Robert Kerr, 1st Marquess of Lothian PC (8 March 1636 – 15 February 1703), known as the 4th Earl of Lothian from 1675 to 1701, was a Scottish nobleman. He was styled Lord Kerr until 1661 and Lord Newbattle from 1661 to 1675.
The eldest son of William Kerr, 3rd Earl of Lothian, he was born at Newbattle, Midlothian. He left Scotland and was educated at Leyden, Saumur, and Angers from 1651 to 1657. He unsuccessfully claimed the earldom of Roxburghe in 1658.[1] In 1661, his father lost an additional dispute with the new Earl of Roxburghe over the use of the courtesy title of Lord Kerr; it was reserved for Roxburghe's heir, and Kerr was thereafter styled Lord Newbattle.[2]
Lord Newbattle was a volunteer in the Dutch War of 1673. He succeeded his father to the earldom in 1675. Sworn a Privy Counsellor in January 1686, he was removed by James II in September. Lothian supported the Glorious Revolution and sat in the Convention of Estates of Scotland. He was appointed appointed Lord Justice General of Scotland in 1689, holding the office until his death, and was re-appointed a privy counsellor by William III in 1690. In the same year, he succeeded his uncle Charles as Earl of Ancram.[1]
He was Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland in 1692, and addressed the assembly with a speech advocating tolerance and liberality towards episcopal ministers wishing to be received into the Kirk, in harmony with the King's recommendations. The Assembly, however, proving hostile, the proposal was not taken up. He was created Marquess of Lothian on 23 June 1701, and was appointed Justice-General and a commissioner to treat for the union of Scotland and England in 1702. However, he did not see the project out, as he died in the following year.[1]
Lothian married Lady Jean Campbell (d. 1700), daughter of Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, in January 1660/1, by whom he had ten children:[1]
Lothian also had a natural son, Captain John Kerr, who was slain at Douglas Castle by the Duke of Douglas.
He is buried in the family vault of Newbattle Church, Scotland.
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Earl of Linlithgow |
Lord Justice General 1689–1703 |
Succeeded by The Viscount Tarbat |
| Peerage of Scotland | ||
| New creation | Marquess of Lothian 1701–1703 |
Succeeded by William Kerr |
| Preceded by Anne Kerr |
Earl of Lothian (1606 creation) 1667–1703 |
|
| Preceded by William Kerr |
Earl of Lothian (1631 creation) 1675–1703 |
|
| Preceded by Charles Kerr |
Earl of Ancram 1690–1703 |
|