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
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.
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.
He was Lord Lieutenant of Roxburghshire from 1812 and of Midlothian from 1819. He served as Colonel of the Edinburgh Militia from 25 March 1811 until his death.
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
He married, firstly, Lady Harriet Hobart, 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:
- Lady Elizabeth Georgiana Kerr (1807–1871), married Charles Trefusis, 19th Baron Clinton.
- Lady Harriet Louise Anne (1808–1884), married Sir John Stuart Hepburn Forbes, 8th Baronet.
- Lady Frances (1810–1863), married George Wade.
- Lady Anne Katherine (1812–1829), died unmarried.
- Lord Charles Lennox (1814–1898), soldier, married Charlotte Hanmer, a daughter of Sir Thomas Hanmer, 2nd Baronet.
- Lord Mark Ralph George (1817–1900), soldier, died unmarried.
- Lord Frederick Herbert (1818–1896), admiral, married Emily Maitland, a daughter of Sir Peregrine Maitland.
- Lady Georgiana Augusta (1821–1859), married Rev. Granville Forbes.
References
- "William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian – Person – National Portrait Gallery".
- ^ 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.
- 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.
- Auden, W. H. "Family Ghosts". University of Stanford.
| Honorary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byHenry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch | Lord Lieutenant of Roxburghshire 1812–1824 |
Succeeded byJohn Kerr, 7th Marquess of Lothian |
| Preceded byCharles Montagu-Scott, 4th Duke of Buccleuch | Lord Lieutenant of Midlothian 1819–1824 |
Succeeded byGeorge Douglas, 16th Earl of Morton |
| Masonic offices | ||
| Preceded byMarquess of Huntly | Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland 1794–1796 |
Succeeded byLord Doune |
| Peerage of Scotland | ||
| Preceded byWilliam Kerr | Marquess of Lothian 1815–1824 |
Succeeded byJohn Kerr |
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
| New creation | Baron Ker 1821–1824 |
Succeeded byJohn Kerr |
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- 1763 births
- 1824 deaths
- Nobility from the Scottish Borders
- Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
- Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
- Knights of the Thistle
- Lord-lieutenants of Midlothian
- Lord-lieutenants of Roxburghshire
- Edinburgh Militia officers
- Scottish representative peers
- Clan Kerr
- Marquesses of Lothian
- Peers of the United Kingdom created by George IV
- Scottish politician stubs
- Marquess stubs
- Peerage of Scotland stubs