William Kerr, 2nd Marquess of Lothian

Who was William Kerr, 2nd Marquess of Lothian?

Lieutenant-General William Kerr, 2nd Marquis of Lothian, KT was a Scottish peer and soldier. He was styled Master of Newbattle until 1675, Lord Newbattle from 1675 to 1692, and was the 5th Lord Jedburgh from 1692 to 1703.

Kerr was the eldest son of Robert Kerr, 1st Marquis of Lothian and his wife, Jane. On 30 June 1685, he married his cousin, Lady Jean Campbell and they had five children:

William Kerr, 3rd Marquis of Lothian

Lady Anne Kerr, married first Alexander Home, 7th Earl of Home, and second, Henry Ogle

Lady Jean Kerr, married William Cranstoun, 5th Lord Cranstoun

Lady Elizabeth Kerr, married George Ross, 13th Lord Ross

Lady Mary Kerr, married her cousin Alexander Hamilton, of Ballincrieff

Kerr was a Commissioner of Supply in 1685, 1686, 1702 and 1704. He succeeded to his cousin's title of Lord Jedburgh in 1692, and sat under that name in the Parliament of Scotland until its dissolution. Jedburgh was appointed Colonel of the 7th Regiment of Dragoons in 1696, and a brigadier general in 1702. He succeeded his father as Marquess of Lothian in 1703 and was appointed major general in 1704. Lothian was created a Knight of the Thistle in 1705, and on 25 April 1707, obtained the colonelcy of the Scots Regiment of Foot Guards.