John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Roxburghe
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 April 1740 |
| Died | 1804 (aged 63–64) |
| Parents | Robert Ker, 2nd Duke of Roxburghe Essex Mostyn |
| Signature |  |
John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe (born April 23, 1740 – died 1804) was an important Scottish nobleman. He was known as a scholar and a passionate collector of books. He held several important positions in the royal court.
Early Life and Royal Connections
John Ker was born in London, England, on April 23, 1740. When he was 15 years old, in 1755, he became the 3rd Duke of Roxburghe after his father passed away. A "Duke" is a very high-ranking noble title.
In 1761, John Ker went on a "Grand Tour." This was a long trip around Europe that young noblemen often took to learn about art, culture, and history. During this trip, he met and fell in love with Duchess Christiane of Mecklenburg. She was the oldest daughter of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg.
However, Christiane's younger sister, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, later became engaged to King George III of Great Britain. At that time, it was considered unusual for an older sister to marry someone of a lower rank than her younger sister. Because of this, John Ker and Christiane decided to separate. They both remained unmarried for the rest of their lives.
King George III seemed to appreciate the sacrifice John Ker made. He gave John Ker important roles in the royal court.
- From 1767, he was a Lord of the Bedchamber. This meant he was a close attendant to the King.
- In 1768, he became a Knight of the Thistle. This is a special honor from Scotland.
- In 1796, he was made Groom of the Stole and a Privy Counsellor. These were very trusted positions advising the King.
- In 1801, he received an even higher honor, becoming a Knight of the Garter.
A Passion for Books: The Bibliophile Duke
John Ker was a true "bibliophile," which means he loved and collected books. While he was in Italy on his Grand Tour, he found a very rare first edition of a famous book called The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio. This book was so rare that many people thought it didn't even exist! He paid a lot of money for it – 100 guineas – and showed it off to his friends in London. Everyone was very impressed.
For the next 40 years, John Ker spent his time collecting old and unusual books. He was especially interested in different editions of Shakespeare's plays. He also collected any other books that simply mentioned Shakespeare.
When he passed away in 1804, his library held an amazing 10,000 items! Most of these were books, but he also collected pamphlets and old song sheets called "broadside ballad sheets."
After his death, his huge book collection was sold at an auction in 1812. This event was so important that it led to the creation of the Roxburghe Club. This club is still around today and is dedicated to printing rare books. His collection of old song sheets was later published as the Roxburghe Ballads.
John Ker never married and had no children. Because of this, some of his noble titles, like Earl Ker and Baron Ker, ended with him. His cousin, William Bellenden, became the 4th Duke of Roxburghe and inherited his other titles.
Images for kids
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John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe
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Signature of John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe
