British soldier, landowner and politician (1763–1824)
William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian (Henry Raeburn , late 1780s) William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian , KT FRSE William Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian . He served as a representative peer from 1817 to 1824.
Life
Monteviot House 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.[ 1]
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 .[ 2]
He was Lord Lieutenant of Roxburghshire from 1812 and of Midlothian from 1819.[ 2] Colonel of the Edinburgh Militia from 25 March 1811 until his death.[ 3]
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 ,[ 4] 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.[ 2]
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" .^ a b c 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.
