The Duke of Roxburghe () is a title in the

peerage of Scotland The Peerage of Scotland (; ) is one of the five divisions of peerages in the United Kingdom and for those peers created by the King of Scots before 1707. Following that year's Treaty of Union 1707, Treaty of Union, the Kingdom of Scots and the ...

created in 1707 along with the titles ''Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford'', ''Earl of Kelso'' and ''Viscount Broxmouth''. John Ker, 5th Earl of Roxburghe became the first holder of these titles. The title is derived from the

royal burgh A royal burgh ( ) was a type of Scottish burgh which had been founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter. Although abolished by law in 1975, the term is still used by many former royal burghs. Most royal burghs were either created by ...

Roxburgh Roxburgh () is a civil parish and formerly a royal burgh, in the historic county of Roxburghshire in the Scottish Borders, Scotland. It was an important trading burgh in High Medieval to early modern Scotland. In the Middle Ages it had at lea ...

in the

Scottish Borders The Scottish Borders is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by West Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian, and East Lothian to the north, the North Sea to the east, Dumfries and Galloway to the south-west, South Lanarkshire to the we ...

that in 1460 the Scots captured and destroyed. Originally created Earl of Roxburghe in 1616, before the elevation to duke, a number of other subsidiary titles are held: ''Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford'' (created 1707), ''Earl of Kelso'' (1707), ''Earl Innes'' (1837), ''Viscount Broxmouth'' (1707), ''Lord Roxburghe'' (1600), and ''Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun'' (1616). All of the titles form part of the

peerage A peerage is a legal system historically comprising various hereditary titles (and sometimes Life peer, non-hereditary titles) in a number of countries, and composed of assorted Imperial, royal and noble ranks, noble ranks. Peerages include: A ...

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

, with the exception the Earldom of Innes, which belongs to the

peerage of the United Kingdom The Peerage of the United Kingdom is one of the five peerages in the United Kingdom. It comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Acts of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great B ...

. The Duke's eldest son bears the

courtesy title A courtesy title is a title that does not have legal significance but is rather used by custom or courtesy, particularly, in the context of nobility, the titles used by children of members of the nobility (cf. substantive title). In some context ...

of ''Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford''. The dukedom and its associated titles descend to ''heirs who shall inherit the earldom'' which in turn had a very specific line of descent. On the death of the 4th duke the titles became dormant as no one could prove their claim. In 1812 the

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

ruled in favour of Sir James Innes-Ker, 6th Baronet, of Innes (see

Innes baronets There have been four baronetcies created for people with the surname Innes, three in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. Three of the creations are extant as of . * Innes baronets of Innes (1625) * Innes ...

), rejecting claims by the heir female of the second earl and heir male whatsoever of the first earl. The Duke of Roxburghe would be the Chief of

Clan Innes Clan Innes is a Scottish Highlands, Highland and Scottish Lowlands, Lowland Scottish clan. The clan takes its name from the lands of Innes in Moray, Scotland. The de facto chief of the clan is the Duke of Roxburghe, directly descended in the ma ...

, but cannot be so recognised as he retains the name ''Innes-Ker''. The family has its seat at

Floors Castle Floors Castle, in Roxburghshire, south-east Scotland, is the seat of the Duke of Roxburghe. Despite its name it is an estate house rather than a fortress. It was built in the 1720s by the architect William Adam for John Ker, 1st Duke of Roxbur ...

near Kelso, Scotland. The grounds contain the ruins of

Roxburgh Castle Roxburgh Castle is a ruined royal castle that overlooks the junction of the rivers Tweed and Teviot, in the Borders region of Scotland. The town and castle developed into the royal burgh of Roxburgh, which the Scots destroyed along with ...

on a promontory between the rivers Tweed and Teviot. The traditional burial place of the Dukes of Roxburghe is the ''Roxburghe Memorial Cloister'' (also known as "Roxburghe Aisle"), a 20th-century addition to the ruins of

Kelso Abbey Kelso Abbey is a ruined Scottish abbeys, Scottish abbey in Kelso, Scottish Borders, Kelso, Scotland. It was founded in the 12th century by a community of Tironensian monks first brought to Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland in the reign of Alexander ...

Earls of Roxburghe (1616)

In 1600, Robert Ker was created Lord Roxburghe, in 1616 he was additionally created Earl of Roxburghe, and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun. The succession was originally to heirs male of the 1st Earl, but after his sons predeceased him, the title was recreated in 1646 with additional remainder in favour of "(i) his grandson by his eldest daughter, Sir William Drummond, and his issue in tail male, (ii) of his great-grandsons in like manner, i.e. the second and other younger sons of Jane Drummond, the sister of Sir William Drummond, by her husband John leming 3rd Earl of Wigtown ..which failing (iii) of the eldest daughter of Hon Harry Ker, styled Lord Ker, without division and to her heirs male, which failing (iv) to his own heirs male whomsoever". *

Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' () "fame, glory, honour, prais ...

(1570–1650) had been Lord Roxburghe since 1600, died without male issue ** William Ker, Lord Ker (died 1618), elder son of the 1st Earl, predeceased his father without issue ** Henry Ker, Lord Ker (died 1643), younger son of the 1st Earl, predeceased his father without male issue *

William Ker, 2nd Earl of Roxburghe William Ker, 2nd Earl of Roxburghe PC (16222 July 1675) was a Scottish nobleman who inherited his title from his maternal grandfather, Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe. Early life He was born William Drummond in 1622. He was the fifth and y ...

(1622–1675), a female-line grandson of the 1st Earl, succeeded him by the above special arrangement *

Robert Ker, 3rd Earl of Roxburghe Robert Ker, 3rd Earl of Roxburghe PC (6 May 1682) was a Scottish nobleman. Early life Ker was the eldest son of four sons born to William Ker, 2nd Earl of Roxburghe and the Honourable Jane Ker, who were first cousins. Among his younger brot ...

(c. 1658–1682), eldest son of the 2nd Earl *Robert Ker, 4th Earl of Roxburghe (c. 1677–1696), eldest son of the 3rd Earl * John Ker, 5th Earl of Roxburghe (c. 1680–1741), second son of the 3rd Earl, became Duke of Roxburghe in 1707

Dukes of Roxburghe (1707)

* John Ker, 1st Duke of Roxburghe (c. 1680–1741), second son of the 3rd Earl, he was additionally invested as Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford as well as Earl of Kelso and Viscount Broxmouth in 1707; the earlier titles held as Earl were also retained * Robert Ker, 2nd Duke of Roxburghe (c. 1709–1755), only son of the 1st Duke, in 1722 he was created both Earl Ker and Baron Ker of Wakefield in the County of York *

John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe, (23 April 1740 – 1804) was a Scottish peer, scholar and publisher. Early life Born in Hanover Square, London, on 23 April 1740, Ker succeeded his father to become the 3rd Duke of Roxburghe in 1755. During ...

(1740–1804), elder son of the 2nd Duke inheriting the 1722 titles, died without issue * William Bellenden-Ker, 4th Duke of Roxburghe (1728–1805), grandson of Lord Bellenden of Broughton (created 1661) who was the fourth and youngest son of the 2nd Earl, died without issue and the Roxburghe titles went dormant until 1812 * James Innes-Ker, 5th Duke of Roxburghe (1736–1823), great-grandson of Hon. Margaret Ker (died 1681), daughter of Hon. Henry Ker, Lord Ker (died 1642/3), the younger son of the 1st Earl *

James Innes-Ker, 6th Duke of Roxburghe James Henry Robert Innes-Ker, 6th Duke of Roxburghe, KT (12 July 1816 – 23 April 1879) was a Scottish peer. Early life Innes-Ker was the only surviving child of the 5th Duke of Roxburghe and the former Harriet Charlewood (–1855). Before ...

(1816–1879), only son of the 5th Duke, he was created Earl Innes in the peerage of the United Kingdom in 1837 *

James Henry Robert Innes-Ker, 7th Duke of Roxburghe James Henry Robert Innes-Ker, 7th Duke of Roxburghe (5 September 1839 – 23 October 1892), became Duke of Roxburghe on the death of his father, James Henry Robert Innes-Ker, 6th Duke of Roxburghe. Early life He was born on 5 September 1839 to J ...

(1839–1892), elder son of the 6th Duke *

Henry John Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe Henry John Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe (25 July 1876 – 29 September 1932) was a Scottish peer and courtier. Early life Henry John Innes-Ker was born on 25 July 1876. He was the son of James Henry Robert Innes-Ker, 7th Duke of Roxburgh ...

(1876–1932), eldest son of the 7th Duke * George Victor Robert John Innes-Ker, 9th Duke of Roxburghe (1913–1974), only son of the 8th Duke * Guy David Innes-Ker, 10th Duke of Roxburghe (1954–2019), elder son of the 9th Duke * Charles Robert George Innes-Ker, 11th Duke of Roxburghe (born 1981), eldest son of the 10th Duke The current holder's son, Frederick Innes-Ker, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford (born 2024) is heir apparent to his father's titles.

Line of succession

George Innes-Ker, 9th Duke of Roxburghe 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 J ...

(1913-1974)'' ** Coronet of a British Duke

Guy Innes-Ker, 10th Duke of Roxburghe Guy David Innes-Ker, 10th Duke of Roxburghe (18 November 1954 – 29 August 2019), was a British aristocrat. Early life Guy David Innes Ker was born on 18 November 1954, the eldest son of the 9th Duke by his second wife (Margaret) Elisabeth McC ...

(1954-2019)'' *** Coronet of a British Duke

Charles Innes-Ker, 11th Duke of Roxburghe (born 1981) **** (1) Frederick Charles Ian Innes-Ker, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford (born 2024) *** (2) Lord Edward Innes-Ker (born 1984) ****(3) Arthur Henry Innes-Ker (born 2019) *** (4) Lord George Innes-Ker (born 1996) ** (5) Lord Robin Innes-Ker (born 1959) *** (6) James Innes-Ker (born 1999)

Family tree

References

External links