Viscounts Kenmure (1633)

1^st Viscount Kenmure, John Gordon, b.1599, a.1633, d.1634

Scion of a distinct branch of the great Gordon family, the Gordons of Stitchill, and later barons of Lochinvar, Kenmure and Glen, John Gordon was the son of Sir Robert Gordon of Lochinvar (b.?, d.c.1628) and Elizabeth Ruthven (b.?, d.1617), daughter of William Ruthven, 1^st Earl of Gowrie. A well-travelled and educated man, he was an ardent Royalist and raised to the peerage as 1^st Viscount Kenmure and 1^st Lord Lochinvar in 1633. He is most well known as created the town of New Galloway within the estates of Kenmure Castle, which was made a Royal Burgh in 1630. Due to its proximity to the market town of Kirkcudbright, it never developed as was hoped, and it remains the smallest Royal Burgh.

2^nd Viscount Kenmure, John Gordon, b.?, a.1634, d.1639

Son of the 1^st Viscount and Jean Campbell, daughter of Archibald Campbell, 7^th Earl of Argyll. He died umarried.

3^rd Viscount Kenmure, John Gordon, b.1620, a.1639, d.1643

Cousin of the 1^st Viscount, being son of that man’s father’s younger brother James Gordon (b.?, d.1633).

4^th Viscount Kenmure, Robert Gordon, b.?, a.1643, d.1663

Younger brother of the 3^rd Viscount.

5^th Viscount Kenmure, Alexander Gordon, b.?, a.1663, d.1698

With no convenient heirs, the title passed to the line of William Gordon of Penninghame (b.?, d.1581), a brother of the 1^st Viscount’s grandfather Sir John Gordon of Lochinvar (b.?, d.1604). He married Helen Stewart, daughter of Sir Alexander Stewart of Garlies (progenitor of the earls of Galloway). Their son John Gordon (b.?, d.1603) married Jean Glendonwyn. Their son William Gordon (b.c.1622, d.c.1660) married Ann Kennedy, and their son became 5^th Viscount.

6^th Viscount Kenmure, William Gordon, b.?, a.1698, d.1715

Son of the 5^th Viscount and Marion McCulloch. He opposed the Act of Union and plotted to bring back the Stuart monarchy, being granted a marquessate by he Old Pretender. He married Mary Dalzell, sister of Robert Dalzell, 5^th Earl of Carnwath, and as a result of Carnwath’s requests joined the Mar’s Uprising in 1715, raising the banner of James VIII at Kelso. He was taken taken prisoner at the Battle of Preston, tried and found guilty of treason, attained and executed by beheading. The forfeiture was lifted in 1788 and so the next three successors did not hold title during their lives.

7^th Viscount Kenmure, Robert Gordon, b.c.1713, a.1715, d.1741

Son of the 6^th Viscount and Mary Dalzell (b.?, d.1776).

8^th Viscount Kenmure, John Gordon, b.c.1713, a.1741, d.1769

Younger brother of the 7^th Viscount.

9^th Viscount Kenmure, William Gordon, b.?, a.1769, d.1772

Son of the 8^th Viscount and Frances Mackenzie (b.?, d.1796), daughter of William Mackenzie, 5^th Earl of Seaforth.

10^th Viscount Kenmure, John Gordon, b.c.1750, a.1772, d.c.1840

Younger brother of the 9^th Viscount. During his lifetime the viscountcy was restored.

11^th Viscount Kenmure, Adam Gordon, b.1792, a.1840, d.1847

Son of the 10^th Viscount and Harriet Davies (b.?, d.1801). On his death the titles became dormant or extinct.

(Last updated: 012/01/2010)