. On her death in 1667 their eldest son became 4th Earl of Lothian (though he was not recognised as such) and on her husband's death in 1675 also 2nd Earl of Lothian.
By this point Sir Robert Kerr, father of the 1st Earl of the 2nd creation, had been created Lord Kerr of Nisbet, Langnewtoun and Dolphinstoun and Earl of Ancram, and the titles had been inherited by the 4th and 2nd Earl of Lothian's uncle, Charles Kerr
Charles Kerr, 2nd Earl of Ancram
Charles Kerr, 2nd Earl of Ancram was a Scottish peer and a member of the English House of Commons.-Biography:Charles was born on 6 August 1624 at Richmond, Surrey to Anne daughter of William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby and the second wife of Robert Kerr, 1st Earl of Ancram...
, on whose death in 1690 he became 3rd Earl of Ancram.
He was then created Lord Ker of Newbattle, Oxnam, Jedburgh, Dolphinstoun and Nisbet, Viscount of Briene, Earl of Ancram and Marquess of Lothian in 1701.
The 2nd Marquess succeeded his cousin as Lord Jedburgh before succeeding to the Marquessate, and the 6th Marquess was created Baron Ker, of Kersheugh in the County of Roxburgh, in 1821, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
.
Earls of Lothian; First creation (1606)
- Mark Kerr, 1st Earl of LothianMark Kerr, 1st Earl of LothianMark Kerr , 1st Earl of Lothian was a Scottish nobleman and politician.He was the son of Mark Kerr, abbot of Newbattle, Midlothian, and the sister of the Earl of Rothes. Mark was Vicar of Linton in 1567...
(1553–1609) - Robert Kerr, 2nd Earl of LothianRobert Kerr, 2nd Earl of LothianRobert Kerr, 2nd Earl of Lothian . A eulogic poem by William Douglas of Tofts mentioned that the Earl had travelled through most parts of Europe and was a student of astrology and mathematics-Suicide and succession:...
(d. 1624) - Anne Kerr, 3rd Countess of Lothian (d. 1667)
- Robert Kerr, 4th and 2nd Earl of Lothian and 3rd Earl of AncramRobert Kerr, 1st Marquess of LothianRobert Kerr, 1st Marquess of Lothian PC , known as the 4th Earl of Lothian from 1675 to 1701, was a Scottish nobleman. He was styled Lord Kerr until 1661 and Lord Newbattle from 1661 to 1675....
(1636–1703) (created Marquess of Lothian in 1701)
Earls of Lothian; Second creation (1631)
- William Kerr, 1st Earl of LothianWilliam Kerr, 1st Earl of LothianWilliam Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian was a Scottish nobleman.The eldest son of Sir Robert Kerr, later 1st Earl of Ancram, he was born within St James's Palace in London and was educated at Cambridge University and at Paris...
(1605–1675) - The Earldom was inherited by the 4th Earl of the first creation (see above).
Earls of Ancram (1633)
- Robert Kerr, 1st Earl of Ancram (1578–1654)
- Charles Kerr, 2nd Earl of AncramCharles Kerr, 2nd Earl of AncramCharles Kerr, 2nd Earl of Ancram was a Scottish peer and a member of the English House of Commons.-Biography:Charles was born on 6 August 1624 at Richmond, Surrey to Anne daughter of William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby and the second wife of Robert Kerr, 1st Earl of Ancram...
(d. 1690) - The Earldom was inherited by the 4th and 2nd Earl of Lothian (see above).
Marquesses of Lothian (1701)
- Robert Kerr, 1st Marquess of LothianRobert Kerr, 1st Marquess of LothianRobert Kerr, 1st Marquess of Lothian PC , known as the 4th Earl of Lothian from 1675 to 1701, was a Scottish nobleman. He was styled Lord Kerr until 1661 and Lord Newbattle from 1661 to 1675....
(1636–1703) - William Kerr, 2nd Marquess of LothianWilliam Kerr, 2nd Marquess of LothianLieutenant-General William Kerr, 2nd Marquis of Lothian, KT was a Scottish peer and soldier. He was styled Master of Newbattle until 1675, Lord Newbattle from 1675 to 1692, and was the 5th Lord Jedburgh from 1692 to 1703.Kerr was the eldest son of Robert Kerr, 1st Marquis of Lothian and his wife,...
(1661–1722) - William Kerr, 3rd Marquess of LothianWilliam Kerr, 3rd Marquess of LothianWilliam Kerr, 3rd Marquess of Lothian KT was a Scottish nobleman, styled Master of Jedburgh from 1692 to 1703 and Lord Jedburgh from 1703 to 1722...
(1690–1767) - William Henry Kerr, 4th Marquess of LothianWilliam Kerr, 4th Marquess of LothianGeneral William Henry Kerr, 4th Marquess of Lothian KT was a Scottish nobleman, soldier and politician, the eldest son of William Kerr, 3rd Marquess of Lothian. He was styled Master of Jedburgh until 1722, Lord Jedburgh from 1722 to 1735, and Earl of Ancram from 1735 to 1767...
(1713–1775) - William John Kerr, 5th Marquess of LothianWilliam Kerr, 5th Marquess of LothianGeneral William John Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian KT was a British soldier and peer, styled Lord Newbottle until 1767 and Earl of Ancram from 1767 to 1775....
(1737–1815) - William Kerr, 6th Marquess of LothianWilliam Kerr, 6th Marquess of LothianWilliam Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian KT was the son of William Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian.He married, firstly, Lady Harriet Hobart-Hampden, a younger daughter of 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire , on 14 April 1793...
(1763–1824) - John William Robert Kerr, 7th Marquess of LothianJohn Kerr, 7th Marquess of LothianJohn William Robert Kerr, 7th Marquess of Lothian PC , styled Lord Newbottle until 1815 and Earl of Ancram from 1815 to 1824, was a Scottish Tory politician...
(1794–1841) - William Schomberg Robert Kerr, 8th Marquess of Lothian (1832–1870)
- Schomberg Henry Kerr, 9th Marquess of LothianSchomberg Kerr, 9th Marquess of LothianSchomberg Henry Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian KT, PC , styled Lord Schomberg Kerr until 1870, was a British diplomat and Conservative politician...
(1833–1900)- Walter William Schomberg Kerr, Earl of Ancram (1867–1892)
- Robert Schomberg Kerr, 10th Marquess of Lothian (1874–1930)
- Philip Henry Kerr, 11th Marquess of LothianPhilip Kerr, 11th Marquess of LothianPhilip Henry Kerr, 11th Marquess of Lothian KT CH PC was a British politician and diplomat.Philip Kerr was the son of Lord Ralph Drury Kerr, the third son of John Kerr, 7th Marquess of Lothian...
(1882–1940) - Peter Francis Walter Kerr, 12th Marquess of LothianPeter Kerr, 12th Marquess of LothianPeter Francis Walter Kerr, 12th Marquess of Lothian, KCVO was a British peer, politician and landowner....
(1922–2004) - Michael Andrew Foster Jude Kerr, 13th Marquess of LothianMichael AncramMichael Andrew Foster Jude Kerr, 13th Marquess of Lothian, PC, QC , known as Michael Ancram, is a United Kingdom Conservative Party politician. He is a member of the House of Lords, former Member of Parliament, and a former member of the Shadow Cabinet...
(b. 1945)
The heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
is the present holder's brother Lord Ralph William Francis Joseph Kerr (b. 1957).
Lord Ralph's heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
is his eldest son John Walter Donald Peter Kerr (b. 8 August 1988).