Duke of Roxburghe

For the ship, see Duke of Roxburgh (ship).

The Duke of Roxburghe (/ˈrɒksbərə/) is a title in the peerage of Scotland 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 of Roxburgh in the Scottish Borders that in 1460 the Scots captured and destroyed.

Dukedom of Roxburghe
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).
Creation date	1707
Created by	Anne
Peerage	Peerage of Scotland
First holder	John Ker, 5th Earl of Roxburghe
Present holder	Charles Innes-Ker, 11th Duke
Heir apparent	Frederick Innes-Ker, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford
Remainder to	the heirs inheriting the Earldom of Roxburghe^[citation needed] (see that section for details)
Subsidiary titles	Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford Earl of Roxburghe Earl of Kelso Earl Innes Viscount Broxmouth Lord Roxburghe Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun
Seat(s)	Floors Castle

John Ker, 1st Duke of Roxburghe

Robert Ker, 2nd Duke of Roxburghe

John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe

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

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

Henry John Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe

Guy David Innes-Ker, 10th Duke of Roxburghe

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

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 of Scotland, with the exception the Earldom of Innes, which belongs to the peerage of the United Kingdom. The Duke's eldest son bears the courtesy title 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 ruled in favour of Sir James Innes-Ker, 6th Baronet, of Innes (see Innes baronets), 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, but cannot be so recognised as he retains the name Innes-Ker.^[1]

The family has its seat at Floors Castle near Kelso, Scotland. The grounds contain the ruins of Roxburgh Castle 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.

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 [Fleming], 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".^{[citation needed]}

• Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe (1570–1650) had been Lord Roxburghe since 1600, died without male issue
  • William Ker, Lord Ker (died 1618), elder son of the 1st Earl, predeceased his father without issue
  • Henry Ker, Lord Ker (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 (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 (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 (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 (1740–1804), elder son of the 2nd Duke inheriting the 1722 titles, died without issue
• William Bellenden-Ker, 4th Duke of Roxburghe (1728–1805), grandson of Lord Bellenden 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^{[citation needed]}
• James Innes-Ker, 5th Duke of Roxburghe (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 (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 (1839–1892), elder son of the 6th Duke
• Henry John Innes-Ker, 8th 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 current holder's son, Frederick Innes-Ker, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford (born 2024) is heir apparent to his father's titles.

Line of succession

•   George Innes-Ker, 9th Duke of Roxburghe (1913-1974)
  •   Guy Innes-Ker, 10th Duke of Roxburghe (1954-2019)
    •   Charles Innes-Ker, 11th Duke of Roxburghe (born 1981)
      • (1) Frederick Charles Ian Innes-Ker, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford (born 2024) ^[2]
    • (2) Lord Edward Innes-Ker (born 1984)
      • (3) Arthur Henry Innes-Ker (born 2019)
    • (4) Lord George Innes-Ker (born 1996)
  • (5) Lord Robin Innes-Ker (born 1959)
    • (6) James Innes-Ker (born 1999)

^[3]

Family tree

v t e Ker and Innes-Ker family tree: Earls of Roxburghe and Dukes of Roxburghe family tree

Lord Roxburghe, 1600 Earl of Roxburghe and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun, 1616 Robert Ker (1570–1650) 1st Earl of Roxburghe, Lord Roxburghe, and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun Margaret Ker Lord Bellenden, of Broughton, 1661 William Ker (d. 1643) styled Lord Ker Lady Jean Ker Henry Ker (d. 1643) styled Lord Ker William Bellenden (d. 1671) 1st Lord Bellenden William Drummond (Ker) (1622–1675) 2nd Earl of Roxburghe, Lord Roxburghe, and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun Jean Ker Margaret Ker (d. 1681) James Innes 3rd Innes Baronet Robert Ker (1658–1682) 3rd Earl of Roxburghe, Lord Roxburghe, and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun John Ker (Bellenden) (d. 1707) 2nd Lord Bellenden Henry Innes (d. 1721) 4th Innes Baronet Duke of Roxburghe, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford, Earl of Kelso, Viscount Broxmouth, 1707 Robert Ker (c. 1677–1696) 4th Earl of Roxburghe, Lord Roxburghe, and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun John Ker (1680–1741) 1st Duke of Roxburghe, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford, Earl of Kelso, and Viscount Broxmouth, 5th Earl of Roxburghe, Lord Roxburghe, and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun John Bellenden (1685–1741) 3rd Lord Bellenden William Bellenden (1702–1758) Henry Innes (d. 1762) 5th Innes Baronet Earl Ker, of Wakefield in the County of York, and Baron Ker, of Wakefield in the County of York, 1722 Duke of Roxburghe, 1707 (succession decided, 1812) Robert Ker (c. 1709–1755) 2nd Duke of Roxburghe, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford, Earl of Kelso, and Viscount Broxmouth, 6th Earl of Roxburghe, Lord Roxburghe, and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun, 1st Earl Ker and Baron Ker Ker Bellenden (1725–1753) 4th Lord Bellenden Robert Bellenden (1734–1797) 6th Lord Bellenden William Bellenden-Ker (1728–1805) 4th Duke of Roxburghe, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford, Earl of Kelso, and Viscount Broxmouth, 8th Earl of Roxburghe, Lord Roxburghe, and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun 7th Lord Bellenden James Innes-Ker (1736–1823) 5th Duke of Roxburghe, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford, Earl of Kelso, and Viscount Broxmouth, 9th Earl of Roxburghe, Lord Roxburghe, and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun 6th Innes-Ker Baronet Lordship Bellenden extinct, 1805 Earl Innes, 1837 John Ker (1740–1804) 3rd Duke of Roxburghe, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford, Earl of Kelso, and Viscount Broxmouth, 7th Earl of Roxburghe, Lord Roxburghe, and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun, 2nd Earl Ker and Baron Ker John Ker Bellenden (1751–1796) 5th Lord Bellenden James Henry Robert Innes-Ker (1816–1879) 6th Duke of Roxburghe, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford, Earl of Kelso, and Viscount Broxmouth, 10th Earl of Roxburghe, Lord Roxburghe, and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun, 1st Earl Innes 7th Innes-Ker Baronet Dukedom dormant, Earldom Ker and Barony Ker extinct, 1804 James Henry Robert Innes-Ker (1839–1892) 7th Duke of Roxburghe, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford, Earl of Kelso, and Viscount Broxmouth, 11th Earl of Roxburghe, Lord Roxburghe, and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun, 2nd Earl Innes 8th Innes-Ker Baronet Henry John Innes-Ker (1876–1932) 8th Duke of Roxburghe, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford, Earl of Kelso, and Viscount Broxmouth, 12th Earl of Roxburghe, Lord Roxburghe, and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun, 3rd Earl Innes 9th Innes-Ker Baronet George Victor Robert John Innes-Ker (1913–1974) 9th Duke of Roxburghe, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford, Earl of Kelso, and Viscount Broxmouth, 13th Earl of Roxburghe, Lord Roxburghe, and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun, 4th Earl Innes 10th Innes-Ker Baronet Guy David Innes-Ker (1954–2019) 10th Duke of Roxburghe, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford, Earl of Kelso, Viscount Broxmouth, 14th Earl of Roxburghe, Lord Roxburghe, and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun, 5th Earl Innes 11th Innes-Ker Baronet Charles Robert George Innes-Ker (b. 1981) 11th Duke of Roxburghe, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford, Earl of Kelso, Viscount Broxmouth, 15th Earl of Roxburghe, Lord Roxburghe, and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun, 6th Earl Innes 12th Innes-Ker Baronet Frederick Charles Ian Innes-Ker b. 2024 styled Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford Heir apparent to the Dukedom of Roxburghe

See also

• Clan Innes
• Roxburgh Castle
• Castle Holydean
• Earl of Perth
• Earl of Melfort
• An 1810 auction of the Duke's library is featured in Susanna Clarke's novel Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

References

1. . Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
2. report of Telegraph announcement(March 5th) of birth Feb 28th
3. Morris, Susan; Bosberry-Scott, Wendy; Belfield, Gervase, eds. (2019). "Roxburghe, Duke of". Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. Vol. 1 (150th ed.). London: Debrett's Ltd. pp. 3017–3020. ISBN 978-1-999767-0-5-1.

External links

• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Roxburghe, Earls and Dukes of" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 23 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 789.
• http://www.stirnet.com/ (subscription only)