PEERAGE
Last updated 22/07/2011
Date Rank Order Name Born Died  Age
KABERRY OF ADEL
23 Sep 1983 B[L] 1 Donald Kaberry                         18 Aug 1907 13 Mar 1991 83
to     Created Baron Kaberry of Adel for life
13 Mar 1991 23 Sep 1983                          
MP for Leeds Northwest 1950-1983
Peerage extinct on his death
KADOORIE
22 Sep 1981 B[L] 1 Lawrence Kadoorie                                      2 Jun 1899 25 Aug 1993 94
to     Created Baron Kadoorie for life 22 Sep 1981
25 Aug 1993 Peerage extinct on his death
KAGAN
30 Jun 1976 B[L] 1 Joseph Kagan 6 Jun 1915 18 Jan 1995 79
to     Created Baron Kagan for life 30 Jun 1976
18 Jan 1995 Peerage extinct on his death
For further information of this peer, see the note
at the foot of this page.
KAHN
6 Jul 1965 B[L] 1 Richard Ferdinand Kahn 10 Aug 1905 6 Jun 1989 83
to     Created Baron Kahn for life 6 Jul 1965
6 Jun 1989 Peerage extinct on his death
KAKKAR
22 Mar 2010 B[L] 1 Ajay Kumar Kakkar Apr 1964
Created Baron Kakkar for life 22 Mar 2010
KALDOR
9 Jul 1974 B[L] 1 Nicholas Kaldor 12 May 1908 30 Sep 1986 78
to     Created Baron Kaldor for life 9 Jul 1974
30 Sep 1986 Peerage extinct on his death
KALMS
1 Jun 2004 B[L] 1 Harold Stanley Kalms 21 Nov 1931
Created Baron Kalms for life 1 Jun 2004
KEANE
23 Dec 1839 B 1 John Keane 6 Feb 1781 26 Aug 1844 63
Created Baron Keane 23 Dec 1839
26 Aug 1844 2 Edward Arthur Wellington Keane 4 May 1815 25 Jul 1882 67
25 Jul 1882 3 John Manly Arbuthnot Keane 1 Sep 1816 27 Nov 1901 85
to     Peerage extinct on his death
27 Nov 1901
KEARTON
5 Feb 1970 B[L] 1 Christopher Frank Kearton 17 Feb 1911 2 Jul 1992 81
to     Created Baron Kearton for life 5 Feb 1970
2 Jul 1992 Peerage extinct on his death
KEITH
16 Mar 1797 B[I] 1 George Keith Elphinstone 7 Jan 1746 10 Mar 1823 77
15 Dec 1801 B 1 Created Baron Keith [I] 16 Mar 1797,
to     Baron Keith [UK] 15 Dec 1801 and 
10 Mar 1823 17 Sep 1803 and Viscount Keith
17 Sep 1803 B 1 1 Jun 1814
1 Jun 1814 V 1 MP for Dunbartonshire 1781-1790 and Stirlingshire
to     1796-1801
10 Mar 1823 On his death the Viscountcy and the Barony
of 1801 became extinct,whilst the Barony
of 1797 and the Barony of 1803 passed to -
10 Mar 1823 2 Margaret de la Billardrie 12 Jun 1788 11 Nov 1867 79
to     Peerages extinct on her death
11 Nov 1867
KEITH OF AVONHOLM
4 Nov 1953 B[L] 1 James Keith 20 May 1886 29 Jun 1964 78
to     Created Baron Keith of Avonholm for life
29 Jun 1964 4 Nov 1953
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1953-1961.
PC 1953
Peerage extinct on his death
KEITH OF CASTLEACRE
6 Feb 1980 B[L] 1 Kenneth Alexander Keith 30 Aug 1916 1 Sep 2004 88
to     Created Baron Keith of Castleacre for life
1 Sep 2004 6 Feb 1980
Peerage extinct on his death
KEITH OF INVERURY
20 Jun 1677 B[S] 1 John Keith 12 Apr 1715
Created Lord Keith of Inverury and
Earl of Kintore 20 Jun 1677
see "Kintore"
KEITH OF KINKEL
10 Jan 1977 B[L] 1 Henry Shanks Keith 7 Feb 1922 21 Jun 2002 80
to     Created Baron Keith of Kinkel for life
21 Jun 2002 10 Jan 1977
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1977-1996
PC 1976
Peerage extinct on his death
KELBURN
12 Apr 1703 V[S] 1 David Boyle 1666 1 Nov 1733 67
Created Lord Boyle of Kelburn,
Stewartoun,Cumbra,Largs and Dalry
31 Jan 1699, and Lord Boyle of
Stewartoun,Cumbraes,Finnick,Largs
and Dalry,Viscount of Kelburn and
Earl of Glasgow 12 Apr 1703
See "Glasgow"
KELHEAD
22 Jun 1893 B 1 Francis Archibald Douglas 3 Feb 1867 19 Oct 1894 27
to     Created Baron Kelhead 22 Jun 1893
19 Oct 1894 Peerage extinct on his death
For further information on this peer, see the
note at the foot of this page.
KELLIE
12 Mar 1619 E[S] 1 Thomas Erskine 1566 12 Jun 1639 72
Created Lord Dirletoun 8 Jul 1604
Viscount Fentoun 18 Mar 1606 and
Earl of Kellie 12 Mar 1619
KG 1615
12 Jun 1639 2 Thomas Erskine c 1615 3 Feb 1643
3 Feb 1643 3 Alexander Erskine May 1677
May 1677 4 Alexander Erskine 14 Sep 1677 8 Mar 1710 32
8 Mar 1710 5 Alexander Erskine 3 Apr 1756
3 Apr 1756 6 Thomas Alexander Erskine 1 Sep 1732 9 Oct 1781 49
9 Oct 1781 7 Archibald Erskine 22 Apr 1736 8 May 1797 61
8 May 1797 8 Sir Charles Erskine,8th baronet 1764 28 Oct 1799 35
28 Oct 1799   9 Thomas Erskine c 1745 6 Feb 1828
Lord Lieutenant Fife 1824-1828
For information on this peer's wife,see the
note at the foot of this page
6 Feb 1828 10 Methven Erskine c 1750 3 Dec 1829
For information on this peer's wife,see the
note at the foot of this page
3 Dec 1829 11 John Francis Miller Erskine 28 Dec 1795 19 Jun 1866 70
He had previously succeeded to the Earldom
of Mar (qv) in 1828 with which title this 
peerage then merged
KELSO
25 Apr 1707 E[S] 1 John Ker c 1680 24 Feb 1741
Created Lord Ker of Cessfurd and
Cavertoun,Viscount of Broxmouth,
Earl of Kelso,Marquess of Bowmont
and Cessfurd and Duke of Roxburghe
25 Apr 1707
See "Roxburghe"
KELVEDON
11 Jun 1997 B[L] 1 Henry Paul Guinness Channon 9 Oct 1935 27 Jan 2007 71
to     Created Baron Kelvedon for life 11 Jun 1997
27 Jan 2007 MP for Southend West 1959-1997. Minister
of State,Northern Ireland 1972. Minister of
Housing and Construction 1972-1974.
Minister of State,Civil Service 1979-1981.
Minister for the Arts 1981-1983. Minister of
Trade 1983-1986. Secretary of State for
Trade and Industry 1986-1987. Secretary
of State for Transport 1987-1989. PC 1980
Peerage extinct on his death
KELVIN
23 Feb 1892 B 1 William Thomson 26 Jun 1824 17 Dec 1907 83
to     Created Baron Kelvin 23 Feb 1892
17 Dec 1907 PC 1902  OM 1902
Peerage extinct on his death
KEMSLEY
12 Sep 1945 V 1 Sir James Gomer Berry,1st baronet 7 May 1883 6 Feb 1968 84
Created Baron Kemsley 3 Feb 1936 and
Viscount Kemsley 12 Sep 1945
6 Feb 1968 2 Geoffrey Lionel Berry 29 Jun 1909 28 Feb 1999 89
MP for Buckingham 1943-1945
28 Feb 1999 3 Richard Gomer Berry 17 Apr 1951
KENDAL
16 May 1414 E 1 John Plantagenet 20 Jun 1389 14 Sep 1435 46
to     Created Earl of Kendal and Duke of
14 Sep 1435 Bedford 16 May 1414
See "Bedford"
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28 Aug 1443 E 1 John Beaufort 1404 27 May 1444 39
to       Created Earl of Kendal and Duke of
27 May 1444 Somerset 28 Aug 1443
Peerages extinct on his death
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c 1446 E 1 John de Foix c 1485
to     Created Earl of Kendal c 1446
1462 KG 1446
He surrendered the peerage in 1562
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1666 D 1 Charles Stuart 4 Jul 1666 22 May 1667  -    
to     Designated Baron of Holdenby,Earl of
22 May 1667 Wigmore and Duke of Kendal 1666
3rd son of James II
Peerages extinct on his death
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
9 Apr 1689 E 1 George,Prince of Denmark 2 Apr 1653 28 Oct 1708 55
to     Created Baron Ockingham,Earl of
28 Oct 1708 Kendal and Duke of Cumberland
9 Apr 1689
Husband of Queen Anne. KG 1684  PC 1685
Peerages extinct on his death
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19 Mar 1719 D[L] 1 Ermengarde Melusina Schulenberg 1659 10 May 1743 83
to     Created Baroness of Dundalk,
10 May 1743 Countess and Marchioness of 
Dungannon and Duchess of Munster for life
18 Jul 1716,and Baroness Glastonbury,
Countess of Feversham and Duchess
of Kendal for life 19 Mar 1719
Mistress of George I
Peerages extinct on her death
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24 May 1784 B 1 James Lowther 5 Aug 1736 24 May 1802 65
to     Created Baron Lowther,Baron of the 
24 May 1802 Barony of Kendal,Baron of the Barony
of Burgh,Viscount of Lonsdale,
Viscount of Lowther and Earl of 
Lonsdale 24 May 1784
Peerages extinct on his death
KENILWORTH
10 Jun 1937 B 1 John Davenport Siddeley 5 Aug 1866 3 Nov 1953 87
Created Baron Kenilworth 10 Jun 1937
3 Nov 1953 2 Cyril Davenport Siddleley 27 Aug 1894 11 Aug 1971 76
11 Aug 1971 3 John Tennant Davenport Siddeley 24 Jan 1924 26 Dec 1981 57
26 Dec 1981 4 John Randle Siddeley 16 Jun 1954
KENLIS
10 Sep 1831 B 1 Thomas Taylour,Marquess of Headfort 4 May 1787 6 Dec 1870 83
Created Baron Kenlis 10 Sep 1831
See "Headfort"
KENMARE
3 Jan 1801 E[I] 1 Sir Valentine Browne,7th baronet Jan 1754 3 Oct 1812 58
Created Baron Castlerosse and 
Viscount Kenmare 12 Feb 1798, and
Viscount Castlerosse and Earl of 
Kenmare 3 Jan 1801
3 Oct 1812 2 Valentine Browne 15 Jan 1788 31 Oct 1853 65
14 Aug 1841 B 1 Created Baron Kenmare 14 Aug 1841
to     Lord Lieutenant Kerry 1831-1853
31 Oct 1853 PC [I] 1834
On his death the Barony became extinct
whilst the Earldom passed to -
31 Oct 1853 3 Thomas Browne 15 Jan 1789 26 Dec 1871 82
12 Mar 1856 B 1 Created Baron Kenmare 12 Mar 1856
26 Dec 1871 4 Valentine Augustus Browne 16 May 1825 9 Feb 1905 79
2 MP for Kerry 1852-1871. Lord Lieutenant
Kerry 1866-1905.  PC 1857  KP 1872
9 Feb 1905 5 Valentine Charles Browne 1 Dec 1860 14 Nov 1941 80
3 Lord Lieutenant Kerry 1905-1922
14 Nov 1941 6 Valentine Edward Charles Browne 29 May 1891 20 Sep 1943 52
4
20 Sep 1943 7 Gerald Ralph Desmond Browne 20 Dec 1896 14 Feb 1952 55
to     5 Peerages extinct on his death
14 Feb 1952
KENMURE
8 May 1633 V[S] 1 Sir John Gordon,2nd baronet c 1600 12 Sep 1634
Created Lord Lochinvar and Viscount 
of Kenmure 8 May 1633
12 Sep 1634 2 John Gordon 10 Dec 1634 Aug 1639 4
Aug 1639 3 John Gordon 1620 Oct 1643 23
Oct 1643 4 Robert Gordon Nov 1622 27 Feb 1663 40
27 Feb 1663 5 Alexander Gordon 20 Apr 1698
20 Apr 1698 6 William Gordon 24 Feb 1716
to     He was attainted and the peerage forfeited
24 Feb 1716
[24 Feb 1716]   Robert Gordon 1714 10 Aug 1741 27
[10 Aug 1741]   John Gordon 1713 16 Jun 1769 55
[16 Jun 1769] William Gordon c 1748 7 Feb 1772
[7 Feb 1772] John Gordon 1750 21 Sep 1840 90
17 Jun 1824 7 Restored to the peerage 1824
MP for Kirkcudbright 1784-1786
21 Sep 1840 8 Adam Gordon 9 Jan 1792 1 Sep 1847 55
to     On his death the peerage became dormant
1 Sep 1847 For further information on a claim made to these
peerages,see the note at the foot of this page
KENNEDY
c 1452 B[S] 1 Gilbert Kennedy c 1406 c 1480
Created Lord Kennedy c 1452
c 1480 2 John Kennedy 1508
1508 3 David Kennedy 9 Sep 1513
He was created Earl of Cassillis (qv) 
c 1509 with which title this peerage then
merged
KENNEDY OF SOUTHWARK
21 Jun 2010 B[L] 1 Roy Francis Kennedy
Created Baron Kennedy of Southwark for
life 21 Jun 2010
KENNEDY OF THE SHAWS
27 Oct 1997 B[L] 1 Helena Ann Kennedy 12 May 1950
Created Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws
for life 27 Oct 1997
KENNET
15 Jul 1935 B 1 Edward Hilton Young 26 Mar 1879 11 Jul 1960 81
Created Baron Kennet 15 Jul 1935
MP for Norwich 1915-1923 and 1924-1929,
and Sevenoaks 1929-1935. Financial 
Secretary to the Treasury 1921-1923.
Minister of Health 1931-1935.  PC 1922
11 Jul 1960 2 Wayland Hilton Young 2 Aug 1923 7 May 2009 85
7 May 2009 3 William Aldus Thoby Young 24 May 1957
KENNINGTON
27 Jul 1726 E 1 William Augustus 15 Apr 1721 31 Oct 1765 44
to     Created Baron of Alderney,Viscount
31 Oct 1765 Trematon,Earl of Kennington,Marquess
of Berkhampstead and Duke of
Cumberland 27 Jul 1726
Second son of George II. KG 1730  PC 1746
Peerage extinct on his death
KENRY
16 Jun 1866 B 1 Edwin Richard Wyndham Wyndham-Quin,
Earl of Dunraven and Mount Earl 19 May 1812 6 Oct 1871 59
Created Baron Kenry 16 Jun 1866
6 Oct 1871 2 Windham Thomas Wyndham-Quin,Earl of
to     Dunraven and Mount Earl 12 Feb 1841 14 Jun 1926 85
14 Jun 1926 Peerage extinct on his death
KENSINGTON
24 Sep 1624 B 1 Henry Rich 19 Aug 1590 9 Mar 1649 58
Created Baron Kensington 5 Mar 1623
and Earl Holland 24 Sep1624
See "Holland"
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20 Jul 1776 B[I] 1 William Edwardes c 1711 13 Dec 1801
Created Baron Kensington 20 Jul 1776
MP for Haverfordwest 1747-1784 and
1786-1801
13 Dec 1801 2 William Edwardes 24 Apr 1777 10 Aug 1852 75
MP for Haverfordwest 1802-1818
10 Aug 1852 3 William Edwardes 3 Feb 1801 1 Jan 1872 70
Lord Lieutenant Pembroke 1861-1872
1 Jan 1872 4 William Edwardes 11 May 1835 7 Oct 1896 61
23 Mar 1886 B 1 Created Baron Kensington 23 Mar 1886
MP for Haverfordwest 1868-1885. Lord
Lieutenant Pembroke 1872-1896.  PC 1880
7 Oct 1896 5 William Edwardes 25 Jul 1868 24 Jun 1900 31
2
24 Jun 1900 6 Hugh Edwardes 3 Sep 1873 4 Mar 1938 64
3
4 Mar 1938 7 William Edwardes 15 May 1904 19 Aug 1981 77
4
19 Aug 1981 8 Hugh Ivor Edwardes 24 Nov 1933
5
KENSWOOD
27 Jun 1951 B 1 Ernest Albert Whitfield 15 Sep 1887 21 Apr 1963 75
Created Baron Kenswood 27 Jun 1951
Lord Kenswood was blind from his early 20s
21 Apr 1963 2 John Michael Howard Whitfield 6 Apr 1930
KENT
1067 E 1 Odo,Bishop of Bayeux c 1030 Feb 1097
to     Created Earl of Kent 1067
May 1088 He was deprived of the peerage in May 1088
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1141 E 1 William de Ipres by 1115 24 Dec 1162
to     Created Earl of Kent 1141
1155 He was deprived of the peerage in 1155
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11 Feb 1227 E 1 Hubert de Burgh c 1175 12 May 1243
to     Created Earl of Kent 11 Feb 1227
12 May 1243 Peerage extinct on his death
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28 Jul 1321 E 1 Edmund Plantagenet 5 Aug 1301 19 Mar 1330 28
to     Created Earl of Kent 28 Jul 1321
19 Mar 1330 5th son of Edward I
He was attainted and the peerage forfeited
1331 2 Edmund Plantagenet c 1328 1333
Restored to the peerage 1331
1333 3 John Plantagenet 7 Apr 1330 27 Dec 1352 22
27 Dec 1352 4 Joan Holand 1331 8 Jul 1385 54
She married -
 
20 Nov 1360 1 Thomas de Holand 28 Dec 1360
Created Earl of Kent 20 Nov 1360
KG 1348
28 Dec 1360 2 Thomas de Holand 1350 25 Apr 1397 46
KG 1376
25 Apr 1397 3 Thomas de Holand,Duke of Surrey 1374 6 Jan 1400 25
KG 1397
6 Jan 1400 4 Edmund de Holand 6 Jan 1384 18 Sep 1408 24
to     KG 1403
18 Sep 1408 Peerage extinct on his death
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30 Jun 1461 E 1 William Nevill 9 Jan 1463
to     Created Earl of Kent 30 Jun 1461
9 Jan 1463 KG 1440
Peerage extinct on his death
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20 May 1465 E 1 Edmund Grey,Lord Grey de Ruthyn c 1420 22 May 1498
Created Earl of Kent 20 May 1465
22 May 1489 2 George Grey c 1460 21 Dec 1503
21 Dec 1503 3 Richard Grey 1481 3 May 1524 42
KG 1505
3 May 1524 4 Henry Grey c 1495 24 Sep 1562
24 Sep 1562 5 Reginald Grey 17 Mar 1573
17 Mar 1573 6 Henry Grey 1541 31 Jan 1615 73
Lord Lieutenant Bedford 1587
31 Jan 1615 7 Charles Grey c 1545 26 Sep 1623
26 Sep 1623 8 Henry Grey c 1583 21 Nov 1639
21 Nov 1639 9 Anthony Grey 1557 9 Nov 1643 86
9 Nov 1643 10 Henry Grey 24 Nov 1594 28 May 1651 56
MP for Leicestershire 1640-1643. Lord
Lieutenant Rutland 1644 and Bedford 1646
28 May 1651 11 Anthony Grey 11 Jun 1645 19 Aug 1702 57
19 Aug 1702 12 Henry Grey 28 Sep 1671 5 Jun 1740 68
28 Apr 1710 D 1 Created Viscount Goderich,Earl of
to     Harold and Marquess of Kent 14 Nov
5 Jun 1740 1706,Duke of Kent 28 Apr 1710 and Marquess
Grey 19 May 1740 (qv)
Lord Privy Seal 1719-1720. Lord Lieutenant
Hampshire 1704-1715, Bedford 1711-1740,
Buckingham 1711-1712 and Herefordshire
1704-1714. PC 1704  KG 1712
All peerages (except the Marquessate of Grey) 
extinct on his death
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24 Apr 1799 D 1 Edward Augustus 2 Nov 1767 23 Jan 1820 52
to     Created Earl of Dublin and Duke of 
23 Jan 1820 Kent and Strathearn 24 Apr 1799
4th son of George III. KP 1783  KG 1786.
Governor of Gibraltar 1802-1820. PC 1799
For further information on this peer, see the
note at the foot of this page.
Peerage extinct on his death
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24 May 1866 E 1 Alfred Ernest Albert 6 Aug 1844 30 Jul 1900 55
to     Created Earl of Ulster,Earl of Kent 
30 Jul 1900 and Duke of Edinburgh 24 May 1866
KG 1863 KT 1864 PC 1866 KP 1880
Peerages extinct on his death
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12 Oct 1934 D 1 H.R.H. George Edward Alexander Edmund 20 Dec 1902 25 Aug 1942 39
Created Baron Downpatrick,Earl of
St.Andrews and Duke of Kent
12 Oct 1934
4th son of George V.  KG 1923  KT 1935
PC 1937
25 Aug 1942 2 H.R.H. Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick 9 Oct 1935
KG 1985
KENYON
9 Jun 1788 B 1 Sir Lloyd Kenyon,1st baronet 5 Oct 1732 4 Apr 1802 69
Created Baron Kenyon 9 Jun 1788
MP for Hindon 1780-1784 and Tregony 1784-
1788. Attorney General 1782-1783 and 
1783-1784. Master of the Rolls 1784-1788.
Chief Justice of the Kings Bench 1788-1804
Lord Lieutenant Flint 1796-1798  PC 1784
4 Apr 1802 2 George Kenyon 22 Jul 1776 25 Feb 1855 78
25 Feb 1855 3 Lloyd Kenyon 1 Apr 1805 14 Jul 1869 64
MP for St.Michaels 1830-1832
14 Jul 1869 4 Lloyd Tyrell-Kenyon 5 Jul 1864 30 Nov 1927 63
Lord Lieutenant Denbigh 1918-1927
30 Nov 1927 5 Lloyd Tyrell-Kenyon 13 Sep 1917 16 May 1993 75
16 May 1993 6 Lloyd Tyrell-Kenyon 13 Jul 1947
KEPPEL
22 Apr 1782 V 1 Augustus Keppel 2 Apr 1725 2 Jun 1786 61
to     Created Viscount Keppel 22 Apr 1782
2 Jun 1786 MP for Chichester 1755-1761, Windsor
1761-1780 and Surrey 1780-1782. First Lord
of the Admiralty 1782-1783 and 1783. 
PC 1782
Peerage extinct on his death
KER OF CESSFURD AND CAVERTOUN
18 Sep 1616 B[S] 1 Sir Robert Ker c 1570 18 Jan 1650
Created Lord Roxburghe 29 Dec 1599
and Lord Ker of Cessfurd and 
Cavertoun and Earl of Roxburghe
18 Sep 1616
See "Roxburghe"
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25 Apr 1707 B[S] 1 John Ker c 1680 24 Feb 1741
Created Lord Ker of Cessfurd and
Cavertoun,Viscount of Broxmouth,
Earl of Kelso,Marquess of Bowmont
and Cessfurd and Duke of Roxburghe
25 Apr 1707
See "Roxburghe"
KER OF KERSHEUGH
17 Apr 1821 B 1 William Kerr,Marquess of Lothian 4 Oct 1763 27 Apr 1824 60
Created Baron Ker of Kersheugh
17 Apr 1821
See "Lothian"
KER OF NISBET
24 Jun 1633 B[S] 1 Robert Carr 1578 1654 76
Created Lord Kerr of Nisbet,
Langnewtoun and Dolphinstoun and
Earl of Ancram 24 Jun 1633
See "Ancram"
KER OF WAKEFIELD
24 May 1722 E 1 Robert Ker c 1709 23 Aug 1755
Created Baron Ker and Earl Ker of
Wakefield 24 May 1722
See "Roxburghe" - peerages extinct 1804
KERR OF KINLOCHARD
30 Jun 2004 B[L] 1 John Olav Kerr 22 Feb 1942
Created Baron Kerr of Kinlochard for life
30 Jun 2004
KERR OF MONTEVIOT
22 Nov 2010 B[L] 1 Michael Andrew Foster Jude Kerr,13th Marquess
of Lothian 7 Jul 1945
Created Baron Kerr of Monteviot for life
22 Nov 2010
KERR OF NEWBOTTLE
23 Jun 1701 B[S] 1 Robert Kerr 8 Mar 1636 15 Feb 1703 66
Created Lord Kerr of Newbottle,
Viscount of Briene,Earl of Ancram and
Marquess of Lothian 23 Jun 1701
See "Lothian"
KERR OF TONAGHMORE
29 Jun 2009 B[L] 1 Sir Brian Francis Kerr 22 Feb 1948
Created Baron Kerr of Tonaghmore for life
29 Jun 2009
Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland 2004-2009
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 2009  Justice of the     
Supreme Court 2009-           PC 2003
KERDESTON
27 Jan 1332 B 1 Roger de Kerdeston c 1273 1 Jul 1337
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Kerdeston 27 Jan 1332
1 Jul 1337 2 William de Kerdeston 1307 14 Oct 1361 54
to     On his death the peerage fell into abeyance
14 Oct 1361
KERRY
c 1223 B[I] 1 Thomas Fitzmaurice c 1260
Created Baron of Kerry c 1223
c 1260 2 Maurice Fitzthomas Fitzmaurice 1303
1303 3 Nicholas Fitzmaurice 1324
1324 4 Maurice Fitzmaurice Oct 1339
Oct 1339 5 John Fitzmaurice 1348
1348 6 Maurice Fitzmaurice 1398
1398 7 Patrick Fitzmaurice c 1410
c 1410 8 Thomas Fitzmaurice 1469
1469 9 Edmond Fitzmaurice 1498
1498 10 Edmond Fitzmaurice 1543
He resigned the peerage in favour of -
c 1535 11 Edmond Fitzmaurice 1541
Created Baron Odorney and Viscount
Kilmaule 1537
1541 12 Patrick Fitzmaurice 1547
1547 13 Thomas Fitzmaurice 1549
1549 14 Edmond Fitzmaurice 1549
1549 15 Gerard Fitzmaurice 1 Aug 1550
1 Aug 1550 16 Thomas Fitzmaurice c 1502 16 Dec 1590
16 Dec 1590 17 Patrick Fitzthomas Fitzmaurice c 1541 12 Aug 1600
12 Aug 1600 18 Thomas Fitzmaurice 1574 3 Jun 1630 55
3 Jun 1630 19 Patrick Fitzmaurice 1595 5 Jan 1661 65
5 Jan 1661 20 William Fitzmaurice 1633 Mar 1697 63
Mar 1697 21 Thomas Fitzmaurice 1668 16 Mar 1741 72
17 Jan 1723 E[I] 1 Created Viscount Clanmaurice and 
Earl of Kerry 17 Jan 1723
PC [I] by 1711
16 Mar 1741 2 William Fitzmaurice 2 Mar 1694 4 Apr 1747 53
PC [I] 1746
4 Apr 1747 3 Francis Thomas Fitzmaurice 9 Sep 1740 4 Jul 1818 77
4 Jul 1818 4 Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice
He had previously succeeded to the
Marquessate of Lansdowne (qv) in 1809
with which title this peerage then merged
KERSHAW
20 Jan 1947 B 1 Fred Kershaw 6 Nov 1881 5 Feb 1961 79
Created Baron Kershaw 20 Jan 1947
5 Feb 1961 2 Herbert Kershaw 21 Aug 1904 18 Jul 1961 56
18 Jul 1961   3 Edward Aubrey Kershaw 29 Aug 1906 22 Feb 1962 55
22 Feb 1962 4 Edward John Kershaw 12 May 1936
KESTENBAUM
24 Jan 2011 B[L] 1 Jonathan Andrew Kestenbaum
Created Baron Kestenbaum for life 
24 Jan 2011
KESTEVEN
15 Apr 1868 B 1 Sir John Trollope,7th baronet 5 May 1800 17 Dec 1874 74
Created Baron Kesteven 15 Apr 1868
MP for Lincolnshire South 1841-1868. 
Chief Commissioner of the Poor Law Board
1852.  PC 1852
17 Dec 1874 2 John Henry Trollope 22 Sep 1851 23 Jul 1915 63
23 Jul 1915 3 Thomas Carew Trollope 1 May 1891 5 Nov 1915 24
to     Peerage extinct on his death
5 Nov 1915
KEYES
22 Jan 1943 B 1 Sir Roger John Brownlow Keyes,1st baronet 4 Oct 1872 26 Dec 1945 72
Created Baron Keyes 22 Jan 1943
MP for Portsmouth North 1934-1943. 
Admiral of the Fleet 1930
26 Dec 1945 2 Roger George Bowlby Keyes 14 Mar 1919 4 Mar 2005 85
4 Mar 2005 3 Charles William Packe Keyes 8 Dec 1951
KEYNES
14 Jul 1942 B 1 John Maynard Keynes 5 Jun 1883 21 Apr 1946 62
to     Created Baron Keynes 14 Jul 1942
21 Apr 1946 Peerage extinct on his death
KILBIRNY AND DRUMRY
10 Apr 1703 B[S] 1 John Lindsay-Crawford 12 May 1669 24 Dec 1708 39
Created Lord Kilbirny and Drumry and
Viscount of Garnock 10 Apr 1703
See "Garnock"
KILBRACKEN
8 Dec 1909 B 1 John Arthur Godley 17 Jun 1847 27 Jun 1932 85
Created Baron Kilbracken 8 Dec 1909
27 Jun 1932 2 Hugh John Godley 12 Jun 1877 13 Oct 1950 73
13 Oct 1950 3 John Raymond Godley 17 Oct 1920 14 Aug 2006 85
14 Aug 2006 4 Christopher John Godley 1 Jan 1945
KILBRANDON
4 Oct 1971 B[L] 1 Charles James Dalrymple Shaw 15 Aug 1906 10 Sep 1989 83
to     Created Baron Kilbrandon for life 4 Oct 1971
10 Sep 1989 Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1971-1977
PC 1971
Peerage extinct on his death
KILCLOONEY
17 Jul 2001 B[L] 1 John David Taylor 24 Dec 1937
Created Baron Kilclooney for life 17 Jul 2001
MP for Strangford 1983-2001. PC [NI] 1971
KILCONNEL
25 Nov 1797 B[I] 1 William Power Keating Trench 1741 27 Apr 1805 63
Created Baron Kilconnel 25 Nov 1797,
Viscount Dunlo 3 Jan 1801 and Earl of
Clancarty 12 Feb 1803
See "Clancarty"
KILCOURSIE
1 Apr 1647 V[I] 1 Charles Lambart,Baron Cavan Mar 1600 25 Jun 1660 60
Created Viscount Kilcoursie and Earl 
of Cavan 1 Apr 1647
See "Cavan"
KILCULLEN
Sep 1535 B[I] 1 Sir Thomas Eustace c 1480 31 Jul 1549
Created Baron Kilcullen Sep 1535 and
Viscount Baltinglass 29 Jun 1541
See "Baltinglass"
KILDARE
14 Mar 1316 E[I] 1 John FitzThomas FitzGerald,7th Lord FitzGerald c 1250 10 Sep 1316
of Offaly
Created Earl of Kildare 14 Mar 1316
10 Sep 1316 2 Thomas FitzJohn FitzGerald 9 Apr 1328
Lord Justice of Ireland 1320-1321 and
1326-1328
9 Apr 1328 3 Richard FitzThomas FitzGerald 1317 7 Jul 1329 12
7 Jul 1329 4 Maurice FitzThomas FitzGerald 1318 25 Aug 1390 72
25 Aug 1390 5 Gerald FitzMaurice FitzGerald 1410
1410 6 John FitzGerald 17 Oct 1427
17 Oct 1427 7 Thomas FitzGerald 25 Mar 1477
Lord Justice of Ireland 1460-1461 and 1468-
1475. Lord Chancellor of Ireland 1463-1467
Lord Deputy of Ireland 1471-1475
25 Mar 1477 8 Gerald FitzGerald c 1456 3 Sep 1513
Lord Justice or Lord Deputy of Ireland
1477-1513.  KG 1505
3 Sep 1513 9 Gerald FitzGerald 1487 13 Dec 1534 47
13 Dec 1534 10 Thomas FitzGerald 3 Feb 1537
to     He was attainted and the peerage forfeited
1 May 1536
13 May 1554 11 Gerald FitzGerald 28 Feb 1525 16 Nov 1585 60
Created Baron Offaly and Earl of
Kildare 13 May 1554
Restored to the original Earldom 
23 Feb 1569
For further information on this peer,see the
note at the foot of this page
16 Nov 1585 12 Henry FitzGerald 1562 30 Sep 1597 35
30 Sep 1597 13 William FitzGerald Apr 1599
On his death the Earldom of 1554 became
extinct, whilst the original Earldom
passed to -
Apr 1599 14 Gerald FitzGerald 11 Feb 1612
11 Feb 1612 15 Gerald FitzGerald 26 Dec 1611 11 Nov 1620 8
11 Nov 1620 16 George FitzGerald 23 Jan 1612 1660 48
1660 17 Wentworth FitzGerald 1634 5 Mar 1664 29
MP for East Retford 1660-1661
5 Mar 1664 18 John FitzGerald c 1661 9 Nov 1707  
MP for Tregony 1694-1695
9 Nov 1707 19 Robert FitzGerald 4 May 1675 20 Feb 1744 68
PC [I] 1710
20 Feb 1744 20 James FitzGerald 29 May 1722 19 Nov 1773 51
Created Viscount Leinster 21 Feb 1747,
Earl of Offaly and Marquess of
Kildare 3 Mar 1761 and Duke of 
Leinster 26 Nov 1766
See "Leinster"
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3 May 1870 B 1 Charles William FitzGerald 30 Mar 1819 10 Feb 1887 67
Created Baron Kildare 3 May 1870
See "Leinster"
KILKENNY
20 Dec 1793 E[I] 1 Edmund Butler,Viscount Mountgarret 6 Jan 1771 16 Jul 1846 75
to     Created Earl of Kilkenny 20 Dec 1793
16 Jul 1846 Peerage extinct on his death
KILLANIN
15 Jun 1900 B 1 Sir Michael Morris,1st baronet 14 Nov 1826 8 Sep 1901 74
Created Baron Morris of Spiddal 5 Dec
1889 and Baron Killanin 15 Jun 1900
PC 1889
8 Sep 1901 2 Martin Henry Fitzpatrick Morris 22 Jul 1867 11 Aug 1927 60
MP for Galway 1900-1901. Lord Lieutenant
Galway 1918-1922.  PC [I] 1920
11 Aug 1927 3 Michael Morris 30 Jul 1914 25 Apr 1999 84
25 Apr 1999 4 George Redmond Fitzpatrick Morris 26 Jan 1947
KILLARD
17 Jul 1727 B[I] 1 John Monckton 1695 15 Jul 1751 56
Created Baron of Killard and Viscount
Galway 17 Jul 1727
See "Galway"
KILLARNEY
3 Jun 1920 B 1 H R H Albert Frederick Arthur George 14 Dec 1895 6 Feb 1952 56
to     Created Baron Killarney,Earl of
11 Dec 1936 Inverness and Duke of York 3 Jun 1920
He succeeded to the throne as George VI
on 11 Dec 1936 when the peerages merged
with the Crown
KILLEARN
17 May 1943 B 1 Miles Wedderburn Lampson 24 Aug 1880 18 Sep 1964 84
Created Baron Killearn 17 May 1943
PC 1941
18 Sep 1964 2 Graham Curtis Lampson 28 Oct 1919 27 Jul 1996 76
27 Jul 1996 3 Victor Miles George Aldous Lampson 9 Sep 1941
KILLEEN
c 1426 B[I] 1 Christopher Plunkett 1445
Created Baron Killeen c 1426
1445 2 Christopher Plunkett 1462
1462 3 Christopher Plunkett 1440 c 1469
c 1469 4 Edmond Plunkett c 1450 15 Aug 1510
15 Aug 1510 5 John Plunkett 19 Mar 1550
19 Mar 1550 6 Patrick Plunkett 1521 c 1556
c 1556 7 Christopher Plunkett c 1567
c 1567 8 James Plunkett by 1542 13 Jan 1595
13 Jan 1595 9 Christopher Plunkett 1564 12 Oct 1613 49
12 Oct 1613 10 Luke Plunkett
He was created Earl of Fingall  (qv) in 
1628 with which title this peerage then
merged
KILLULTAGH
15 Mar 1627 V[I] 1 Edward Conway 3 Feb 1631
Created Baron Conway 24 Mar 1624,
Viscount Killultagh 15 Mar 1627 and
Viscount Conway 26 Jun 1627
See "Conway"
KILLYLEAGH
23 Jul 1986 B 1 Andrew Albert Christian Edward 19 Feb 1960
Created Baron Killyleagh,Earl of
Inverness and Duke of York 23 Jul 1986
KILMAINE
8 Feb 1722 B[I] 1 James O'Hara 24 Jul 1773
to     Created Baron Kilmaine 8 Feb 1722
24 Jul 1773 Peerage extinct on his death
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21 Sep 1789 B[I] 1 Sir John Browne,7th baronet 1730 7 Jun 1794 63
Created Baron Kilmaine 21 Sep 1789
7 Jun 1794 2 James Caulfeild Browne 16 Mar 1765 23 May 1825 60
23 May 1825 3 John Cavendish Browne 11 Jun 1794 13 Jan 1873 78
13 Jan 1873 4 Francis William Browne 24 Mar 1843 9 Nov 1907 64
For further information on the death of this peer,
see the note at the foot of this page
9 Nov 1907 5 John Edward Deane Browne 18 Mar 1878 27 Aug 1946 68
For further information on the death of this peer,
see the note at the foot of this page
27 Aug 1946 6 John Francis Archibald Browne 22 Sep 1902 26 Jul 1978 75
26 Jul 1978 7 John David Henry Browne 2 Apr 1948
KILMANY
2 Jun 1966 B[L] 1 Sir William John St.Clair Anstruther-Gray,
to     1st baronet 5 Mar 1905 6 Aug 1985 80
6 Aug 1985 Created Baron Kilmany for life 2 Jun 1966
MP for Lanark North 1931-1945 and 
Berwick and East Lothian 1951-1966. Lord
Lieutenant Fife 1975-1980. PC 1962
Peerage extinct on his death
KILMARNOCK
7 Aug 1661 E[S] 1 William Boyd,8th Lord Boyd Mar 1692
Created Earl of Kilmarnock 7 Aug 1661
Mar 1692 2 William Boyd 20 May 1692
20 May 1692 3 William Boyd c 1684 Sep 1717
Sep 1717 4 William Boyd 12 May 1704 18 Aug 1746 42
to     He was attainted and the peerage forfeited
18 Aug 1746
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17 Jun 1831 B 1 William George Hay,18th Earl of Erroll 21 Feb 1801 19 Apr 1846 65
Created Baron Kilmarnock 17 Jun 1831
19 Apr 1846 2 William Harry Hay,19th Earl of Erroll 3 May 1823 3 Dec 1891 68
3 Dec 1891 3 Charles Gore Hay,20th Earl of Erroll 7 Feb 1852 8 Jul 1927 75
8 Jul 1927 4 Victor Alexander Sereld Hay,21st Earl of Erroll 17 Oct 1876 20 Feb 1928 51
20 Feb 1928 5 Josslyn Victor Hay,22nd Earl of Erroll 11 May 1901 24 Jan 1941 39
24 Jan 1941 6 Gilbert Allan Rowland Boyd 15 Jan 1903 15 May 1975 72
15 May 1975 7 Alastair Ivor Gilbert Boyd 11 May 1927 19 Mar 2009 81
19 Mar 2009 8 Robin Jordan Boyd 6 Jun 1941
Joseph Kagan, Baron Kagan
Kagan was born in Lithuania and was later sent by his father to Leeds University, where he took
a degree in commerce. When he was visiting Lithuania, World War II broke out and he was
interned for the duration. After the war had ended, he was able to return to England. He took
a job as a salesman at Elland in Yorkshire, to where his father had transferred part of his 
business.
Kagan made his fortune with a cloth called Gannex, in which air was sealed between nylon and
wool linings to create a lightweight fabric that was also warm and waterproof. Prime Minister
Harold Wilson wore a Gannex raincoat on a visit to Russia in 1966, with the result that Gannex
received wide publicity.  In the same year, Kagan was able to persuade the Duke of Edinburgh's
valet to order a Gannex coat from Harrods, which immediately placed a large order.
To capitalise on Wilson's patronage, Kagan became a major contributor to the Labour Party. He
was rewarded by being created, firstly, a knight in 1970 and subsequently a life peer in Wilson's 
resignation honours list of 1976 - the infamous "Lavender List".
In early 1980, Kagan, along with other members of his family, was charged with conspiracy to
defraud the Inland Revenue between June 1974 and December 1978. He was further charged 
with the theft of 239 drums of indigo dye powder and falsification of documents. Kagan fled the 
country, initially seeking asylum in Israel, claiming he had been the victim of British anti-
semitism. Israel turned him away, so he next tried Spain, which, at that time, had no 
extradition treaty with the UK. On 8 April 1980, he was arrested while on a trip to Paris, having 
apparently been informed upon by a disaffected mistress. 
He was extradited to the UK on 31 July 1980. He pleaded guilty to the theft and falsification of
documents charges and, on 12 December 1980 was sentenced to 10 months in prison. His 
company was left to find Ł1.1 million in fines, tax liabilities and costs.
In April 1981, he was stripped of the knighthood granted to him in 1970, but kept the life 
peerage, since to remove it would have required an Act of Parliament. In June 1981, Kagan was 
released, describing his imprisonment as "a fascinating experience which I am glad not to have
missed." He immediately returned to the House of Lords, declaring that "I do not feel disgraced 
in any way."
According to Rubinstein's "Biographical Dictionary of Life Peers", Kagan's father died in 1988 at
the age of 109, the second oldest man in England at the time of his death.
Francis Archibald Douglas, Baron Kelhead
Francis Douglas was the eldest son of the 9th Marquess of Queensberry. Until 1893, Douglas 
was known by the courtesy title of Viscount Drumlanrig. As a young man, he was a lieutenant in 
the Coldstream Guards.
In 1892, William Gladstone became Prime Minister for the fourth and last time. The Foreign 
Secretary in his administration was Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery. Rumours abound as 
to Rosebery's sexuality; although married with four children, it was often rumoured that he was 
bisexual. Whatever the truth of these rumours, there is no doubt that he made Francis Douglas
his protégé. He was introduced to Rosebery around 1892 and, in spite of any obvious 
qualifications, Rosebery appointed him to be his private secretary. Seeking to advance his young 
friend, Rosebery obtained for him the position of a Lord-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria. To qualify
for this role, Francis needed to be a peer in his own right and he was accordingly created Baron
Kelhead in June 1893.
Francis' father, the hot-headed Marquess of Queensberry and later bane of Oscar Wilde, was
furious when his son was given entry into the House of Lords. Because Queensberry held no
English titles, he had to rely upon being elected as a representative peer of Scotland in order
to sit in the Lords. Although he had been a representative peer between 1872 and 1880, his
fellow peers declined to re-elect him in 1880, due to his publicly professed atheism. Between
1880 and 1893, Queensberry found himself embroiled in a number of scandals, further details
of which can be found at the foot of the page containing details of his peerage. When he
heard of Rosebery's plan to elevate his son to the House of Lords, his reaction was typically
violent. He wrote angry letters to Gladstone and Rosebery. He even wrote to the Queen,
complaining of Rosebery's 'bad influence' on his son, which was probably an oblique accusation
of homosexuality.
Soon after Francis' promotion, the Marquess pursued Rosebery to Bad Homburg in Germany
where Rosebery was holidaying with the Prince of Wales. Queensberry, armed with a dog
whip, was found lurking near Rosebery's hotel and the next day the local police chief was able
to report to Rosebery that Queensberry had 'found it advisable to depart this morning with 
the 7 o'clock train for Paris.' However, news of the attempted assault started tongues wagging
about the nature of the relationship between Rosebery and Lord Kelhead. 
During the summer of 1894, Francis became engaged to a young woman named Alix Ellis. In
October of that year, he accepted an invitation for a weekend's shooting at Quantock Lodge,
near Bridgwater, the home of Alix's uncle, Edward Stanley (MP for Somerset West 1882-1885
and Bridgwater 1885-1906). On 19 October, while out with his fellow shooters, he went into
the next field. After a few minutes, his companions heard a shot and, hurrying into the field,
found Francis dead from a gunshot wound. At the subsequent inquest, the coroner recorded
a verdict of accidental death, although public opinion was widely in favour of suicide.
Having lost one son in circumstances surrounded by rumours of homosexuality, it is possible
that Queensberry was determined not to lose another, which may explain his implacable
persecution of Oscar Wilde six months later.
Anne, wife of Thomas Erskine, 9th Earl of Kellie, and Joanna, wife of Methven 
Erskine, 10th Earl of Kellie
The following romantic histories of two of the Countesses of Kellie are taken from, firstly,
"Chapters from Family Chests" by Edward Walford [2 vols, Hurst and Blackett, London 1886]:-
 
 
'It is not often that a coronet passes over sixteen or seventeen intervening heads to light upon
that of a person eighteenth in remainder. Yet such an event happened in the middle of last
century in the noble Scottish house of Erskine, which enjoys, among other honours, the earldom
of Kellie. If anybody will be at pains of turning to the pages of Sharpe's Peerage, he will see 
that, while Mr. Methven Erskine was married to Joanna, daughter of Gordon of Ardoch, in Ross-
shire, his brother Thomas was also married to that lady's sister Anne. He will also see that both 
of these gentlemen outlived their seniors, and became Earls of Kellie, and that their respective
ladies also lived to become countesses. 'Marriage,' they say, 'are made in heaven,' but, as these 
two unions came about through a shipwreck, the truth of the statement may be doubted.
'The Castle of Ardoch stands perched on a rock high above the waves of the German Ocean 
[i.e. the North Sea], on a headland somewhere between Turbat and Fortrose. The owner of this
domain (Mr. Adam Gordon) in one of the last years of the reign of George II, or soon after the
accession of George III, was walking late one evening in his grounds, when he heard a gun fired
as a signal of distress by a vessel in the offing. It was a very stormy night, and he knew that
there was little chance for a good ship which got near the rocks of that headland when a strong
east wind was blowing. He called his servants and tenants, however, and hastened down a cleft
in the rocks to the beach, but no traces of the ill-fated vessel were to be found, except a few
broken spars and some small fragments of timber floating hither and thither upon the waves. 
These they tried to collect as they came to the shore, and among other wreckage was a sort 
of tiny crib of wicker-work, inside of which was a female infant, alive, in spite of the cold and
wet to which she had been exposed. It was the work of a few moments to rescue the little
stranger, thrown, like a second Undine, upon a strange shore. [Undine is a figure from German
mythology, a water nymph who has been often used as a motif in art, music and literature,
notably by Debussy, Hoffman and Tchaikovsky]
'From the clothes wrapped round its tiny body it was clear to Mr. Gordon that she was a child
of parents of no low condition; but there was in her clothing no clue as to who or what her 
parents might be, nor was there anything to show the name of the vessel thus lost and
swallowed up by the waves.
'It was a matter of course to a hospitable Scottish heart like that of Mr. Gordon to take the
little foundling home and have her wants attended to by his wife and daughters. He doubtless
supposed, and at first probably hoped, that ere long the little waif of the sea foam would be
claimed; and in the meantime the latter was reared with his own children, who were young
and who came soon to regard her as a sister.
'Years passed by, and the little foundling was growing up to womanhood, and was endearing
herself more and more to all the members of the Ardoch family, when one wintry and stormy
evening another alarm gun was fired by a vessel in distress off the same cliffs. 'History,' they
say, 'repeats itself,' and it would seem occasionally in trifling as well as in important matters.
Mr. Gordon hastened down to the beach, as he had done some sixteen years before, just in
time to witness another shipwreck. The vessel went to pieces on the rocks but some, at all 
events, of the crew and a single passenger were saved. These were invited to rest and dry 
themselves at the 'great house,' where every hospitality and refreshment was offered them.
The passenger was evidently a gentleman, and the next morning at breakfast he took particular
notice of the daughters of his host, and of the other young lady whom I have already 
introduced to my readers. The stranger was evidently much struck with her appearance, and,
finding that she was not like the other girls, he made some inquiries about her, when he heard
the story of her coming to Ardoch as a 'foundling,' and having been saved from the jaws of the
ocean as by a miracle. The stranger listened with great interest and emotion and said that at
the date corresponding with her infancy his own sister, with a little infant, was lost in a vessel
off the eastern coast of Scotland, which foundered in a storm.
'As is often the case, the unexpected not only is probable, but often does happen in reality. 
And so it was here. The cot or cradle in which the foundling came ashore, on being shown to 
the new-comer, was pronounced to be singularly like that which his sister had made for her 
before she left India. The features of the young lady, too, corresponded with those of his own 
relatives. Further inquiries brought out other points of similarity, and a mark on the little lady's 
coverlet bore the initial letter of her father's and mother's name. The foundling orphan, there 
could be little doubt, was his own sister's child.
'The gentleman was a merchant, and the shipwreck which he had suffered hat not ruined him. 
He had a home at Gothenberg, in Sweden. It was open for the reception of his niece, and there 
was a little fortune ready for the young lady there in case she should ever be found. Twenty 
years, however, had endeared her to her sisters, as she called the Misses Gordon, and she was 
unwilling to go to Sweden with her newly-discovered uncle, unless one of the Misses Gordon 
would accompany her, and the other promised to come and stay with her upon her sister's 
return to Scotland.
'Accordingly, Miss Anne Gordon sailed with her adopted sister from the port of Leith for Sweden,
where, in 1771, only a few weeks after landing at Gothenberg, she became the wife of Mr.
Thomas Erskine, a younger brother of Sir William Erskine, of Cambo, in Fifeshire, who had been
long settled there [Gothenberg] as a merchant, and was a man of wealth……… Some nine or 
ten years later, Miss Joanna Gordon was married to Mr. Methven Erskine, the younger brother
of her sister's husband. Deaths followed in rapid succession in the family of Lord Kellie, and in
1797 the earldom devolved on Charles Erskine. He lived, however, to enjoy the title little more
than two years, for in 1799 he followed his ancestors to the grave, and the earldom of Kellie
passed to his uncle and heir, Thomas Erskine, who had been for some time a consul in Sweden.
And so it came to pass that the incident of a shipwreck twenty or thirty years before resulted
in bestowing the coronet of a countess first on one [Anne, wife of the 9th Earl] and then on
the other [Joanna, wife of the 10th Earl] of the two Misses Gordon of Ardoch.'
                                                      **************
Secondly, from "Romances of the Peerage" by Thornton Hall [Holden & Hardingham,
London 1914]:-
'The Earls of Mar and Kellie have many treasured heirlooms at Alloa House and Kellie Castle, but
of which they are prouder than the wicker cradle and bundle of baby's clothes which recall a 
story as romantic as any to be found in the annals of the Peerage.
 
'One winter evening in the year 1763, when the third of our Georges was comparatively new to
his crown, Mr. Adam Gordon was sitting with his wife before a roaring fire in the hall of Castle
Ardoch. It was a night of storm and deluge; the rain was lashing the window-panes, the wind
was howling among the turrets and shrieking down the chimneys, the castle walls were 
trembling under the fury of the gale. 
" What a terrible night ! " said Adam Gordon to his wife, as he drew his chair nearer to the
blazing logs. " There will be many a life lost to-night at sea, unless I am mistaken. It's the
wildest storm I have known in my time." Scarcely had the words left his lips when through the
pandemonium of the gale there came the low, faint boom of a cannon. "There!" he exclaimed,
as the sound, so full of portent, died away. "Did you hear that? I knew it. There's a vessel on
the rocks. God help those who are in her, for there is no hope for them!"
'To summon his men-servants and, armed with lanterns, to sally out into the dark night on the
errand of mercy was the work of a few moments. In the teeth of the gale, drenched and 
buffeted, the handful of men fought their way to the beach, a few hundred yards distant, and
with straining eyes looked out over the wild riot of waters. Yes; there, but a stone's throw
away was the doomed ship, beating her life out on the cruel fangs of the rocks which guard the
coast of Ross and Cromarty from the fury of the North Sea.
 
'That glance was sufficient; the vessel was indeed doomed. No boat could live for a moment in
such a sea. All they could do was to wait and watch if by good chance any of the crew were
washed ashore. Through the long dark hours of the night the patient vigil was kept; the 
watchers saw the vessel break up, just as the first faint streaks of dawn stole over the sky.
A few moments later a shout drew the scattered men to a distant part of the beach where one
of their number was stooping over the strangest piece of flotsam that was ever flung ashore by
an angry sea.
 
'It was a wicker cradle, of curious foreign-looking make; and in it was lying a baby, with blue, 
open eyes of wonder, smiling up at the wild group of heads bent over it. The cradled infant
thus miraculously flung ashore was all that the sea gave up from the ill-fated ship, save a few
fragments of wreckage, none of which gave any clue to the identity of the vessel.
 
'It was a strange but happy procession that made its way back in the early morning to the
hospitable shelter of Castle Ardoch, preceded by Adam Gordon with the sea-baby warmly 
tucked inside his overcoat, and followed by John Anderson, cradle in hand; and it was a warm 
welcome that the infant received from the motherly arms of Dame Gordon, who little dreamt as 
later she tucked it in the warm bed between her two little daughters that the waif of the sea 
was bringing to her house a coronet in each of her baby hands. She was destined, as this story 
will prove, to make a Countess of each of her child-bedfellows in the years to come.
 
'Who was this child of the sea and the storm who had come thus dramatically into the hospitable
home of the Gordons ? In vain did Adam and his lady try to solve the mystery. There was no 
clue or at least no clue that was of any use to the problem. That the wicker cradle, the frail 
bark which had brought the babe so miraculously over the raging waters, was from a foreign 
land there could be doubt. But where was that land?
 
'The child's clothing was beautiful in quality and texture; she was evidently the daughter of well-
to-do parents; but it, too, furnished no clue beyond two embroidered and interwoven initials 
which conveyed no information as to identity. The wreck-baby was a complete mystery, as
strange as the wonder of her advent; but she was none the less a welcome guest, who should 
be as carefully and lovingly tended as their own little girls.
 
'Thus the " Princess," as Adam Gordon used to call his sea-baby, found new parents in Adam and
his good wife; and never for one moment did they regret that black night of storm that had 
given her to them. Every year she grew in strength and beauty and winsomeness. She was a 
little fairy who won all hearts, from those of her playmates and foster-sisters to the grim-
visaged men-servants who to a man were the slaves of the little "Missie" they had saved from
the sea. 
'Thus happily the years passed. The " Princess " had blossomed into a lovely girl of sixteen; her
sisters, equally fair, were a few years older, when the curtain was raised on the second scene
of this strange drama. Again it was a night of wild storm and disaster; and again, through the 
thunders of wind and sea was heard the boom of the distress-gun; and once more, as sixteen
years earlier, Adam Gordon and his men fared forth in the dark night on rescue bent.
 
'This time, as before, the vessel was ground to pieces on the deadly rocks; and of all on board
only one was yielded to the shore and to life by the greedy sea. It was a man, battered, 
bruised, and unconscious, lashed to a piece of wreckage. Happily, life still lingered, and the
senseless man was borne swiftly to Castle Ardoch, restoratives were administered, and when
consciousness returned he was put to bed. 
'The following morning the second sole survivor of a wreck was able to thank the Good 
Samaritans, his rescuers, and to explain who he was and how he came to be their guest. He
was, he said, a Swedish merchant hailing from Gothenburg, and had been voyaging to Scotland
when the storm flung his ship on the rocky coast of Ross and Cromarty. A few days later he
was sufficiently recovered to join his host at the family meals, and thus to make the 
acquaintance of his daughters, and of their sister, the pretty sixteen-year-old "Princess."
 
'Then it was that Adam Gordon told him the story of that other night, many years earlier, which
had brought such a welcome guest into his home, a story to which the stranger listened with
growing interest and excitement. " That is indeed remarkable," said the stranger on its 
conclusion; " and to me of peculiar interest. I will tell you why. It is sixteen years since my
sister left India in a vessel of which nothing more was ever heard with certainty. It was 
rumoured however, that she had been wrecked on the Scottish coast. And what is more 
singular, my sister had with her a baby girl, an infant only a few months old. How strange it
would be if this young lady," pointing to the "Princess," "should prove to be my lost sister's
child, and thus my niece. May I see the cradle in which the child was flung ashore?"
 
'The wicker cradle, which had been carefully preserved, was brought foe inspection; and as the
merchant examined it his excitement increased. It was undoubtedly of foreign make, and might
well have been Indian. " Have you any other clue?" he asked. The baby-clothes were now
produced, and at sight of the embroidered initials the stranger exclaimed, "Yes, it must be so.
Those are the initials of my sister and her husband. This young lady, whom, like myself, the sea
has brought to your home is surely my niece, my dear sister's daughter!"
 
'Such was the dramatic scene of which Castle Ardoch was the setting one winter day in the
year 1779. The discovery, however welcome to the Swedish merchant, was by no means
equally welcome to Adam Gordon and his family, who feared that now they would lose the
girl whom they had learned to love so well. 
 
'Nor were their fears misplaced, for the merchant proceeded to assert his claim to his niece. "It
is," he said, " a poor return for your great kindness to try to rob you of one of your daughters. 
But I am comparatively a rich man, with no child of my own; and I owe it to my dear sister to
take her place as the natural guardian of her daughter. Will you at least allow her to come to 
me for a year? If, at the end of the year, she wishes to return to you, I will put no obstacle in 
her way." 
"Oh, I am so happy here!" pleaded the "Princess." "Don't take me away!" In vain did Mr. and Mrs.
Gordon, who, whatever the cost to themselves, felt that she should not refuse such a tempting
offer, add their persuasions to those of her uncle. And it was only on condition that one of her
"sisters" should accompany her that she at last tearfully consented to leave for a time the home
she loved. 
'Thus it was that, when the merchant left Castle Ardoch, he took with him to Sweden, not only
his niece, but one of his host's daughters, who thus found themselves translated to a new 
world of gaiety, far removed from the peaceful humdrum days of their Scottish home. At
At Gothenburg their life was a constant round of pleasure; and it was not long before the two
beautiful girls had lovers at their feet. 
 
'Among Miss Anne Gordon's wooers was Thomas Erskine, a wealthy merchant of Gothenburg, and
a scion of an old Scottish house, who made a speedy conquest of Adam Gordon's daughter. It
was not only a desirable match in all ways, but it was a true union of hearts; and when the
wooer wrote to Scotland for permission to make Anne his wife, a favourable answer was not 
long in coming. 
'But excellent as the match was, we may be sure that Anne Gordon, as she stood at the
Gothenburg altar with her husband, little dreamt that she was one day to wear a Countess's
coronet. She knew that Thomas Erskine was of noble birth. He could look back, on his family-
tree, to a long line of distinguished ancestors, headed by one Sir Robert, who was Scotland's
Great Chamberlain when the second Alexander was king in the fourteenth century; and among
those ancestors was a long list of Earls of Kellie. But between him and the Kellie coronet at that
time were more than a dozen good lives, and if anyone had told him on his wedding-day that he 
would live to bear the title he would have laughed aloud.
 
'The coronet, however, came to Thomas Erskine when his wife had worn her wedding-ring a 
score of years; and Adam Gordon's daughter Anne lived to be a Countess, thanks to the little
sea-waif who had, by such strange ways, led her to her husband. Nor was this the extent of
the good fortune which the " Princess" brought to the family of Castle Ardoch.
'Before Anne Gordon had been a wife a year her sister Johanna arrived in Gothenburg to spend
a few months as her guest ; and there she met and learnt to love Methven Erskine, the 
handsome young brother of her sister's husband; and for the second time the wedding-bells
were set a-ringing. 
'Methven Erskine was also a substantial citizen of the Swedish town; and when, in process of
time, Thomas, ninth Earl of Kellie and eighth Baronet, was laid in the family vault, Methven
succeeded him in his titles and dignities, and made a Countess of Adam Gordon's second
daughter. And thus it was that the sea-child brought two coronets with her in her wicker
cradle when she was washed ashore that stormy night in the year 1763.
 
'As for the " Princess " herself, she could give coronets to others, but none came to her. Nor
did she wish for one ; for she found all the happiness she desired in the plain untitled husband
who won her heart. He was the richest of all Gothenburg's merchants; and when to his money-
bags was added the fortune that fell to his wife on her uncle's death, the "Princess" more than
justified Adam Gordon's pet name by a hospitality and, above all, a charity which made her at
once the most splendid and beloved woman in Gothenburg.'
The Viscountcy of Kenmure
In an article on 7 September 1847, 'The Times' reported upon the death of Adam Gordon, 8th
Viscount Kenmure and Lord of Lochinvar. The article concludes with the statement that 
"whether the title, in consequence of the death of the late Viscount, becomes extinct or not
is, we believe, altogether undetermined."  Since that time, peerage books of reference have