He grew up in Cassillis House, another family seat, and was educated at Strathallan School, where he studied forestry and farming.

The title is derived from the island of Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde, which has been owned by the head of the family.

He later taught skiing and mountain craft to teams of army youth in the Scottish Highlands and the Brecon Beacons in Wales before retiring from the military in the Ayrshire Yeomanry.

[1] After working in sales, marketing and agriculture, he founded Lord Charles Tours which organised trips to Scotland, Ireland, Sweden and Lapland.

The 8th Marquess died on 15 January 2015,[1] while visiting a Kennedy clan function in Altamonte Springs, Florida.