William Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian
Encyclopedia
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 Anne Kerr, 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
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
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
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He accompanied the Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham KG was the favourite, claimed by some to be the lover, of King James I of England. Despite a very patchy political and military record, he remained at the height of royal favour for the first two years of the reign of Charles I, until he was assassinated...
to the Isle of Rhé
Île de Ré
Île de Ré is an island off the west coast of France near La Rochelle, on the northern side of the Pertuis d'Antioche strait....
in 1627 and served in the expedition against Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1631.
He married Anne Kerr, 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
Covenanter
The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
in 1638, and was Governor of Newcastle in the same year.
He was appointed one of the four Commissioners of the Treasury
Treasurer of Scotland
The Treasurer was a senior post in the pre-Union government of Scotland, the Privy Council of Scotland.The full title of the post was Lord High Treasurer, Comptroller, Collector-General and Treasurer of the New Augmentation, formed as it was from the amalgamation of four earlier offices...
in 1642, was Lieutenant-General of the Scots army in Ireland
Irish Confederate Wars
This article is concerned with the military history of Ireland from 1641-53. For the political context of this conflict, see Confederate 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
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
in 1644 and joined Lord Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, 8th Earl of Argyll, chief of Clan Campbell, was the de facto head of government in Scotland during most of the conflict known as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, also known as the British Civil War...
in expedition against Lord Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed...
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
Secretary of State, Scotland
The Secretary of Scotland was a senior post in the pre-Union government of Scotland.The office appeared in the 14th century when it was combined with that of Keeper of the Privy Seal. Called Clericus Regis , he was regarded as an Officer 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
Abjuration
Abjuration is the solemn repudiation, abandonment, or renunciation by or upon oath, often the renunciation of citizenship or some other right or privilege. .-Abjuration of the realm:...
.