Archibald David Kennedy, 7th Marquess of Ailsa, OBE, DL (3 December 1925 â 7 April 1994), styled Earl of Cassillis from 1 June 1956 to 31 May 1957, was a Scottish peer and chief of Clan Kennedy.
Kennedy was born at Brick Kiln Farm, Colchester, Essex, the only son of Lord Angus Kennedy (the third son of 3rd Marquess of Ailsa), and Gertrude Millicent Cooper. He was educated at Nautical College Pangbourne.
In early life, as David Kennedy, he worked as a steam locomotive fireman and, as Marquess, ran the Isle of Man Railway as lessee for the 1967–1971 seasons.
He was a lieutenant in the Scots Guards and lieutenant-colonel in the Royal Scots Fusiliers (TA).
In 1956, his father, Lord Angus, succeeded his childless elder brothers as the 6th Marquess of Ailsa, at which point Archibald became known by the courtesy title Earl of Cassillis. His father died exactly 365 days later on 1 June 1957, and Archibald succeeded as the 7th Marquess.
He married Mary (3 May 1916 â 17 August 2007, Edinburgh), daughter of coal miner John Burn, of Amble, Northumberland, on 7 April 1954 and they had three children: