The 13th Earl of Kintore, Sir Michael Keith, was found at home dead, aged 65. His son, Jamie, said last night: "I can confirm that the earl passed away last night." He added that the family was too upset to say anything more. Police confirmed they were called to the earl's home at The Stables, Keith Hall, just after midnight. A spokesman said: "There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. A report will be submitted to the fiscal as is normal procedure in incidences such as this." Aberdeenshire Provost Raymond Bisset paid tribute to a man who took pride in involvement with the community. "I am very, very saddened and disappointed to hear the news of his death. He was a neighbour and I worked with him when I was head teacher of Keith Hall School in the 70s. He was very community-minded and enthusiastic. I feel deeply for his family at this time." The earl lived at a converted stable house near Keith Hall, with his wife Mary, the Countess of Kintore. He was the 13th Earl of Kintore, inheriting the position after the death of his father in 1989. He also held the title of Viscount Stonehaven. He was educated in South Africa, but returned aged nine to go to prep school and then on to Eton. He attended the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and served with the Coldstream Guards in London and Kenya. The earl and countess were married in 1972 and have two children, Jamie, Lord Inverurie, and Lady Iona Keith. The title of Lord Inverurie has been used by the eldest Kintore son since 1699.

Michael Keith, Earl of Kintore, Baron Kintore of Inverugie in the Peerage of Scotland and Viscount Stonehaven and Baron Stonehaven in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, Baronet is the 13th Chief of the Name of Keith. Educated at Eton and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, he served with the Coldstream Guards in Kenya, the Oman and London.

The Earl is married to Mary Plum, daughter of the late Squadron Leader E. J. Plum of Rumson, New Jersey. They have one son, Jamie and one daughter, Iona.

The Earl was a farmer in Aberdeenshire. He was President of the International Association of Bookkeepers and active in the House of Lords as an Independent, sitting on the Cross Benches. Until just recently, the Earl sat on the House of Lords for many years.