KER, JOHN, THIRD DUKE OF ROXBURGHE
Arms.—Quarterly.
1st and 4th; vert., on a chevron between 3 unicorns' heads erased arg., armed and maned or, as many mullets sa. Ker.
2nd and 3rd; gu., 3 mascles or. Weapont.
Coronet.—That of a Duke.
Supporters.—Two savage men, wreathed about the head and waist with laurel, each holding, with the exterior hand, a club resting upon the shoulder, all ppr.
Motto.—Pro christo et patria.
[The Roxburghe Ballads.]
Variety.—Without Supporters.
[Onosander. Strategicus. Lut. Parisiorum, 1599.]
John Ker (born 23rd April 1740, died 19th March 1804) was the elder son of Robert Ker, second Duke of Roxburghe. He succeeded his father in the title in 1755. The Duke brought together a splendid library, among which was the special collection of ballads which are now known by his name. The ballads were at first collected by Robert Harley, and they were largely added to by a Mr. West and by Major T. Pearson, and after the entire collection had been purchased by the Duke of Roxburghe he continued adding to it himself.
In 1812 the Duke's library was sold and the books widely scattered; the ballads, however, in 1845 were acquired for the British Museum at the sale of the books of Mr. B. H. Bright. The Duke of Roxburghe was a Knight of the Garter, and also a Knight of the Thistle. He was a Lord of the Bedchamber and a Privy Councillor.
The Roxburghe Club of Edinburgh was founded in honour of the Duke in 1812.
