Duke of Roxburghe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 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
Monarch	Anne
Peerage	Peerage of Scotland
First holder	John Ker, 5th Earl of Roxburghe
Present holder	Charles Innes-Ker, 11th Duke
Heir presumptive	Lord Edward Arthur Gerald Innes-Ker
Remainder to	the heirs inheriting the Earldom of Roxburghe (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

The 10th Duke of Roxburghe, by Allan Warren

The Duke of Roxburghe 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.

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.

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)

Other titles: Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun (1616)

Other titles (1st Earl): Lord Roxburghe (1600)

• Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe (1570–1650) had been Lord Roxburghe since 1600, died without male issue
  • William Ker, Lord Ker (d. 1618), elder son of the 1st Earl, predeceased his father without issue
  • Henry Ker, Lord Ker (d. 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 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), 2nd son of the 3rd Earl, became Duke of Roxburghe in 1707

Dukes of Roxburghe (1707)

Other titles: Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford (1707), Earl of Roxburghe (1616), Earl of Kelso and Viscount Broxmouth (1707) and Lord Ker of Cessford and Cavertoun (1616)

• John Ker, 1st Duke of Roxburghe (c. 1680–1741), second son of the 3rd Earl

Other titles (2nd & 3rd Dukes): Earl Ker, of Wakefield in the County of York and Baron Ker, of Wakefield in the County of York (1722)

• Robert Ker, 2nd Duke of Roxburghe (c. 1709–1755), only son of the 1st Duke
• John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe (1740–1804), elder son of the 2nd Duke, died without issue

Other titles (4th Duke): Lord Bellenden of Broughton (1661)

• William Bellenden-Ker, 4th Duke of Roxburghe (1728–1805), grandson of Lord Bellenden (himself fourth and youngest son of the 2nd Earl), died without issue and the Roxburghe titles went dormant 1805–12
• James Innes-Ker, 5th Duke of Roxburghe (1736–1823), great-grandson of Hon. Margaret Ker (d. 1681), daughter of Hon. Henry Ker, Lord Ker (d. 1642/3; himself younger son of the 1st Earl)

Other titles (6th Duke onwards): Earl Innes (GB, 1837)

• James Innes-Ker, 6th Duke of Roxburghe (1816–1879), only son of the 5th Duke
• 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 (b. 1954), elder son of the 9th Duke
  • Heir apparent: Charles Robert George Innes-Ker, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford (b. 1981), eldest son of the 10th Duke

Family Tree