Earl of Kellie

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The title Earl of Kellie is one of the peerage titles of in the Peerage of Scotland, created in 1619 for Thomas Erskine. It is named after Barony of Kellie in Fife, Scotland.

The Earldom of Kellie was united with the Earldom of Mar in 1835, when the ninth Earl of Mar became also the eleventh Earl of Kellie. At the death of that Earl in 1866, the Earldom of Kellie and the family's estates passed to Walter Erskine, the cousin of the late Earl, and his heir-male. Meanwhile, it was assumed that the Earldom of Mar passed to John Francis Goodeve, the late Earl's nephew, and his heir-general. Goodeve changed his name to Goodeve Erskine; his claim was agreed upon by most individuals. He even participated in the election of representative peers for the Peerage of Scotland.

However, the Earl of Kellie submitted a petition to the House of Lords asking that the Earldom of Mar be declared his, dying before it could be considered. His son, the thirteenth Earl of Kellie, renewed the petition, and the Lords decided the matter in 1875, determining that the Earldom of Mar properly belonged to the Earl of Kellie. However, due to a sentiment that the Lords had decided wrongly, the Earldom of Mar Restitution Act was passed. That Act declared that there were two Earldoms of Mar — one that would belong to the Earl of Kellie, and another that would belong to John Goodeve Erskine. For further details, see Earl of Mar.

The subsidiary titles belonging to the Earl of Mar and Kellie are: Viscount Fentoun (created 1606) and Lord Erskine of Dirleton (1429 and 1603), the former of which is used as a courtesy title for the eldest son and heir of the Earl. Both titles are in the Peerage of Scotland. The Earl is Hereditary Keeper of Stirling Castle.

[edit] Earls of Kellie (1619)

Thomas Erskine, 1st Earl of Kellie (1566–1639)
Thomas Erskine, 2nd Earl of Kellie (d. 1643)
Alexander Erskine, 3rd Earl of Kellie (d. 1677)
Alexander Erskine, 4th Earl of Kellie (d. 1710)
Alexander Erskine, 5th Earl of Kellie (d. 1756)
Thomas Alexander Erskine, 6th Earl of Kellie (1732–1781)
Archibald Erskine, 7th Earl of Kellie (1736–1795)
Charles Erskine, 8th Earl of Kellie (1765–1799). in 1797 he succeeded to the Erskine of Cambo baronetcy which merged with the Earldom until its extinction in 1829.
Thomas Erskine, 9th Earl of Kellie (c. 1745–1828)
Methven Erskine, 10th Earl of Kellie (c. 1750–1829)
John Francis Miller Erskine, 9th Earl of Mar, 11th Earl of Kellie (1795–1866)
Walter Consignby Erskine, 10th Earl of Mar and 12th Earl of Kellie (1810–1872)
William Henry Erskine, 11th Earl of Mar and 13th Earl of Kellie (1839–1888)
Walter John Francis Erskine, 12th Earl of Mar and 14th Earl of Kellie (1865–1955)
James Francis Hervey Erskine, 13th Earl of Mar and 15th Earl of Kellie (1921–1993)
James Thorne Erskine, 14th Earl of Mar and 16th Earl of Kellie (b. 1949)