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William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian

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William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian (Henry Raeburn, late 1780s)

William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian, KT, FRSE (4 October 1763 – 27 April 1824), was a British soldier, landowner and politician. He was the son of William Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian. He served as a representative peer from 1817 to 1824.

Life

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Monteviot House

Kerr was born on 4 October 1763, the son of the then Lord Newbattle and Elizabeth Fortescue. When he was five he was the subject of several pictures with his sister, executed by Valentine Green as mezzotints for publication.[1]

He was educated at the University of Edinburgh. In 1786 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh; his proposers were Dugald Stewart, James Hutton and John Robison.[2]

He was Lord Lieutenant of Roxburghshire from 1812 and of Midlothian from 1819.[2] He served as Colonel of the Edinburgh Militia from 25 March 1811 until his death.[3]

He was created a Knight of the Thistle in 1820 and Baron of Kersheugh in 1821.

He lived in the family home of Monteviot House near Jedburgh.

Kerr died in Richmond, Surrey, on 27 April 1824.

Family

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He married, firstly, Lady Harriet Hobart,[4] a daughter of John Hobart, 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire (and the divorced wife of Armar Lowry-Corry, 1st Earl Belmore), on 14 April 1793. They had four children:

  • John Kerr, 7th Marquess of Lothian (1794–1841)
  • Lord Schomberg Robert (1795–1825), soldier, died unmarried.
  • Lady Isabella Emily Caroline (1797–1858), died unmarried.
  • Lord Henry Francis Charles (1800–1882), religious minister, married Louisa Hope, a daughter of Sir Alexander Hope.

His first wife died in 1805 and on 1 December 1806, at Dalkeith House, he married Lady Harriet Scott, a daughter of Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch. They had eight children:

References

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  1. ^ "William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian – Person – National Portrait Gallery".
  2. ^ a b c Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0-902-198-84-X.
  3. ^ Major R.C. Dudgeon, History of the Edinburgh, or Queen's Regiment Light Infantry Militia (now) Third Battalion The Royal Scots, Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1882/Bibliolife, nd, ISBN 978-1-10368643-8, pp. 59, 79, Table C.
  4. ^ Auden, W. H. "Family Ghosts". University of Stanford.
Honorary titles
Preceded by Lord Lieutenant of Roxburghshire
1812–1824
Succeeded by
Preceded by Lord Lieutenant of Midlothian
1819–1824
Succeeded by
Masonic offices
Preceded by Grand Master of the
Grand Lodge of Scotland

1794–1796
Succeeded by
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by Marquess of Lothian
1815–1824
Succeeded by
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baron Ker
1821–1824
Succeeded by