The Earl of Kintore, chief of Clan Keith and a former representative peer in the House of Lords, was the Aberdeenshire aristocrat who spent his life promoting the spirit of the clan he was proud to lead.

Stockbroker, insurance broker and a consultant for Christie's, the London auction house, he assisted with fund-raising for Aberdeen University in the years prior to the quincentenary of the establishment of the university in 1995, and took an active, though honorary, role in business development. His best-remembered university role was during the quatercentenary celebrations of Marischal College, founded by his collateral ancestor George Keith, Earl Marischal, in 1593. During the celebrations, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws.

Lord Kintore was descended from John Keith, younger brother of William Keith, Earl Marischal of Scotland. After the Honours of Scotland were courageously smuggled out of Dunnottar Castle at Stonehaven, John's mother, the Countess Marischal, felt that her younger son's part in the proceedings had been overlooked, and successfully petitioned for reward for him from King Charles II. The younger Keith was granted the earldom of Kintore, with his coat-of-arms bearing the Royal augmentation of quarters showing Scotland's regalia. These are the arms held by the earldom to this day. Coincidentally this story featured this week in a programme by broadcaster Mark Stephen on BBC Radio Scotland.

The Keith family rose with the Jacobites in 1715 and 1745. What Kintore lands they did not forfeit after the Risings were decimated during the lifetime of the 9th Earl of Kintore, one-time governor-general of South Australia, who died in 1930, leaving just 400 acres, which the present earl managed.

Michael Kintore's father James, 12th earl, whom he succeeded in 1989, was instrumental in promoting Clan Keith internationally, appointing a hereditary sennachie to preserve Keith genealogy. Both Michael and his father brought history alive for their clansmen. The Keiths were notorious for their feuding, and made enemies of Clan Gunn. In an attempt at reconciliation in 1478, the two clans agreed to meet with 12 clansmen each. The Keiths, however, arrived mounted on a dozen horses, with two men to a steed and slaughtered the Gunns while they were at prayer. The Gunns retaliated, slaying Keith of

Ackergill and 10 of his men at Drummoy.

So in 1978, James, 12th earl, in his role as chief of Clan Keith met the Commander of Clan Gunn and signed a peace treaty on the site of the Chapel of St. Tayr at Sinclair's Bay near Ackergill, Wick, finally ending a feud between the two clans which had begun 500 years before.

On Deeside, the Keiths similarly became sworn enemies of their neighbours, the Irvines of Drum, the culmination of which was an affray near Drumoak, Aberdeenshire, in 1402. Six centuries later, in August 2002, Lord Kintore and David Irvine of Drum with their followers advanced upon each other from opposite sides of the River Dee, meeting in the middle of Park Bridge, where a peace treaty was signed.

The present earl also cemented links with Peterhead, founded by his ancestor George Keith in 1587. Early members of his family and clan played prominent roles in the shaping of the port. In 2002, he led 200 Keiths to a special ceremony there, uniting holders of the surname from five continents.

A frequent traveller on clan business to North America, he represented the clan at many events, including the Pacific North-West Games in Washington State, and the gathering at Fergus, Ontario.

Some years ago, the earl converted the family home of Keith Hall near Inverurie into flats, he and his family moving to converted stables nearby. During the seventies, he was very closely involved with Keith- hall School, whose then head teacher, Raymond Bisset, is now provost of Aberdeenshire Council.

Tall and rarely without an air of old-fashioned gallantry, Lord Kintore was educated in South Africa, but returned at nine years of age to the UK before going on to Eton.

He was commissioned from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst into the Coldstream Guards and saw active service in Kenya and Oman.

He became president of the Institute of Certified Book-keepers from 1997, having been made an honorary fellow of the International Association of Book-keepers three years previously. He was also an associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Like his father, the present earl was born with the surname Baird, a throwback to his grandmother Ethel Baird, Countess of Kintore in her own right. The name Keith was re-adopted by the 12th earl in 1967.

He inherited the title on the death of his father the 12th earl in 1989. He was also a baronet, besides holding the titles of Viscount Stonehaven, Lord Keith of Inverurie and Keith Hall, and Baron Stonehaven. The title of Master of Inverurie has been used by the eldest Kintore son since 1699. In 1972, the earl married Mary, daughter of Squadron-Leader E G Plum, in New Jersey.

The earl is understood to have taken his own life just after midnight last Saturday. The police were called to the earl's home in the early hours. A police spokesman said: ''There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. A report will be submitted to the fiscal as is normal procedure in incidents such as this.''

The Earl of Kintore is survived by Mary, Countess of Kintore, and their two children, Jamie (who succeeds as 14th earl) and Lady Iona Keith.

Michael Canning William John Keith, 13th Earl of Kintore; born February 22, 1939, died October 30, 2004.