Archibald Kennedy, 1st Marquess of Ailsa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Honourable
The Marquess of Ailsa
|
|
|---|---|
| Scottish Representative Peer | |
| In office 1796–1806 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Archibald Kennedy
February 1770 |
| Died | 8 September 1846 (aged 76) |
| Spouses |
Margaret Erskine
(after 1793) |
| Children | 6, including Archibald, Margaret |
| Parents | Archibald Kennedy, 11th Earl of Cassilis Anne Watts |
Archibald Kennedy, 1st Marquess of Ailsa (born February 1770 – died September 8, 1846) was an important Scottish nobleman. He held several titles during his life. He was known as Lord Kennedy from 1792 to 1794. After that, he was called the Earl of Cassilis until 1831. Finally, he became the Marquess of Ailsa. He was also a member of the Order of the Thistle and the Royal Society.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Archibald Kennedy was the oldest son of Archibald Kennedy, 11th Earl of Cassilis. His mother was Anne Watts. When his father became the Earl of Cassilis in 1792, Archibald gained the special title of Lord Kennedy. This was a courtesy title, meaning it was used out of respect.
His Political Career
Archibald became the Earl of Cassilis when his father passed away in 1794. He served in the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament. He was a Scottish Representative Peer from 1796 to 1806. This meant he represented Scotland's nobility in Parliament.
In 1806, he was given a new title: Baron Ailsa. This title gave him an automatic seat in the House of Lords. He became a member of the Royal Society in 1819, which is a famous group for scientists. In 1831, he received an even higher title, becoming the Marquess of Ailsa.
Archibald was interested in politics. In 1832, he voted for the Reform Bill. This bill was a big change that made the voting system fairer in Britain. In 1820, King George IV made him a knight of the Order of the Thistle. This was a special honor that Archibald had wanted for a long time.
A Love for Horses
Lord Ailsa enjoyed horse racing. He owned several racehorses, including Clementina, Scaramouche, and Pegasus. His horses won many races and cups in the early 1800s.
He also helped create the Ayr Gold Cup. This is a horse race held every year in Scotland. He and 13 other people started it. Only horses trained in Scotland could race in it, and they ran a distance of two miles.
His Family Life
On June 1, 1793, Lord Ailsa married Margaret Erskine. She was the daughter of John Erskine of Dun. They had six children together:
- Archibald Kennedy, Earl of Cassilis (1794–1832): He married Eleanor Allardyce and had children.
- Lady Anne Kennedy (1798–1877): She married Sir David Baird. They also had children.
- Lady Margaret Kennedy (1800–1889): She married Thomas Radclyffe-Livingstone-Eyre.
- Lady Mary Kennedy (1800–1886): She married Richard Oswald.
- The Hon. John Kennedy-Erskine (1802–1831): He married Lady Augusta FitzClarence. She was the daughter of King William IV. John added "Erskine" to his name because he was going to inherit the House of Dun.
- Lady Alicia Jane Kennedy (1805–1887): She married Jonathan Peel, who became a government minister. They had children.
Lord Ailsa passed away in 1846. His grandson, also named Archibald Kennedy, took over his titles.
His Lasting Legacy
Lord Ailsa bought a house near Twickenham in London. It used to belong to a famous writer named Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Archibald named the house "St Margaret's". Today, the entire area around the house is known by that name. Two streets in the area, Ailsa Road and Ailsa Avenue, are also named after him.
