William Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian

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William Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian (1605? - 1675) was a Scottish nobleman.

The eldest son of Sir Robert Kerr, later 1st Earl of Ancram, he was born within St James's Palace in London and was educated at Cambridge University and at Paris. He accompanied the Duke of Buckingham to the Isle of Rhé in 1627 and served in the expedition against Spain in 1631.

He married the 3rd Countess of Lothian in 1630 and was created Lord Ker of Newbattle and Earl of Lothian in his own right in 1631. He signed the national covenant in 1638, and was Governor of Newcastle in the same year.

He was appointed one of the four Commissioners of the Treasury in 1642, was Lieutenant-General of the Scots army in Ireland, and was appointed Privy Councillor in the same year. He was falsely accused of treachery while abroad and was imprisoned on his return, being released in 1643.

He entered Parliament in 1644 and joined Lord Argyll in expedition against Lord Montrose during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms in 1644. He was one of the commissioners sent to treat with the King at Holmby House in 1647.

He was appointed Secretary of State in 1649 and was one of the commissioners sent by the Scottish Parliament to protest against proceeding to extremities against the King. he was a general of the Scottish forces in 1650. In 1662 he refused to take the Abjuration oath.

Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by
New creation		 Earl of Lothian
1631–1675		 Succeeded by
Robert Kerr


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