Earl of Kellie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Earldom of Kellieheld with Earldom of Mar (7th creation) |
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| Creation date | 1619 |
| Monarch | James VI and I |
| Peerage | Peerage of Scotland |
| First holder | Thomas Erskine, 1st Earl of Kellie |
| Present holder | James Thorne Erskine, 16th Earl of Kellie |
| Heir presumptive | Hon. Alexander David Erskine |
| Remainder to | heirs male of the body of the grantee |
| Subsidiary titles | Earl of Mar, Viscount of Fentoun, Lord Erskine, Lord Erskine of Dirleton |
| Status | Extant |
| Seat(s) | Hilton Farm |
| Former seat(s) | Kellie Castle |
The title Earl of Kellie is a special noble title in Scotland. It was created in 1619 for Sir Thomas Erskine. He was an important person who worked for King James VI and I. The title is named after the Barony of Kellie in Fife, Scotland.
Since 1875, the Earldom of Kellie has been held together with another old title, the Earldom of Mar. The family's main home today is Hilton Farm, near Alloa, Clackmannanshire.
Contents
What is the Earldom of Kellie?
An Earldom is a very old and important noble title. It is part of the Peerage of Scotland, which is a list of all the noble titles in Scotland. The Earl of Kellie is a Scottish Peer.
The first Earl of Kellie was Sir Thomas Erskine. He was a close friend and trusted helper of King James VI. The King gave him this title in 1619.
A Look at Its History
For many years, the Earldom of Kellie was a separate title. But in 1835, something interesting happened. The 26th Earl of Mar also became the 11th Earl of Kellie. This meant the two titles were now held by the same person.
When that Earl passed away in 1866, his cousin, Walter Erskine, inherited the Earldom of Kellie. He also inherited the family's lands.
The Mar and Kellie Dispute
However, there was a big question about who should get the Earldom of Mar. Many people thought it should go to the late Earl's nephew, John Francis Goodeve. He even changed his name to Goodeve Erskine.
But the Earl of Kellie believed the Earldom of Mar should be his. He asked the House of Lords to decide. Sadly, he passed away before they could make a decision.
His son, the 13th Earl of Kellie, continued the fight. In 1875, the House of Lords decided that the Earldom of Mar belonged to the Earl of Kellie.
However, many people disagreed with this decision. So, a special law was passed called the Earldom of Mar Restitution Act. This law said that there were actually two Earldoms of Mar! One would belong to the Earl of Kellie, and the other would belong to John Goodeve Erskine. This was a very unusual solution.
Other Important Titles
The Earl of Mar and Kellie also holds other titles. These are called subsidiary titles. They include:
- Viscount of Fentoun (created in 1606)
- Lord Erskine (created in 1429)
- Lord Erskine of Dirleton (created in 1603)
The title Viscount of Fentoun is often used as a courtesy title. This means it is used by the Earl's eldest son and heir. All these titles are part of the Peerage of Scotland.
The Earl is also the Hereditary Keeper of Stirling Castle. This means his family has traditionally been in charge of looking after this important castle.
The family's old home was Kellie Castle, which is near Pittenweem in Fife.
Who Were the Earls of Kellie?
Here is a list of the people who have held the title of Earl of Kellie:
- Sir Thomas Erskine, 1st Earl of Kellie (1566–1639)
- Thomas Erskine, 2nd Earl of Kellie (died 1643)
- Alexander Erskine, 3rd Earl of Kellie (died 1677)
- Alexander Erskine, 4th Earl of Kellie (died 1710)
- Alexander Erskine, 5th Earl of Kellie (died 1756)
- Thomas Alexander Erskine, 6th Earl of Kellie (1732–1781)
- Archibald Erskine, 7th Earl of Kellie (1736–1795)
- Charles Erskine, 8th Earl of Kellie (1765–1799)
- Thomas Erskine, 9th Earl of Kellie (c. 1745–1828)
- Methven Erskine, 10th Earl of Kellie (c. 1750–1829)
- John Francis Miller Erskine, 11th Earl of Kellie (1795–1866)
- Walter Coningsby Erskine, 12th Earl of Kellie (1810–1872)
- Walter Henry Erskine, 13th Earl of Kellie (1839–1888)
- Walter John Francis Erskine, 12th Earl of Mar and 14th Earl of Kellie (1865–1955)
- John Francis Hervey Erskine, 13th Earl of Mar and 15th Earl of Kellie (1921–1993)
- James Thorne Erskine, 14th Earl of Mar and 16th Earl of Kellie (born 1949)
The person who is expected to inherit the title next is the present Earl's brother, the Hon. Alexander David Erskine (born 1952). His only son, Alexander Capel Erskine (born 1979), is next in line after him.
See also
- Earl of Mar (seventh creation)
- Erskine baronets
- Clan Erskine
- Kellie Lodge
