George Innes-Ker, 9th Duke Of Roxburghe

George Victor Robert John Innes-Ker, the 9th Duke of Roxburghe, was born on 7 September 1913 and died on 26 September 1974. He was the son of Henry Innes-Ker, the 8th Duke of Roxburghe, and Mary Innes-Ker, Duchess of Roxburghe, née Goelet. He succeeded his father in the dukedom in 1932.

He was born at Floors Castle, which is situated on approximately 60,500 acres. His mother decorated the estate with her collection of art, including tapestries from the 17th century Gobelins Manufactory. His paternal grandparents were James Innes-Ker, the 7th Duke of Roxburghe, and Lady Anne Spencer-Churchill. Lady Anne was the daughter of John Spencer-Churchill, the 7th Duke of Marlborough, who held positions such as Lord President of the Council and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and Lady Frances Vane, daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry.

The 9th Duke's first cousin once removed was Winston Churchill. His uncle, Lord Robert Innes-Ker, married the actress José Collins. His maternal grandfather was Ogden Goelet, an American real estate millionaire. At the time of his parents' marriage, his mother was considered the wealthiest American heiress with a dowry of twenty million dollars, a sum exceeded only by that of Consuelo Vanderbilt. He was also a grandnephew of Grace Wilson, who married Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt III.

George Innes-Ker attended Eton College, a prominent school in Windsor, Berkshire. On 24 October 1935, he married Lady Mary Crewe-Milnes, daughter of the 1st Marquess of Crewe and Lady Margaret Etrenne Hannah Primrose. Lady Mary was the daughter of Hannah, Countess of Rosebery, and the 5th Earl of Rosebery. The marriage ended in divorce in 1953, following a controversy wherein the Duke attempted to evict Lady Mary from Floors Castle.

After the death of her widowed mother in 1967, Lady Mary inherited West Horsley Place. She died in 2014 at the age of 99.

The Duke married for a second time on 5 January 1954 at Caxton Hall to Margaret Elizabeth McConnel, daughter of Capt. Frederick Bradshaw McConnel and great-granddaughter of British industrialist William McConnel. Together, they had two children: Guy David Innes-Ker, who became the 10th Duke of Roxburghe, born on 18 November 1954 and died on 29 August 2019, and Lord Robert Anthony Innes-Ker, born on 28 May 1959. Lord Robert married Katherine Pelly in 1996 and has one son and one daughter; the marriage has since separated.

George Victor Robert John Innes-Ker, 9th Duke of Roxburghe, passed away on 26 September 1974.