Roxburgh, John Ker, 1st duke of

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Roxburgh, John Ker, 1st duke of [S] (c.1680–1741). Ker succeeded his brother as earl of Roxburgh at the age of 16. When in his twenties he was secretary of state [S] 1704–5, along with Tweeddale. A warm advocate of the Union, he was created duke in 1707 and served as a representative peer in the parliaments of 1707, 1708, 1715, and 1727. In 1714–16 he was keeper of the privy seal [S] and fought bravely for the Hanoverians at Sheriffmuir in 1715. From 1715 until 1725 he was again secretary of state [S]. Awarded the Garter in 1722, he lost favour in 1725 when he was suspected of encouraging the Shawfield riots against the malt tax and of favouring Carteret against Walpole. He spent the rest of his life in retirement at Floors. Roxburgh was said to be a ready speaker and a cultivated and agreeable man.

J. A. Cannon

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