William Kerr, first Earl of Lothian of a new creation (1605–1675) was a Scottish nobleman.

Career

Kerr signed the national covenant in 1638 and marched with the Scots into England in 1640, being present when the English were routed at the Battle of Newburn. Afterwards, he became Governor of

Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after Newcastle ...

. He was appointed one of the four commissioners of the treasury in 1642, was lieutenant-general of the Scots Army in Ireland, and was appointed privy councillor in the same year. He entered

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in 1644 and joined Lord Argyll in expedition against Lord Montrose during the

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in 1644. He was one of the commissioners sent to treat with the king at

Holmby House Holdenby House is a historic country house in Northamptonshire, traditionally pronounced, and sometimes spelt, Holmby. The house is situated in the parish of Holdenby, six miles (10 km) northwest of Northampton and close to Althorp. It is a ...

in 1647. He was appointed secretary of state in 1649 and was one of the commissioners sent by the Scottish Parliament to protest against proceeding to extremities against the king, visiting Charles II in exile at Breda. He was a general of the Scottish forces in 1650. In 1662 he refused to take the abjuration oath.

Personal life

The eldest son of Sir Robert Kerr, later 1st

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, he was born within St James's Palace in

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and was educated at

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and at

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. He accompanied George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham to the

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in 1627 and served in the expedition against

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in 1631. He married

Anne Kerr, Countess of Lothian Anne Kerr, Countess of Lothian (died 1667) was a Scottish aristocrat and landowner. She was the daughter of Robert Kerr, 2nd Earl of Lothian (d. 1624) and Annabella Campbell, daughter of Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll (d. 1652). On the ...

in 1630 and was created Lord Kerr of Newbattle and Earl of Lothian in his own right in 1631. Children of William Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian and Lady Anne Kerr: * Lady Mary Kerr (died Mar 1708) * Lady Margaret Kerr * Lady Anne Kerr (26 November 163130 August 1658) * Lady Elizabeth Kerr (born 6 September 1633), who married Sir Francis Scott of Thirlestane, and was mother of

Sir William Scott of Thirlestane Sir William Scott, 2nd Baronet of Thirlestane (c.1670 – 8 October 1725) was a Scottish lawyer, known as a neo-Latin poet. Life He was the eldest son of Francis Scott, 1st Baronet of Thirlestane, Selkirkshire, and Lady Henrietta, daughter of ...

. *

Robert Kerr, 1st Marquess of Lothian Robert Kerr, 1st Marquess of Lothian (8 March 1636 – 15 February 1703), known as the 4th Earl of Lothian from 1675 to 1701, was a Scottish nobleman. He was styled Lord Kerr until 1661 and Lord Newbattle from 1661 to 1675. The eldest son of Wi ...

(8 March 163615 February 1703) * Sir William Kerr (born 22 December 1638) * Charles Kerr (born 17 July 1642) * Lady Vere Kerr (24 April 164917 April 1674) * Lady Henrietta Kerr (2 February 165330 June 1741)

References

Scottish politicians Earls of Lothian 1600s births 1675 deaths Members of the Privy Council of Scotland 17th-century Scottish people Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1639–1641 Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1648–1651 Peers of Scotland created by Charles I {{Scotland-earl-stub