Post Reformation

The Lothian Family

Dr Neil Hargraves answered questions on Newbattle's history on black diamond radio.. press play to listen.

The Lothian family dynasty was established when Mark Ker became lay Abbot of Newbattle Abbey in 1547.  Over the centuries, members of the Lothian family forged distinguished careers in the church, diplomatic service, government and army. After the Reformation in 1560, Mark Ker became Commendator of Newbattle Abbey and later married Helen Leslie.  He died in 1584 and was succeeded by his son, also called Mark.

The title Earl of Lothian was created for Mark Ker on 9 October 1604.  Suicide was suspected when the second Earl, Robert Ker, died in 1624.  Robert had no sons and although the estates could be inherited by his eldest daughter, Anne, the title could not pass to her.  Her husband, William Kerr, Second Earl of Ancram, redeemed the lordship of Newbattle and obtained a Crown Charter for the estates for himself.  William then became 3rd Earl of Lothian. In 1701, Robert, the 4th Earl of Lothian was created Marquess of Lothian.  Robert became High Commissioner of the General Assembly.  On his death in 1703, the title was transferred to his son William.

Skipping a few generation of the family, we come to William Schomberg Robert, 8th Marquess of Lothian. Robert was a distinguished Christ Church scholar.  His knowledge of English and continental classics meant that the library of Newbattle Abbey was greatly improved by him.  He did not keep good health and died in 1870 with no heir.  The title of Marquis of Lothian passed to his brother Schomberg Henry. 

Schomberg Henry, 9th Marquess of Lothian, was instrumental in forming the Lothian Coal Company. The Lothian family became extremely prosperous on the income from coal mines in the area.  However, the most notable of these was the Lady Victoria Colliery which was sunk in 1894.  The pit was named after his wife, Lady Victoria.

 

 

The following is a piece of research carried out by
John P Doohan of Dalkeith Writer’s Group

9th Marquess of Lothian 1833-1900

The 9th Marquis of Lothian was born on 2nd December 1833. He was descended from John Ker, Ist Duke of Roxburghe. He became 9th

Marquis of Lothian in 1870. He went on to serve  as Secretary of State for Scotland from 11th March 1887 to 11th August 1892 and became Scottish Secretary in the Jubilee Year of Queen Victoria. This was appropriate because he was quintessentially a Victorian figure. He left Oxford without a degree and travelled in the Far East before being appointed attaché in Lisbon.

He was a paternalistic Tory who became involved in politics due to his spirit of public service. The poverty of the Western Highlands and Islands affected him deeply.

As Scottish Secretary he produced Scottish Bills at an alarming rate many of which became statutes. He produced the Universities Bill in 1888 which introduced student governing bodies and gave more power to the University Court. He gave a voice to students in university government and opened some university courses to women for the first time. He addressed the complex matter of university finance. He displayed wit and charm in steering the Universities Bill through Parliament. The Bill became law in 1889.

He promoted  technical schools and phased out policies which  granted funding  based solely on academic results and devised a scheme whereby the ‘Scotch Education Dept (SED) forged partnerships with certain school boards which enabled SED to make grants to the schools concerned.

He took up the issue of state sponsored emigration and in the spring of 1889 he authorised the transportation of 12 families from Harris and 18 families from Lewis to Manitoba and North Western Territories.

In 1888 he proposed cutting taxation in the Scottish Islands and in 1889 he visited The Western Islands to see the Highland life conditions for himself. He was well received and secured a significant Treasury grant for Highland road formation, harbour improvement, the erecting of lighthouses, the extension of telegraph and postal systems and aid to the construction of railways.

In early 1890 he was close to resignation from the office of Scottish Secretary due to ill health. His last 2 years in office were quiet. His eldest son, the Earl of Ancram, died in a shooting accident in Australia in June 1892. This devastated his father.

When office as Scottish Secretary was over he indulged in his passion for botany and historical manuscripts. He resided at Newbattle Abbey and held the largest private collection in the UK of orchids.

He died in London in 1900 and was buried in the family chapel at Newbattle Abbey. He is directly related to Michael Ancram the 13th Marquis of Lothian.

 

 

The Lothian family tree