William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian, (4 October 1763 – 27 April 1824), was a British soldier, landowner and politician. He was the son of

William Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian General William John Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian (13 March 1737 – 4 January 1815) was a British soldier and peer, styled Lord Newbattle until 1767 and Earl of Ancrum from 1767 to 1775. He was buried at St Andrew's parish Church, Farnham, S ...

. He served as a representative peer from 1817 to 1824.

Life

Kerr was born on 4 October 1763, the son of

Lord Newbattle Marquess of Lothian is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, which was created in 1701 for Robert Kerr, 4th Earl of Lothian. The Marquess of Lothian holds the subsidiary titles of Earl of Lothian (created 1606), Earl of Lothian (created again ...

. When he was five he was the subject of several pictures with his sister, executed by

Valentine Green Valentine Green (3 October 173929 July 1813) was a British mezzotinter and print publisher. Green trained under Robert Hancock, a Worcester engraver, after which he moved to London and began working as a mezzotint engraver. He began to exhibit ...

mezzotint Mezzotint is a monochrome printmaking process of the '' intaglio'' family. It was the first printing process that yielded half-tones without using line- or dot-based techniques like hatching, cross-hatching or stipple. Mezzotint achieves tonali ...

s for publication. He was educated at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

. In 1786 he was elected a Fellow of the

Royal Society of Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity that operates on a wholly independent and non-partisan basis and provides public benefit throughout Scotland. It was established i ...

; his proposers were

Dugald Stewart Dugald Stewart (; 22 November 175311 June 1828) was a Scottish philosopher and mathematician. Today regarded as one of the most important figures of the later Scottish Enlightenment, he was renowned as a populariser of the work of Francis Hut ...

James Hutton James Hutton (; 3 June O.S.172614 June 1726 New Style. – 26 March 1797) was a Scottish geologist, agriculturalist, chemical manufacturer, naturalist and physician. Often referred to as the father of modern geology, he played a key role i ...

and John Robison. He was

Lord Lieutenant A lord-lieutenant ( ) is the British monarch's personal representative in each lieutenancy area of the United Kingdom. Historically, each lieutenant was responsible for organising the county's militia. In 1871, the lieutenant's responsibility ...

Roxburghshire Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh ( gd, Siorrachd Rosbroig) is a historic county and registration county in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It borders Dumfriesshire to the west, Selkirkshire and Midlothian to the north-west, and Berw ...

from 1812 and of

Midlothian Midlothian (; gd, Meadhan Lodainn) is a historic county, registration county, lieutenancy area and one of 32 council areas of Scotland used for local government. Midlothian lies in the east-central Lowlands, bordering the City of Edinburgh, ...

from 1819. He served as

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

of the Edinburgh Militia from 25 March 1811 until his death. He was created a

Knight of the Thistle A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...

in 1820 and Baron of Kersheugh in 1821. He lived in the family home of

Monteviot House Monteviot House is the early 18th century home of the Marquess of Lothian, the politician better known as Michael Ancram. It is located on the River Teviot near Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. History The house which sits ...

near

Jedburgh Jedburgh (; gd, Deadard; sco, Jeddart or ) is a town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and the traditional county town of the historic county of Roxburghshire, the name of which was randomly chosen for Operation Jedburgh in su ...

. Kerr died in

Richmond, Surrey Richmond is a town in south-west London,The London Government Act 1963 (c.33) (as amended) categorises the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames as an Outer London borough. Although it is on both sides of the River Thames, the Boundary Commis ...

, on 27 April 1824.

Family

He married, firstly, Lady Harriet Hobart, a younger daughter of

John Hobart, 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire John Hobart, 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire (17 August 17233 August 1793) was a British nobleman and politician. Biography The son of John Hobart, 1st Earl of Buckinghamshire by his first wife Judith Britiffe, he was educated at Westminster Scho ...

(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 John William Robert Kerr, 7th Marquess of Lothian (1 February 1794 – 14 November 1841), styled Lord Newbottle until 1815 and Earl of Ancram from 1815 to 1824, was a Tory politician. He served briefly as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard under ...

(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 Dalkeith Palace is a country house in Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland. It was the seat of the Dukes of Buccleuch from 1642 until 1914, and is owned by the Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust. The present palace was built 1701–1711 on the site of t ...

, he married Lady Harriet Scott, a younger daughter of

Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch and 5th Duke of Queensberry KG FRSE (2 September 174611 January 1812) was a Scottish nobleman and long-time friend of Sir Walter Scott. He is the paternal 3rd great-grandfather of Princess Alice, Duchess of G ...

. 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 Sir John Stuart Hepburn Forbes, 8th Baronet, of Monymusk, of Fettercairn and Pitsligo, FRSE (1804–1866) was a Scottish baronet, landowner, advocate and agriculturalist. His name sometimes appears as Hepburn-Forbes. Life He was born in Dean H ...

, 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 General Sir Peregrine Maitland, GCB (6 July 1777 – 30 May 1854) was a British soldier and colonial administrator. He also was a first-class cricketer from 1798 to 1808 and an early advocate for the establishment of what would become the Canadi ...

. *Lady Georgiana Augusta (1821–1859), married Rev. Granville Forbes.

References

1763 births 1824 deaths 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 Marquesses of Lothian Peers of the United Kingdom created by George IV {{Scotland-marquess-stub