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George Victor Robert John Innes-Ker, 9th Duke of Roxburghe (7 September 1913 – 26 September 1974) was the son of Henry John Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe and Mary Goelet. He succeeded his father in 1932.

Early life

George Victor Robert John Innes-Ker was born on 7 September 1913 to Henry Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe (1876–1932) and Mary Goelet (1878–1937). He was born almost ten years after his parents were married, on 10 November 1903,

He grew up at Floors Castle which was located on 60,500 acres, which his mother decorated with her own collection of art including a series of 17th century Gobelins Manufactory tapestries.

Family

His paternal grandparents were James Henry Robert Innes-Ker, 7th Duke of Roxburghe (1839–1892) and Lady Anne Emily Spencer-Churchill (1854–1923), the fourth daughter of John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough, who served in Conservative governments as Lord President of the Council and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and his wife, Lady Frances Vane, daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry. His first cousin once removed was Winston Churchill. His uncle, Lord Robert Edward Innes-Ker (1885–1958), married the actress Jose Collins.

His maternal grandfather was Ogden Goelet (1851–1897), an American real-estate millionaire. At the time of his parents' marriage, his mother was the wealthiest American heiress, with a dowry of twenty million dollars, exceeded only by Consuelo Vanderbilt. He also was a grandnephew of Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt III, née Grace Wilson.

Personal life

The Duke attended Eton College in Windsor, Berkshire, England.

On 24 October 1935, he was married to Lady Mary Evelyn Hungerford Crewe-Milnes (1915–2014), daughter of Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe, by his marriage to Lady Margaret Etrenne Hannah Primrose, daughter of Hannah Primrose, Countess of Rosebery, and Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery. The marriage ended in divorce in 1953, after the Duke controversially attempted to evict Lady Mary from the ancestral home at Floors Castle. When her widowed mother died in 1967, the Duchess inherited West Horsley Place where she died in 2014 at the age of 99.

On 5 January 1954, he married for the second time at Caxton Hall to Margaret Elizabeth McConnel (1918–1993), daughter of Capt. Frederick Bradshaw McConnel and great-granddaughter of British industrialist William McConnel. Together, they had:

• Guy David Innes-Ker, 10th Duke of Roxburghe (18 November 1954 – 29 August 2019)
• Lord Robert Anthony Innes-Ker (b. 28 May 1959) married 1996 (separated) Katherine Pelly, and has issue, one son and one daughter.

The 9th Duke of Roxburghe died on 26 September 1974.

Ancestry

References

1. Times, Wireless to the New York (27 April 1937). "DOWAGER DUCHESS OF ROXBURGHE DIES; New York Heiress Was a Close Friend of King George V and Queen Mary". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
2. "THE ROXBURGHE WEDDING; Private Rehearsal Held at St. Thomas's Church. Programme of Today's Ceremony -- Simple Reception to Follow at the Goelet Residence". The New York Times. 10 November 1903. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
3. Times, Wireless to the New York (30 September 1932). "DUKE OF ROXBURGH DIES AT AGE OF 56; Stricken Suddenly After Attending Funeral of His Friend, Michael G. Herbert. | I MARRIED MAY GOELET HERE | Ceremony in 1903 One of Important Society Events of That Year | Was Wounded in War". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
4. "Illustrated Guide to Places to Visit - Floors Castle". Retrieved 27 March 2016.
5. Quinault, Roland (2004). "Churchill, John Winston Spencer, seventh duke of Marlborough (1822–1883)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/5403. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
6. "Lord R. Innes-Ker weds Jose Collins; Brother of Duke of Roxburghe Married to Musical Comedy Actress in London. Ceremony was a Secret. Bride, Daughter of Late Lottie Collins, Won First Success Herein "The Merry Countess." New York Times, 4 November 1920, p. 16], (citation only)( full article)
7. "DUKE OF ROXBURGHE MARRIES MISS GOELET; Second American Heiress to be Made a Duchess in St, Thomas's WOMEN MOB HER CARRIAGE Extraordinary Demonstration Near the Church by Faminine Sightseers Keeps Police Busy -- Reception at Mrs. Goelet's Home". The New York Times. 11 November 1903. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
8. "Marriage Announcement". The New York Times. 3 September 1903.
9. "MOTHER AND SISTER OF ROXBURGHE HERE; Duchess Denies Story of Objection to American Brides. Plans for the Wedding Complete -- The Decorations at the Church and Home of the Bride". The New York Times. 8 November 1903. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
10. ^ Times, Special to the New York (27 September 1974). "George Innes-Ker, Ninth Duke of Roxburghe, Dies in Scotland". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
11. ^ "Obituary: Mary, Duchess of Roxburghe". The Telegraph.
12. Times, Special to the New York (6 January 1954). "DUKE OF ROXBURGHE MARRIES IN LONDON". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
13. Times, Special to the New York (19 November 1954). "Son to Duchess of Roxburghe". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 January 2017.

• 1913 births
• 1974 deaths
• Nobility from the Scottish Borders
• Dukes of Roxburghe
• Goelet family
• Scottish people of American descent