The Duke of Roxburghe () is a title in the

peerage of Scotland The Peerage of Scotland ( gd, Moraireachd na h-Alba, sco, Peerage o 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 Unio ...

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 ...

of Roxburgh in the

Scottish Borders The Scottish Borders ( sco, the Mairches, 'the Marches'; gd, Crìochan na h-Alba) is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, Midlothian, South Lanarkshire, West Lot ...

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 non-hereditary titles) in a number of countries, and composed of assorted noble ranks. Peerages include: Australia * Australian peers Belgium * Be ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...

, 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 ...

. The Duke's eldest son bears the

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

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, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminst ...

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 2010. The Innes, later Innes-Ker Barone ...

), 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 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 th ...

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 abbey in Kelso, Scotland. It was founded in the 12th century by a community of Tironensian monks first brought to Scotland in the reign of Alexander I. It occupies ground overlooking the confluence of the Twe ...

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 Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe (1650) was a Scottish nobleman. Early life He was the eldest son of William Ker of Cessford (died 1605), and Janet Douglas. His mother was the widow of James Tweedie of Drumelzier, and the third daughter of ...

(1570–1650) had been Lord Roxburghe since 1600, died without male issue **

William Ker, Lord Ker William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Eng ...

(died 1618), elder son of the 1st Earl, predeceased his father without issue **

Henry Ker, Lord Ker Henry may refer to: People *Henry (given name) *Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...

(died 1643), younger son of the 1st Earl, predeceased his father without male issue * William Ker, 2nd Earl of Roxburghe (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 brothe ...

(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 John Ker, 1st Duke of Roxburghe, KG, PC, FRS (30 April 1680–27 February 1741) was a Scottish nobleman. Early life Ker was born on 30 April 1680. He was the second son of Robert Ker, 3rd Earl of Roxburghe, and Margaret Hay, daughter of Jo ...

(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 Robert Ker, 2nd Duke of Roxburghe ( – 20 August 1755) was a Scottish peer. Ker was the only son of the 1st Duke of Roxburghe and Lady Mary Finch, daughter of Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham, by his first wife Lady Essex Rich. On 24 May 1 ...

(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, KG, KT, PC (23 April 1740 – 1804) was a Scottish nobleman and bibliophile. Early life Born in Hanover Square, London, on 23 April 1740, Ker succeeded his father to become the 3rd Duke of Roxburghe in 175 ...

(1740–1804), elder son of the 2nd Duke inheriting the 1722 titles, died without issue *

William Bellenden-Ker, 4th Duke of Roxburghe William Bellenden-Ker, 7th Lord Bellenden, 4th Duke of Roxburghe (20 October 1728 – 23 October 1805) was a Scottish nobleman. Early life William was born in 1728 and was baptised on 20 October 1728 at Ashton under Hill, Gloucestershire, Engl ...

(1728–1805), grandson of

Lord Bellenden {{Use dmy dates, date=November 2019 The title Lord Bellenden, of Broughton, was a lordship of Parliament created in the Peerage of Scotland on 10 June 1661 for William Bellenden, who was Treasurer-depute of Scotland. Shortly before his death, he r ...

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 James Innes-Ker, 5th Duke of Roxburghe (born James Innes; 10 January 173619 July 1823) was a Scottish nobleman. Early life He was the eldest surviving son of Sir Henry Innes, 5th Baronet (–1762), and Anne Drummonda Grant (1711–1771). His gra ...

(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 h ...

(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 ...

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

Henry John Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe Henry John Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe (24 July 1876 – 29 September 1932) was a Scottish peer and courtier. Early life Henry John Innes-Ker was born on 24 July 1876. He was the son of James Henry Robert Innes-Ker, 7th Duke of Roxburghe ...

(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 heir presumptive is the current holder's younger brother, Lord Edward Arthur Gerald "Ted" Innes-Ker (born 1984)

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 Joh ...

(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) Lord Edward Innes-Ker (born 1984) *** (2) Lord George Innes-Ker (born 1996) ** (3) Lord Robin Innes-Ker (born 1959) *** (4) James Innes-Ker (born 1999)

Family tree

References

External links