Kerr, Charles, 2nd Earl of Ancram (1624 -1690)

Charles Kerr, 2nd Earl of Ancram, was the second son of Robert Kerr, 1st Earl of Ancram, and his second wife, Anne daughter of William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby. His father, Robert Kerr was the eldest son of William Kerr, of Ancram, and Margaret, daughter of Alexander Dundas of Fingask. A member of the Households of Prince Henry and Prince Charles, he was created Earl of Ancram at the coronation of the latter in Scotland in 1633. William, his son by his first marriage, married Lady Anne Kerr, daughter and coheir of Robert, 2nd Earl of Lothian, 9 December 1630, and was created Earl of Lothian in 1631. So when his father was created Earl of Ancram, it was with a special remainder to his second son, Charles. With the cessation of his and his wife's pensions after the death of the King, the first Earl fell greatly into debt, and in 1650 fled to Holland to avoid his creditors. He died in Amsterdam in great poverty in 1654. Charles Kerr then succeeded under the special remainder, but his only son predeceased him and when he died in needy circumstances between 1 and 11 September 1690, the title passed to his nephew, Robert, Earl, afterwards Marquess of Lothian. He seems to have sold all or part of his library between 1658 and 1664.