Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe

Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe was a Scottish nobleman.

Early life He was the eldest son of William Ker of Cessford (died 1605), and Janet Douglas. His mother was the widow of James Tweedie of Drumelzier, and the third daughter of Sir James Douglas of Drumlanrig.

The family homes were Cessford Castle and Halliden in East Teviotdale.

Career He was knighted on 17 May 1590 at the coronation of Anne of Denmark. In December 1590 he was involved in the assassination of William Kerr of Ancram who was ambushed on the stairs at the entry to his lodging by two of Robert's followers who shot him with a pistol called a "dag".

Ker had married Margaret Maitland, a niece of the Chancellor, John Maitland of Thirlestane. In 1592 Ker was able to help Maitland into the favour of Anne of Denmark.

Ker was Deputy Keeper of Liddesdale and Warden of the Middle March in 1593. In August 1594 he performed in the tournament at the baptism of Prince Henry at Stirling Castle dressed as a Turkish knight.

He helped James VI against Bothwell. In 1598 he was sent to England and kept by the Archbishop of York at Bishopsthorpe.

He was a member of the Privy Council of Scotland from 1599, and was created Lord Roxburghe in 1600. In April 1601 Roxburghe invited James VI and his consort Anne of Denmark to the celebration of the marriage of his sister Elizabeth to Sir John Bellenden of Broughton at Floors Castle, but the king refused, suspecting a plot involving the Master of Gray.

In September 1602, he visited Elizabeth I of England. Sir Robert Cecil wrote that he was "of as wise and gallant fashion as I have seen out of Scotland a great while." He accompanied King James to London in 1603. Ker succeeded to his father's estates in 1606 and in 1607, he was a Gentleman of the Bedchamber.

On 18 September 1616, he was created Lord Ker of Cessford and Caverton, and Earl of Roxburghe with remainder to his heirs male.

He offended decorum at court in April 1625, when the body of King James was brought from Theobalds it was noticed that the Earls of Morton and Roxburghe were not in attendance, but went to be "merry" at More Park with Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford.

He was appointed Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland in 1637. (see article on William Lenthall). He supported the "Engagement" for the King's rescue in 1648, and was consequently deprived of his office as Keeper of the Privy Seal in 1649. William Ker, styled Lord Ker, Commendator of Kelso Abbey (d. 1643), who died before Lord Ker. They had one son: Henry Ker, styled Lord Ker (d. 1643), who married, in 1638, Lady Margaret Hay, daughter of William Hay, 10th Earl of Erroll. They had three daughters: Jean, Mary, and Margaret. After his death, his widow married John Kennedy, 6th Earl of Cassilis.

He died at Floors, his residence near Kelso, on 18 January 1650. After his death, his widow married James Graham, 2nd Marquess of Montrose and became the mother of James Graham, 3rd Marquess of Montrose. These jewels had probably been gifts to his wife from the queen.

Title and estate As both of his sons predeceased him without male issue of their own, his titles and estates passed by special arrangement to his grandson, William Drummond (1622–1675), the youngest son of his eldest daughter Jean and her husband John Drummond, 2nd Earl of Perth. William took the name of Ker, became 2nd Earl of Roxburghe, and married his cousin, Lord Ker's daughter Jean.