KERR, William Henry, Earl of Ancram (c.1710-75).

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

11 Dec. 1747 - Mar. 1763

Family and Education

b. c.1710, 1st s. of William, 3rd Mq. of Lothian [S], by Margaret, da. and coh. of Sir Thomas Nicholson, 1st Bt., of Kemnay, Aberdeen. m. 6 Nov. 1735, Lady Caroline Darcy (with £20,000), da. of Robert, 3rd Earl of Holderness, 1s. 2da. suc. fa. as 4th Mq. 28 July 1767.

Offices Held

Cornet 11 Drags. 20 June 1735; capt. 11 Ft. 1739; capt. 1 Ft. Gds. 1741; lt.-col. 11 Drags, 1745; col. 1745; a.-d.-c. 1745-6 and groom of the bedchamber 1746 to Duke of Cumberland; col. 24 Ft. 1747-52; col. 11 Drags. 1752-d.; maj.-gen. 1755; lt.-gen. 1758; gen. 1770.

Biography

Ancram was wounded at Fontenoy, commanded the cavalry on the left wing at Culloden, and became a member of the Duke of Cumberland’s personal staff. On learning that Sir Conyers Darcy had been adopted as a candidate for Yorkshire, Henry Pelham observed that this gave ‘great satisfaction at court, as it would be a means of bringing in Lord Ancram for Richmond’.1 Ancram was duly returned for Richmond in succession to Darcy by his brother-in-law, the 4th Earl of Holderness. In Parliament he followed the lead of the Duke of Cumberland. He died 12 Apr. 1775.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

  • 1. To Hartington, July 1747, Devonshire mss.