Jane Kerr, Marchioness of Lothian

The Most Honourable
The Dowager Marchioness of Lothian
Born
Lady Theresa Jane Fitzalan-Howard

(1945-01-24) 24 January 1945 (age 79)
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1975; died 2024)​
Children
  • Lady Sarah Kerr
  • Lady Clare Hurd
  • Lady Mary Adler
Parents
FamilyFitzalan-Howard family

Theresa Jane Kerr, Dowager Marchioness of Lothian, Baroness Kerr of Monteviot, 16th Lady Herries of Terregles (née Fitzalan-Howard; born 24 January 1945) is a British aristocrat and philanthropist. She is the widow of the 13th Marquess of Lothian. In 2017, she inherited the Scottish title Lady Herries of Terregles from her sister, Mary, thus making her and her husband one of few couples who each hold a hereditary peerage in their own right.

Life

Born Lady Jane Fitzalan-Howard on 24 January 1945, she is the youngest of four daughters of Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk and The Hon. Lavinia Strutt. She is a member of the ancient Fitzalan-Howard family, one of the most prominent noble families and most high-profile recusant families in England.[1] She grew up at the Fitzalan-Howard's family seat, Arundel Castle, in West Sussex. Her elder sisters were: Anne Cowdrey, 14th Lady Herries of Terregles, Mary Mumford, 15th Lady Herries of Terregles, and Lady Sarah Clutton.

On 7 June 1975, Lady Jane married Michael Kerr, Earl of Ancram, a Conservative Member of Parliament and son and heir of the 12th Marquess of Lothian.[2] Her husband succeeded to his father's peerages in 2004. They reside at Monteviot House.[3] Lord and Lady Lothian have three daughters and two grandchildren:[4] Her husband died on 1 October 2024, following a short illness.[5]

  • Lady Sarah Margaret Kerr (born and died 13 June 1976)
  • Lady Clare Therese Kerr (born 25 January 1979); married Nick Hurd in 2010, had issue:
    • Leila Rose Hurd (born 17 May 2012)
    • Caspar Jamie Hurd (born 30 September 2014)
  • Lady Mary Cecil Kerr (born 28 May 1981); married Zackary Adler on 28 May 2016, had issue:
    • Ocean Jude Adler (born 26 May 2022)

In 2017, on the death of her elder sister, she inherited the ancient Scottish peerage, the Lordship of Herries of Terregles, which her father had inherited from his mother, Gwendolen, Duchess of Norfolk (and 12th Lady Herries of Terregles).[4] Her eldest surviving daughter, Lady Clare, is her heiress presumptive. Lady Lothian is a patron of the Right to Life Trust and a patroness of the Royal Caledonian Ball.[6][7]

References

  1. ^ Womack, Sarah (23 June 2001). "Stardust girls back Ancram's campaign". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ^ Roth, Andrew (16 March 2001). "Michael Ancram". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  3. ^ "The Lothian family". Monteviot House & Gardens. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  4. ^ a b Morris, Susan (2020). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. eBook Partnership. p. 3431. ISBN 978-1999767051. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  5. ^ Williams, Craig (1 October 2024). "Tory stalwart Michael Ancram dies aged 79 after short illness". The Herald. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Patrons and Trustees | RTLCT". Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Patronesses". Royal Caledonian Ball. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013.
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by Lady Herries of Terregles
2017–present 		Incumbent
Heiress presumptive:
Lady Clare Hurd