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Roxburghe, Duke of (S, 1707)

 

Creation: let. pat. 25 Apr 1707

 

Family name: Ker later Bellenden-Ker later Innes-Ker

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Graphic of the Arms of the Dukes of Roxburghe by the late Don Smith

 

Arms:

Quarterly, 1st and 4th grandquarters: quarterly, 1st and 4th, Vert on a Chevron between three Unicorns' Heads erased Argent armed and maned Or as many Mullets Sable (Ker);  2nd and 3rd, Gules three Mascles Or (Weepont);  2nd and 3rd grandquarters:  Argent three Stars of five points Azure (Innes)

Crests:

1st: A Unicorn's Head erased Argent armed and maned Or (Ker);  2nd: A Boar's Head erased proper langued Gules (Innes)

Supporters:

On either side a Savage wreathed about the head and middle with Laurel and holding in his exterior hands a Club resting on the shoulder all proper

Mottoes:

1st, Pro Christo Et Patria Dulce Periculum (For Christ and country danger is sweet);  2nd, Be Traist

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John [Ker], 5th Earl of Roxburghe later 1st Duke of Roxburghe, KG PC

1st son and heir of Robert [Ker], 3rd Earl of Roxburghe, by his wife Lady Margaret Hay, 1st dau. of John [Hay], 1st Marquess of Tweeddale

born

c.1680

mar.

1 Jan 1707/08 Lady Mary Savile (b. 18 May 1677; widow of William [Savile], 2nd Marquess of Halifax;  d. 19 Sep 1718), only child of Daniel [Finch], 7th Earl of Winchilsea, by his first wife Lady Essex Rich, 2nd dau. and cohrss. of Robert [Rich], 3rd Earl of Warwick

only child

1. Lord Robert Ker, later 1st Earl Ker later 2nd Duke of Roxburghe

died

27 Feb 1740/41

created

25 Apr 1707 Baron Ker of Cessford and Overton, Viscount Broxmouth, Earl of Kelso, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford, and Duke of Roxburghe, with remainder to the heirs who should inherit the Earldom of Roxburghe

suc. by

son

note

suc. his brother 13 Jul 1696 as 5th Earl of Roxburghe; Secretary of State for Scotland 1704-05 and 1716-25; supporter of the Union of England with Scotland; a Representative Peer for Scotland 1707, 1708, 1715 and 1727; Privy Councillor 1708/9; a Lord Regent 1714; Keeper of the Scottish Privy Seal 1714-16; Lord Lieutenant of Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire 1715-41; a Lord Justice of the Realm 1716, 1720, 1723 and 1725; Knight of the Garter 1722; Deputy High Constable of Scotland at the Coronation of King George II

 

Robert [Ker], 1st Earl Ker later 2nd Duke of Roxburghe

born

c.1709

mar.

16 Dec 1739 his half-cousin Essex Mostyn (d. 7 Dec 1764), 1st dau. of Sir Roger Mostyn, 3rd Bt., of Mostyn, co. Flint, and Leighton, co. Chester, by his wife Lady Essex Finch, 1st dau. by his second wife of Daniel Finch, 7th Earl of Winchilsea and 2nd Earl of Nottingham

children

1. Lord John Ker, later 3rd Duke of Roxburghe

2. Lt Col Lord Robert Ker (b. 27 Aug 1747; d. 20 Mar 1781)

1. Lady Essex Ker (b. 9 Mar 1742; d. an infant)

2. Lady Essex Ker, a bridesmaid at Queen Charlotte's wedding 1761 (b. 25 Mar 1744; d. unm.)

3. Lady Mary Ker, a bridesmaid at Queen Charlotte's wedding 1761 (b. 17 Mar 1746; d. unm.)

died

23 Aug 1755

created

v.p. 24 May 1722 Baron Ker, of Wakefield in the County of York, and Earl Ker, of Wakefield in the County of York (Peerage of Great Britain)

suc. by

son

 

John [Ker], 3rd Duke of Roxburghe, KG PC

born

23 Apr 1740

died

19 Mar 1804

suc. by

second cousin twice removed

note

a Lord of the Bedchamber 1767-96; Knight of the Thistle 1768-1801; Lord Lieutenant of Roxburghshire 1794-1804; Privy Councillor 1796; Groom of the Stole and First Lord of the Bedchamber 1796-1804; Knight of the Garter 1801; on his death the British peerages of Earl and Baron Ker became extinct

 

William [Bellenden later Bellenden-Ker], 7th Lord Bellenden of Broughton later 4th Duke of Roxburghe

1st son and heir of Lt Col Hon William Bellenden (by his wife Jacomina Farmer, of Normington, co. Lincoln), 3rd son of John [Ker later Bellenden], 2nd Lord Bellenden of Broughton (by his wife Lady Mary Moore, 2nd dau. of Henry [Moore], 1st Earl of Drogheda), 2nd son of William [Drummond later Ker], 2nd Earl of Roxburghe

bapt.

20 Oct 1728

mar. (1)

7 Dec 1750 Margaret Burroughs (dsps.), dau. of Rev Dr Burroughs DD, Chaplain at Hampton Court

mar. (2)

29 Jun 1789 Mary Bechinne (mar. (2) Hon John Tollemache, 2nd son of Lady Louisa Murray later Tollemache, suo jure Countess of Dysart;  d. 9 Apr 1838), dau. of Capt Benjamin Bechinne RN, by his wife Susanna Smith, sister of Sir John Smith, 1st Bt., of Sydling St Nicholas, co. Dorset

died

s.p.s. 23 Oct 1805

note

suc. his cousin 18 Oct 1797 as 7th Lord Bellenden

 

On the death of the 4th Duke of Roxburghe the whole male line descended from the 2nd Earl of Roxburghe failed and the Lordship of Bellenden became extinct, The succession to his other peerages and the Roxburghe estates was disputed by (1) Lady Essex Ker, as heir of line of the 2nd Earl of Roxburghe, (2) Maj Gen Walter Ker of Littledean, as heir male of the 1st Earl of Roxburghe, (3) Rt Hon William Drummond of Logiealmond, as heir male of the 2nd Earl of Roxburghe, and (4) Sir James Norcliffe-Innes of that Ilk, 6th Bt., as heir male of the body of Hon Margaret Ker, 3rd dau. of Hon Harry Ker, styled Lord Ker. The House of Lords found on 18 Jun 1810 that according to the just and legal construction of the substitution of the deed of 1648, to the eldest daughter of Hon Harry Ker, styled Lord Ker, without division, and her heirs-male, the several daughters of Lord Ker seriatim in their order and the heirs-male of their bodies begotten, were called as heirs of tailzie and provision, to take the estates conveyed by the above deed in preference to the heirs-male general of the eldest or of any other of the said daughters; therefore if Sir James Norcliffe-Innes of that Ilk proved himself heir-male of the body of Hon Margaret Ker later Innes, and there were no heirs-male existing of the bodies of Hon Jane Ker and Hon Anne Ker later Fleming, then Sir James's claim might be sustained against any other. In March 1812 Sir James accordingly laid evidence of his descent, and on 9 May 1812 the Committee for Privileges reported that he had made out his claim, which on 11 May 1812 became the finding of the House of Lords. Maj Gen Walter Ker of Littledean had been recognised on 18 Jun 1804 as the nearest lawful heir-male of Robert [Ker], 1st Earl of Roxburghe, and of his son Hon Harry Ker, styled Lord Ker. Sir James Innes attempted to impugn this recognition, but withdrew his action on 11 Dec 1811, when the Court of Session assoilzied Maj Gen Ker and found him entitled to his expenses, thus establishing his pedigree as tenth in descent from Mark Ker of Dolphingston and Littledean, second son of Walter Ker of Cessford 1481-1501, and also, as such, his right to the position of undoubted heir-male of the ancient family of Ker of Cessford, now Roxburghe. The long litigation, lasting seven years, unfortunately ruined Maj Gen Ker.

 

James [Innes of that Ilk later Norcliffe-Innes of that Ilk later Innes-Ker], 5th Duke of Roxburghe

1st son of Sir Henry Innes of that Ilk, 5th Bt. (by his wife Anne Grant, dau. of Sir James Grant of that Ilk, 6th Bt.), son of Sir Henry Innes of that Ilk, 4th Bt. (by his wife Jean Forbes, dau. of Duncan Forbes of Culloden), son of Sir James Innes of that Ilk, 3rd Bt., by his wife Hon Margaret Ker, dau. of Hon Harry Ker, styled Lord Ker (by his wife Lady Margaret Hay, only dau. of William [Hay], 10th Earl of Erroll), son by his second wife of Robert [Ker], 1st Earl of Roxburghe

born

10 Jan 1736

mar. (1)

19 Apr 1769 Mary Wray (b. 24 Mar 1729/30; dsp. 20 Jul 1807; bur. at Langton, co. York), 1st dau. of Sir John Wray, 12th Bt., of Sleningford, co. York, and Helgay Woodhall, co. Norfolk, by his wife Frances Norcliffe, dau. of Fairfax Norcliffe, of Langton, co. York

mar. (2)

28 Jul 1807 Harriet Charlewood (b. c. 1778; mar. (2) 14 Nov 1827 Lt Col Walter Frederick O'Reilly CB;  d. 19 Jan 1855), dau. of Benjamin Charlewood, of Windlesham, co. Surrey

children by second wife

1. Lord James Henry Robert Innes-Ker, later 6th Duke of Roxburghe

1. A dau. (b. and dvp. 1814)

died

19 Jul 1823

suc. by

son by second wife

note

suc. his father 31 Oct 1762 as 6th Baronet of Innes

 

James Henry Robert [Innes-Ker], 6th Duke of Roxburghe, KT

born

12 Jul 1816

mar.

29 Dec 1836 Susanna Stephanie Dalbiac VA, a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria (b. 28 Aug 1814; d. 7 May 1895), only dau. and hrss. of Lt Gen Sir James Charles Dalbiac KCH, by his wife Susannah Dalton, 1st dau. of Lt Col John Dalton, of Hemingford Hall, Ripon, co. York

children

1. Lord James Henry Robert Innes-Ker, later 7th Duke of Roxburghe

2. Lt Col Lord Charles John Innes-Ker (b. 31 Dec 1842; d. 19 Nov 1919), mar. 15 Jan 1866 Blanche Mary Williams (d. 1 Jul 1914), 4th dau. of Col Thomas Peers Williams, of Craig-y-Don, Anglesey, and Temple House, co. Buckingham, and had issue

1. Lady Susan Harriet Innes-Ker (b. 13 Nov 1837; d. 13 Oct 1909), mar. 5 Aug 1857 Sir James Grant Suttie, 6th Bt. (d. 30 Oct 1878), and had issue

2. Lady Charlotte Isabella Innes-Ker (b. 8 Aug 1841; d. 24 Apr 1881), mar. 28 Oct 1862 George Russell, 1st son of Capt William Russell RN, and had issue

died

23 Apr 1879

created

v.p. 11 Aug 1837 Earl Innes (Peerage of the United Kingdom)

suc. by

son

note

Knight of the Thistle 1840; Lieut General of the Royal Company of Archers; Governor of the National Bank of Scotland; Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire 1873-79

 

James Henry Robert [Innes-Ker], 7th Duke of Roxburghe

born

5 Sep 1839

mar.

11 Jun 1874 Lady Anne Emily Spencer-Churchill OBE VA, Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria 1883-85, joint Acting Mistress of the Robes 1892, Extra Lady of the Bedchamber 1895-97 and Lady of the Bedchamber 1897-1901 (b. 14 Nov 1854; d. 20 Jun 1923), 4th dau. of John Winston [Spencer-Churchill], 7th Duke of Marlborough, by his wife Lady Frances Anne Emily Vane-Stewart, 1st dau. of Charles William [Vane-Stewart], 3rd Marquess of Londonderry

children

1. Lord Henry John Innes-Ker, later 8th Duke of Roxburghe

2. Lt Col Lord Alastair Robert Innes-Ker CVO DSO, Equerry-in-Ordinary to King George V 1930-36 (b. 2 Nov 1880; d. 1 Mar 1936), mar. 10 Oct 1907 Anne Breese (d. 30 Oct 1959), 2nd dau. of William Lawrence Breese, of New York, USA, and had issue

3. Maj Robert Edward Innes-Ker (b. 22 Jul 1885; dsp. 19 Jul 1958), mar. (1) 27 Oct 1920 (div. 1935) Charlotte Josephine Chatfield (former wife of Leslie Chatfield; d. 6 Dec 1958), dau. of Stephen Patrick Cooney, and (2) 28 Jul 1939 Eleanor Marie Hadley (former wife of Hugh Christopher Hadley; d. 2 Feb 1958), dau. of Aubrey Woodhead

1. Lady Margaret Frances Susan Innes-Ker (b. 13 May 1875; d. 15 Dec 1930), mar. 25 Jul 1898 Maj James Alexander Orr Ewing (d. 28 May 1900), 3rd son of Sir Archibald Orr Ewing, 1st Bt., and had issue

2. Lady Victoria Alexandrina Innes-Ker (b. 16 Nov 1877; d. 22 May 1970), mar. 17 Aug 1901 Lt Col Charles Hyde Villiers, and had issue

3. Lady Isabel Innes-Ker (b. 14 Jan 1879; dsp. 12 Oct 1905), mar. 23 Jun 1904 as his first wife Hon Guy Greville Wilson CMG DSO MP, 2nd son of Charles Henry [Wilson], 1st Baron Nunburnholme

4. Lady Evelyn Anne Innes-Ker OBE (b. 7 Feb 1882; d. 27 Sep 1957), mar. 23 Nov 1907 Col William Fellowes Collins DSO, of Cundall Manor, Helperby, co. York, and of Knaresborough House, co. York, and had issue

died

23 Oct 1892

suc. by

son

note

Member of Parliament (Liberal) for Roxburghshire 1870-74; Lord Lieutenant of Roxburghshire 1884-92

 

Henry John [Innes-Ker], 8th Duke of Roxburghe, KT MVO

born

25 Jul 1876

mar.

10 Nov 1903 Mary Goelet (d. 26 Apr 1937), dau. of Ogden Goelet, of New York, USA, by his wife May Wilson, dau. of Richard T Wilson, of Newport, Rhode Island, USA, and New York, USA

only child

1. Lord George Victor Robert John Innes-Ker, later 9th Duke of Roxburghe

died

29 Sep 1932

suc. by

son

note

2nd Lieut, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1895, Royal Horse Guards 1898-1904; ADC to the Duke of Cornwall and York 1901; MVO 1901; Knight of the Thistle 1902; Maj, Lothians and Border Horse 1906; served in First World War and severely wounded ; Lord Lieutenant of Roxburghshire 1918-32; Chancellor of the Order of the Thistle 1926-32; Lieut, Royal Company of Archers

 

George Victor Robert John [Innes-Ker], 9th Duke of Roxburghe

born

7 Sep 1913

mar. (1)

24 Oct 1935 (div. 1953) Lady Mary Evelyn Hungerford Crewe-Milnes (b. 23 Mar 1915; d. 2 Jul 2014), only dau. of Robert Offley Ashburton [Milnes later Crewe-Milnes], 1st Marquess of Crewe, by his second wife Lady Margaret Etrenne Hannah Primrose CI, 2nd dau. of Archibald Philip [Primrose], 5th Earl of Rosebery

mar. (2)

5 Jan 1954 Margaret Elizabeth Church (former wife of Lt Col James Cunningham Church;  mar. (3) 1976 Jocelyn Olaf Hambro MC;  d. 1983), dau. of Capt Frederick Bradshaw McConnel, of Knockdalian, co. Ayr

children by second wife

1. Lord Guy David Innes-Ker, later 10th Duke of Roxburghe

2. Lord Robert Anthony Innes-Ker, of Battlesden Park, Battlesden, co. Bedford (b. 28 Mar 1959), mar. 12 Mar 1996 Dr Katherine Pelly, and has issue

died

26 Sep 1974

suc. by

son by second wife

 

Guy David [Innes-Ker], 10th Duke of Roxburghe

born

18 Nov 1954

mar. (1)

10 Sep 1977 (div. 1990) Lady Jane Meriel Grosvenor (b. 8 Feb 1953; mar. (2) 11 Jun 1996 her second cousin Edward Dawnay, of Hillingdon Hall, co. Norfolk), 2nd dau. of Robert George [Grosvenor], 5th Duke of Westminster, by his wife Hon Viola Maud Lyttelton, 2nd dau. of John Cavendish [Lyttleton], 9th Viscount Cobham

children by first wife

1. Lord Charles Robert George Innes-Ker, later 11th Duke of Roxburghe

2. Lord Edward ("Ted") Arthur Gerald Innes-Ker, heir presumptive to the Dukedom of Roxburghe (b. 2 Feb 1984)

1. Lady Rosanagh Viola Alexandra Innes-Ker (b. 16 Jan 1979), mar. 26 Jul 2008 Hon James Walter Grimston, styled Viscount Grimston, 1st son and heir of John Duncan [Grimston], 7th Earl of Verulam, by his wife Dione Angela Smith, 1st dau. of Jeremy Fox Eric Smith, of The Old Rectory, Slaugham, Handcross, co. West Sussex

mar. (2)

3 Sep 1992 Virginia Mary Wynn-Williams (b. 1963), 1st dau. of David Wynn-Williams, by his first wife Shirley P Maltwood, dau. of Ryder Gardyne Maltwood, by his wife Nancy Kathleen Lewis

children by second wife

3. Lord George Alastair Innes-Ker (b. 20 Nov 1996)

2. Lady Isabella May Innes-Ker (b. 7 Sep 1994)

died

29 Aug 2019

suc. by

son by first wife

 

Charles Robert George [Innes-Ker], 11th Duke of Roxburghe

born

18 Feb 1981

mar.

22 Jul 2011 Hon Charlotte Susanna Aitken (b. 15 Feb 1982), 1st dau. of Maxwell William Humphrey [Aitken], 3rd Baron Beaverbrook, by his wife Susan Angela O'Ferrall, 1st dau. of Frank Ambrose Joseph More O'Ferrall, by his wife Angela Mary Mather Jackson, 1st dau. and cohrss. of Sir Anthony Henry Mather Jackson, 6th Bt., of Stubbing Court, Chesterfield, co. Derby

 

The heir presumptive to the Dukedom of Roxburghe is Lord Edward ("Ted") Arthur Gerald Innes-Ker, 2nd son of the 10th Duke of Roxburghe and younger brother of the present Duke.

 

 Last updated 9 Jan 2020

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Titles:

11th Duke of Roxburghe

(Scotland, let. pat. 25 Apr 1707)

11th Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford

(Scotland, let. pat. 25 Apr 1707)

15th Earl of Roxburghe

(Scotland, let. pat. 16 Sep 1616)

11th Earl of Kelso

(Scotland, let. pat. 25 Apr 1707)

6th Earl Innes

(United Kingdom, let. pat. 11 Aug 1837)

11th Viscount Broxmouth

(Scotland, let. pat. 25 Apr 1707)

15th Lord Roxburghe

(Scotland, let. pat. 16 Nov 1600)

15th Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun

(Scotland, let. pat. 16 Sep 1616)

11th Lord Ker of Cessford and Overton

(Scotland, let. pat. 25 Apr 1707)

12th Baronet, styled "of Innes"

(Nova Scotia, let. pat. 28 May 1625)

Premier Baronet of Nova Scotia

 

Address:

Floors Castle, Kelso, Roxburghshire TD5 7RW

Tel:  01573 224288   Office:  01573 223333

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The graphic of the arms of the Dukes of Roxburghe, which has been reduced in size so as to fit the page, can be purchased separately.  It is available printed full size on high quality matte or glossy A4 heavyweight paper and is suitable for framing.  For more information, please contact us directly on 01869 222830.

 

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