George Innes-Ker, 9th Duke of Roxburghe explained

Honorific-Prefix:His Grace
The Duke of Roxburghe
Residence:Floors Castle
Children:Guy Innes-Ker, 10th Duke of Roxburghe
Lord Robert Anthony Innes-Ker
Parents:Henry Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe
Mary Goelet

George Victor Robert John Innes-Ker, 9th Duke of Roxburghe (7 September 1913 – 26 September 1974) was the son of Henry John Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe and Mary Goelet. He succeeded his father in 1932.

Early life

George Victor Robert John Innes-Ker was born on 7 September 1913 to Henry Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe (1876–1932) and Mary Goelet (1878–1937).[1] He was born almost ten years after his parents were married, on 10 November 1903,[2]

He grew up at Floors Castle which was located on 60,500 acres,[3] which his mother decorated with her own collection of art including a series of 17th century Gobelins Manufactory tapestries.[4]

Family

His paternal grandparents were James Henry Robert Innes-Ker, 7th Duke of Roxburghe (1839–1892) and Lady Anne Emily Spencer-Churchill (1854–1923), the fourth daughter of John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough, who served in Conservative governments as Lord President of the Council and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and his wife, Lady Frances Vane, daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry. His first cousin once removed was Winston Churchill. His uncle, Lord Robert Edward Innes-Ker (1885–1958), married the actress Jose Collins.[5]

His maternal grandfather was Ogden Goelet (1851–1897), an American real-estate millionaire.[6] At the time of his parents' marriage, his mother was the wealthiest American heiress, with a dowry of twenty million dollars, exceeded only by Consuelo Vanderbilt.[7] [8] He also was a grandnephew of Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt III, née Grace Wilson.

Personal life

The Duke attended Eton College in Windsor, Berkshire, England.

On 24 October 1935, he was married to Lady Mary Evelyn Hungerford Crewe-Milnes (1915–2014), daughter of Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe, by his marriage to Lady Margaret Etrenne Hannah Primrose, daughter of Hannah Primrose, Countess of Rosebery, and Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery. The marriage ended in divorce in 1953, after the Duke controversially attempted to evict Lady Mary from the ancestral home at Floors Castle.[9] When her widowed mother died in 1967, the Duchess inherited West Horsley Place where she died in 2014 at the age of 99.[9]

On 5 January 1954, he married for the second time at Caxton Hall to Margaret Elizabeth McConnel (1918–1993), daughter of Capt. Frederick Bradshaw McConnel and great-granddaughter of British industrialist William McConnel.[10] Together, they had:

The 9th Duke of Roxburghe died on 26 September 1974.[12]

Notes and References

  1. News: Times. Wireless to the New York. DOWAGER DUCHESS OF ROXBURGHE DIES; New York Heiress Was a Close Friend of King George V and Queen Mary. 12 January 2017. The New York Times. 27 April 1937.
  2. News: THE ROXBURGHE WEDDING; Private Rehearsal Held at St. Thomas's Church. Programme of Today's Ceremony -- Simple Reception to Follow at the Goelet Residence. 21 December 2016. The New York Times. 10 November 1903.
  3. News: Times. Wireless to the New York. DUKE OF ROXBURGH DIES AT AGE OF 56; Stricken Suddenly After Attending Funeral of His Friend, Michael G. Herbert. I MARRIED MAY GOELET HERE Ceremony in 1903 One of Important Society Events of That Year Was Wounded in War.. 21 December 2016. The New York Times. 30 September 1932.
  4. News: Illustrated Guide to Places to Visit - Floors Castle. 27 March 2016.
  5. "Lord R. Innes-Ker weds Jose Collins; Brother of Duke of Roxburghe Married to Musical Comedy Actress in London. Ceremony was a Secret. Bride, Daughter of Late Lottie Collins, Won First Success Herein "The Merry Countess." New York Times, 4 November 1920, p. 16
  6. News: DUKE OF ROXBURGHE MARRIES MISS GOELET; Second American Heiress to be Made a Duchess in St, Thomas's WOMEN MOB HER CARRIAGE Extraordinary Demonstration Near the Church by Faminine Sightseers Keeps Police Busy -- Reception at Mrs. Goelet's Home.. 21 December 2016. The New York Times. 11 November 1903.
  7. News: Marriage Announcement. The New York Times. 3 September 1903.
  8. News: MOTHER AND SISTER OF ROXBURGHE HERE; Duchess Denies Story of Objection to American Brides. Plans for the Wedding Complete -- The Decorations at the Church and Home of the Bride.. 21 December 2016. The New York Times. 8 November 1903.
  9. News: Obituary: Mary, Duchess of Roxburghe. The Telegraph.
  10. News: Times. Special to the New York. DUKE OF ROXBURGHE MARRIES IN LONDON. 12 January 2017. The New York Times. 6 January 1954.
  11. News: Times. Special to the New York. Son to Duchess of Roxburghe. 12 January 2017. The New York Times. 19 November 1954.
  12. News: Times. Special to the New York. George Innes‐Ker, Ninth Duke of Roxburghe, Dies in Scotland. 12 January 2017. The New York Times. 27 September 1974.