Career
He inherited the earldom from James Carnegie, 2nd Earl of Southesk. Southesk married before 1664, Lady Anna Hamilton, eldest daughter of William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton and had issue:
Charles Carnegie, 4th Earl of Southesk (1661-1699)
William Carnegie, (1662-1681) killed in Paris during a duel by William Tollemache youngest son of Sir Lionel Tollemache, 3rd Baronet.