Earl of Rothes facts for kids
The Earl of Rothes is a special title that has been passed down in the Leslie family for a very long time. It started in 1458 when King James II of Scotland gave the title to George Leslie. At first, it was a title for the ruler of an area called Leslie. Today, the local council manages Leslie, so the title is mostly about family history and tradition.
One of the most famous people to hold this title was Norman Leslie. He was married to Noel Leslie, who was a survivor of the famous Titanic ship disaster.
Another old title connected to the Earls of Rothes was "Lord Leslie." This title also showed the success of the Leslie family and their group, known as Clan Leslie/Rothes.
Contents
The First Earls of Rothes (1458-1680)
The title of Earl of Rothes began with George Leslie in 1458. After him, the title was passed down through his family. This meant that when an Earl passed away, his son or another close relative would usually become the next Earl. This is called a hereditary title.
Many different members of the Leslie family held the title during these early years. They were important figures in Scottish history.
A Short Time as Duke of Rothes (1680-1681)
For a very short time, one of the Earls, John Leslie, was given an even higher title: the Duke of Rothes. This happened in 1680. However, he was only a Duke for about a year. After that, he went back to being the Earl of Rothes again until he passed away in 1681.
The Earl of Rothes Title Continues (1681 onwards)
After John Leslie, the title of Earl of Rothes continued. Sometimes, the title was passed to a daughter if there were no sons. For example, Margaret Leslie became the Countess of Rothes around 1681. This shows that the title could be held by women too.
Many other Leslies followed, each taking on the role of Earl or Countess. They continued the long family tradition.
The 19th Century Earls
During the 1800s, the title of Earl of Rothes continued to be passed down through the Leslie family. This century saw several Earls and Countesses. They included Jane E. Leslie, George W. Leslie, and Henrietta A. Leslie. Each of them played a part in the long history of the Rothes title.
The 20th Century Earls
The 20th century brought new Earls of Rothes. One of the most well-known was Norman Evelyn Leslie. He became the Earl in 1893. Norman Leslie was married to Noel Leslie, who became famous for surviving the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Norman Leslie was the last Earl to live in Leslie House, the family's historic home. He lived through the reigns of several British monarchs, including Queen Victoria and King George V.
After Norman, his son, Malcolm Leslie, became the Earl in 1927. Malcolm grew up in Leslie House. He lived through many important historical events, including World War I and World War II. He was the Earl during the reigns of King George V, King Edward VIII, King George VI, and Queen Elizabeth II.
The 21st Century Earls
In the 21st century, the title of Earl of Rothes continues. Ian Lionel Malcolm Leslie became the Earl in 1975. He held the title until 2005.
The current Earl of Rothes is James Malcolm David Leslie. He became the Earl in 2005. As of now, he does not have any children. This means that his brother, Alexander John Leslie, is currently expected to become the next Earl of Rothes. He is known as the Master of Rothes.
Images for kids
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Norman Leslie, 19th Earl of Rothes.
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Andrew Leslie, 5th Earl of Rothes (1558-1611).
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John Leslie, 6th Earl of Rothes (1611-1641).
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John Leslie, 7th Earl and 1st Duke of Rothes (1641-1680, then 1680-1681).
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John Hamilton-Leslie, 9th Earl of Rothes (1700-1722).
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John Leslie, 10th Earl of Rothes and a General in the Army (1722-1767).
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John Leslie, 11th Earl of Rothes (or his brother) (1767-1773).
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Alexander Leslie, the heir to the Earldom of Rothes, known as Lord Leslie since 2005.
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