Ker, John, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe (1740 -1804)

John Ker was the elder son of Robert Ker, 2nd Duke of Roxburghe, and Essex, daughter of Sir Roger Mostyn, 3rd Baronet. He succeeded his father in 1755 and paid his addresses to Christina Sophia Albertina, eldest daughter of the Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz. Unfortunately her younger sister became affianced to George III soon afterwards and his match was broken off for political reasons. He never married and divided his time between sport in Scotland and book collecting in London, specializing in Caxtons, of which he had an unrivalled collection, and early romances. George III showed much friendliness towards the Duke. He was made a Lord of the Bedchamber in 1767, a Knight of the Thistle in 1768, and a Knight of the Garter in 1801, being allowed to retain the Order of the Thistle, a very rare distinction. His London library was sold in London at auction by Robert H. Evans from 18 May to 8 July 1812, the catalogue being printed by Bulmer. At the sale Valdorfer's edition of Boccaccio reached the astonishing price of £2,260. It was at a dinner to celebrate the sale of this Boccaccio on 24 June 1812 that the Roxburghe Club was inaugurated. The library which he kept at Fleurs, his seat in Roxburghshire, was sold by auction in Lauder's ball room in Kelso by Alexander Ballantyne 16 September 1813.