William Kerr, 3rd Marquess of Lothian

He was the son of William Kerr, 2nd Marquess of Lothian and Lady Jean Campbell.[1]

Although his title of Lord Jedburgh is generally regarded as a courtesy title, he voted at the election of Scots representative peers under that name in 1712.

He succeeded to the Marquessate of Lothian in 1722 and was elected a representative peer in 1731, sitting in the House of Lords until 1761. From 1732 to 1738, Lothian was Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and he was appointed a Knight of the Thistle in 1734. From 1739 until his resignation in 1756, he was Lord Clerk Register.[1]

On 7 December 1711, he married Margaret Nicolson, daughter of Sir Thomas Nicolson, 1st Baronet and Margaret (née Nicolson) Hamilton Nicolson.[2] His wife's mother was previously married to James Hamilton of Ballincrieff, with whom she had Alexander Hamilton of Ballincrieff.[2] They had three children:[1]

• William Henry Kerr, 4th Marquess of Lothian (1710–1775)
• Lord Robert Kerr (d. 1746), who was killed at the Battle of Culloden.[3]
• Lady Jane Kerr, who died young.

His first wife died on 30 September 1759 at Newbattle Abbey and was buried there. He subsequently married his cousin Jean Janet Kerr, daughter of Lord Charles Kerr of Cramond and Janet Murray, on 1 October 1760, by whom he had no issue. Lothian died at Lothian House, Canongate, Edinburgh, and was buried at Newbattle; his wife died at Lothian House on 26 December 1787.[1]