William Kerr, 4th Marquess of Lothian facts for kids
William Henry Kerr, the 4th Marquess of Lothian (born in 1710, died on April 12, 1775), was an important Scottish nobleman, a British soldier, and a politician. He was the oldest son of William Kerr, the 3rd Marquess of Lothian.
Before he became the Marquess, he had different titles. He was known as Master of Jedburgh until 1722, then Lord Jedburgh from 1722 to 1735. From 1735 to 1767, he was called the Earl of Ancram. As the Earl of Ancram, he showed great bravery and skill during a big conflict called the War of the Austrian Succession.
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Who Was William Henry Kerr?
William Henry Kerr was a high-ranking member of the Scottish nobility. This means he came from a very old and important family. He spent much of his life serving his country as a soldier and also as a politician, helping to make decisions for Great Britain.
He was known for his military career, especially his actions during the War of the Austrian Succession. This was a major European conflict that involved many countries.
His Family Life
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On November 6, 1735, William Henry Kerr married Lady Carolina Louisa Darcy. She was the daughter of another important nobleman, the 3rd Earl of Holderness. After their marriage, he started using the title Earl of Ancram.
They had three children together:
- William John Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian (1737–1815)
- Lady Louisa Kerr (born October 18, 1739). She married Lord George Henry Lennox in 1759. They had several children, including:
- Lady Maria Louisa Lennox (1760–1843)
- Lady Emilie Charlotte Lennox (1763–1832)
- Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond (1764–1819)
- Lady Georgiana Lennox (1765–1841)
- Lady Wilhelmina Emilia Kerr. She married Colonel John McLeod in 1783. They had nine children.
His Military Career
William Henry Kerr began his military journey in 1735 as a cornet. This was a junior officer rank in the cavalry.
Early Military Roles
By 1739, he became a captain in the 31st Regiment of Foot. In 1741, he moved to the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards.
Fighting in Major Battles
He fought bravely with the Guards at the Battle of Fontenoy (1745) in 1745. During this battle, he was an aide-de-camp to the Duke of Cumberland. An aide-de-camp is an officer who helps a higher-ranking general. William Henry Kerr was wounded during the battle.
After Fontenoy, he became an aide-de-camp to the King and was promoted to colonel. In the same year, he became a lieutenant-colonel of Lord Mark Kerr's Regiment of Dragoons.
The Battle of Culloden
In 1746, he commanded the cavalry on the left side at the Battle of Culloden. This was a very important battle in Scottish history. His younger brother, Lord Robert Kerr, also fought in this battle and sadly died there.
After the battle, William Henry Kerr commanded the troops in Aberdeen until August. Then, he returned to Europe with the Duke of Cumberland in December. He was also appointed a Groom of the Bedchamber to Cumberland, which was a personal attendant role.
Later Military Commands
In 1747, he was sent back home with the flags captured at the Battle of Lauffeld. Later that year, he became the colonel of the 24th Regiment of Foot. In 1752, he became the colonel of the 11th Regiment of Dragoons.
He was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1758. He served under the Duke of Marlborough during a military operation called the Raid on St Malo.
His Political Life
William Henry Kerr also had a career in politics. He followed his military commander, the Duke of Cumberland, into political life. He supported William Pitt, who was a very influential politician at the time.
Leaving Parliament
He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond. In 1762, his political position became weaker. He voted against a peace treaty called the Treaty of Paris in 1763. Soon after, he decided to leave the House of Commons. He officially resigned by taking the Stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds.
Later Years
In 1767, William Henry Kerr became the Marquess of Lothian after his father passed away. This was his highest title.
In 1768, he was chosen as a Scottish representative peer. This meant he represented Scotland in the House of Lords. He was also made a Knight of the Thistle, which is a very special honor in Scotland.
He was promoted to the rank of general in 1770. William Henry Kerr passed away in 1775 in Bath.
Images for kids
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William Kerr, 4th Marquess of Lothian on a charger (David Morier, 1751)
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Emilia Kerr (1756–1832), by George Romney
