Henry Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe

Henry John Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe (25 July 1876 – 29 September 1932), was a Scottish peer and courtier.

Early life

Henry John Innes-Ker was born on 25 July 1876. He was the son of James Innes-Ker, 7th Duke of Roxburghe (1839–1892) and Lady Anne 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 was Winston Churchill. His younger brother, Lord Robert Innes-Ker (1885–1958), married the actress José Collins.

He attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and Eton College. In March 1901, he was appointed an Aide-de-camp to the Duke of Cornwall and York during his colonial tour March–October 1901. He later served in World War I, and was severely wounded.

The Duke was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order in February 1901. He was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Thistle (KT) in the 1902 Coronation Honours list published on 26 June 1902, and was invested by King Edward VII at Buckingham Palace on 8 August 1902. He served as Chancellor of the Order of the Thistle from 1926 until his death. he married Mary Goelet (1878–1937), daughter of the New York real-estate millionaire Ogden Goelet. At the time of their marriage, she was one of the wealthiest American heiresses, with a dowry in the excess of $500,000 and exceeded only by that of Consuelo Vanderbilt. They lived at Floors Castle on 60,500 acres, Together, they had one child: George Victor Robert John Innes-Ker, 9th Duke of Roxburghe (1913–1974), whose sponsor was King George. One of his godparents was Queen Alexandra.

The Duke of Roxburghe died on 29 September 1932 and was succeeded in his titles by his only son, George, who became the 9th Duke of Roxburghe.