William Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian

William Kerr, first Earl of Lothian of a new creation (1605–1675) was a Scottish nobleman.

[1] Kerr signed the national covenant in 1638 and marched with the Scots into England in 1640, being present when the English were routed at the Battle of Newburn.

He was appointed secretary of state in 1649 and was one of the commissioners sent by the Scottish Parliament to protest against proceeding to extremes against the king, visiting Charles II in exile at Breda.

The eldest son of Sir Robert Kerr, later 1st Earl of Ancram, he was born within St James's Palace in London and was educated at Cambridge University and at Paris.

He accompanied George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham to the Isle of Rhé in 1627 and served in the expedition against Spain in 1631.