Lords Borthwick (c.1438)

1^st Lord Borthwick, William Borthwick, b.c.1412, a.c.1438, d.c.1483

The Borthwick clan trace descent from Hungary. The mother of Margaret Atheling, wife of Malcolm Canmore, was from Hungary, and it is presumed that the progenitor of the family accompanied her mother to Scotland. In about 1410, the Regent Albany granted the lands of Borthwick in Selkirkshire to William (b.b.1368, d.c.1414), the head of the family, from where they took the name. He was a Commissioner for the release of James I and served as his substitute hostage. His son was William (b.c.1384, d.b.1440), and his grandson, also William, was raised to the peerage. He served as Ambassador to England on several occasions.

2^nd Lord Borthwick, William Borthwick, b.?, a.c.1483, d.1483-1484

Son of the 1^st Lord and wife unknown. He also served as an Ambassador to England. He died shortly after succeeding his father.

3^rd Lord Borthwick, William Borthwick, b.?, a.1483-1484, d.1503

Son of the 2^nd Lord and Mariot Hoppringle. He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1489. Some sources indicate that a Lord Borthwick died at Flodden in 1513, and if not the 3^rd Lord then a 4^th Lord. However most sources agree that the 4^th Lord died much later. In the worst case there is an additional generation between the listed 3^rd and 4^th Lords, but this is unlikely.

4^th Lord Borthwick, William Borthwick, b.?, a.1503, d.1543-1544

Son of the 3^rd Lord and wife unknown.

5^th Lord Borthwick, John Borthwick, b.1520, a.1543-1544, d.1566

Son of the 4^th Lord and Margaret Hay, daughter of John Hay, 1^st Lord Hay of Yester (for whom see the earls of Tweeddale), succeeding following the death of his older brother. He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1545.

6^th Lord Borthwick, William Borthwick, b.?, a.1566, d.1582

Son of the 5^th Lord and Isobel Lindsay (b.?, d.1577), daughter of David Lindsay, 8^th Earl of Crawford.

7^th Lord Borthwick, James Borthwick, b.1570, a.1582, d.1599

Son of the 6^th Lord and Grizel Scott, daughter of Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch, he also succeeding following the death of his older brother.

8^th Lord Borthwick, John Borthwick, b.c.1583, a.1599, d.1623

Son of the 7^th Lord and Margaret Hay, daughter of William Hay, 5^th Lord Hay of Yester.

9^th Lord Borthwick, John Borthwick, b.1615-1616, a.1623, d.1674-1675

Son of the 8^th Lord and Lilias Kerr (b.?, d.1659), daughter of Mark Kerr, 1^st Earl of Lothian. He surrendered Borthwick Castle to Cromwell in 1650. When he died, the lordship became dormant for 90 years.

10^th Lord Borthwick, William Borthwick, b.?, a.1674-1675, d.b.1690

In 1762, Henry Borthwick claimed the dormant lordship, and this was held by the House of Lords. He was descended from Alexander Borthwick, a younger brother of the 4^th Lord, and the numbering was backdated to indicate the succession. Alexander’s son William Borthwick, became 1^st Laird of Soltray, and was first in a sequence of fathers and sons, all called William, the 6^th of whom became 10^th Lord Borthwick de jure. He reached the rank of Major in the Scottish Army.

11^th Lord Borthwick, William Borthwick, b.1666, a.c.1690, d.1706

Son of the 10^th Lord and Marion Moorhead. He reached the rank of Colonel in the British Army. He was killed in action at the Battle of Ramilles in 1706 and had no children.

12^th Lord Borthwick, Henry Borthwick, b.?, a.1706, d.1706

The succession passed to the line of the 10^th Lord’s uncle, Alexander Borthwick. He married Sibila Cairnes. Their son William Borthwick, Surgeon-Major of the Forces in Scotland in 1686, married several times, his second wife being Marjorie Steuart. Their son Henry Borthwick became de jure 12^th Lord, though he died of wounds received at the same battle.

13^th Lord Borthwick, William Borthwick, b.?, a.1706, d.1723

Son of the 12^th Lord and Mary Pringle, daughter of Sir Robert Pringle, 1^st Baronet Pringle of Stichill.

14^th Lord Borthwick, Henry Borthwick, b.c.1689, a.1723, d.1772

Younger brother of the 13^th Lord. His petition to be recognized as 14^th Lord was accepted by the House of Lords in 1762. However, he also died with no children, and the lordship became dormant again, this time for 98 years.

15^th Lord Borthwick, Patrick Borthwick, b.?, a.1772, d.1772

In 1870, Cunninghame Borthwick’s claim was recognized by the House of Lords. He was descended from Alexander Borthwick, younger brother of William Borthwick, 4^th of Soltray, and the numbering was backdated. Patrick Borthwick was Alexander’s great-grandson and was a merchant in Leith.

16^th Lord Borthwick, Archibald Borthwick, b.1732, a.1772, d.1815

Son of the 15^th Lord and Marion Scott. He was a merchant in Norway.

17^th Lord Borthwick, Patrick Borthwick, b.1779, a.1815, d.1840

Son of the 16^th Lord and Margaret Nicholson Scott (b.?, d.1833). He claimed the title in 1816 but failed.

18^th Lord Borthwick, Archibald Borthwick, b.1811, a.1840, d.1863

Son of the 17^th Lord and Ariana Corbet (b.?, d.1836). He had several sons but they all died before him.

19^th Lord Borthwick, Cunninghame Borthwick, b.1813, a.1863, d.1885

Younger brother of the 18^th Lord. He was educated at Edinburgh High School and the University of Edinburgh. In 1870 his claim for the title was accepted by the House of Lords, and he served as a Representative Peer from 1880 to 1885. He was invested as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1871.

20^th Lord Borthwick, Archibald Patrick Thomas Borthwick, b.1867, a.1885, d.1910

Son of the 19^th Lord and Harriet Alice Day (b.c.1835, d.1917). He was educated at Glenalmond in Perth and then at Christ Church College Oxford. He was a Representative Peer from 1906 to 1910. He had one daughter, and the lordship became dormant again at his death.

21^st Lord Borthwick, William Henry Borthwick, b.1832, a.1910, d.1928

The title was now claimed by a descendant of John Borthwick, younger brother of the 2^nd Lord, 1^st Laird of Crookston in Midlothian, but it took more than 70 years for the Lord Lyon to recognise the claim, with numbering backdated. The 21^st Lord de jure was the 15^th Laird of Crookston, directly descended in an unbroken line from the 1^st Laird.

22^nd Lord Borthwick, Henry Borthwick, b.1868, a.1928, d.1937

Son of the 21^st Lord and Rebecca Cathcart (b.?, d.1887). He was educated in Madras, and also St Andrews University, and reached the rank of Lieutenant in the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry.

23^rd Lord Borthwick, John Henry Stuart Borthwick, b.1905, a.1937, d.1996

Son of the 22^nd Lord and Melena Florence Pringle (b.?, d.1962). He was educated at Fettes School, Edinburgh, and King’s College, Newcastle and fought in the Second World War, reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1946. He later worked for the Department of Agriculture.

24^th Lord Borthwick, John Hugh Borthwick, b.1940, a.1996

Son of the 23^rd Lord and Margaret Fances Cormack (b.?, d.1976). He was educated at Gordonstoun and the Edinburgh School of Agriculture.

The courtesy title for the heir is Master of Borthwick.

(Last updated: 11/01/2010)