A Covenanter general, he was created Lord Newark on 31 August 1661, with further remainder to the heirs male of his body.
Along with three other daughters who died unmarried, he was also father of Elizabeth, who married Sir Archibald Kennedy, 1st Baronet, of Culzean; Mary, who married firstly Sir Francis Kinloch, 2nd Baronet, of Gilmerton, and secondly Sir Alexander Ogilvy, 1st Baronet, of Forglen; and Margaret, who married James Campbell, fourth son of Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll.
His children included an eldest son John, who inherited the claim, and a second son Philip, who eloped in 1776 with Frances, wife of George Carpenter, 2nd Earl of Tyrconnell and daughter of John Manners, Marquess of Granby.
A soldier, he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army on 19 February 1783[2] and Major in the 3rd Regiment of Foot on 30 November 1784.
He nevertheless continued to use the title, and was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel of the 3rd Foot on 26 November 1793[4] and an aide-de-camp to the King on 21 December that year.