Marquess of Bowmont
(1839-1892)
13 May 1862

Volume 6, page 297, sitting number 8059.

The politician, landowner and Royal courtier James Henry Robert Innes-Ker was born on 5 September 1839. He held the courtesy title of Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford until he succeeded as 7th Duke of Roxburghe in 1879.

He married Lady Anne Emily Spencer-Churchill, daughter of Sir John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough.

The Duke of Roxburghe died on 23 October 1892 at the age of 53.

An obituary appeared in the Dover Express (28 October 1892). 'We deeply regret to record the death of the Duke of Roxburghe, which took places at Floors Castle, near Kelso, at an early hour on Sunday morning. His Grace had been only a few days unwell. In the early months of the year the duke suffered from a severe attack of influenza, and had to seek relief from its effects by a voyage to the Cape, which did him a great deal of good, and since then his health had been satisfactory. Quite recently he was at Guisachan enjoying grouse-shooting at Lord Tweedmouth's box there, and since returning to Floors had been frequently engaged in his favourite pastime of salmon-fishing. On Monday of last week he caught a chill at the riverside, which was followed by internal complications. [...] he passed away painlessly and peacefully, in the presence of the duchess and dowager duchess and other members of the family.

'James Henry Robert Innes-Ker, seventh Duke of Roxburghe, had recently completed his 53rd year, having been born on September 5th, 1839. He was educated at Eton and Oxford, and sat in the House of Commons as the Liberal Representative of Roxburghshire from 1870 to 1874. In the latter year he married Lady Anne Emily Spencer-Churchill - fourth daughter of the sixth Duke of Marlborough - who was Mistress of the Robes to her Majesty in 1884-5. His Grace was Lord-Lieutenant for the County of Roxburgh, and one of her Majesty's Body Guard for Scotland. He is succeeded in the title by this son, the Marquis of Bowmont, who was born in 1876, and is now at Eton. He leaves two other sons and four daughters. The intelligence of his Grace's unexpected death produced a painful impression, especially in the Border districts, where he was universally and deeply respected, and the most widespread sympathy was shown to the widowed duchess and family.'