PEERAGES
Last updated 17/10/2015 (23 Jan 2024)
Date Rank Order Name Born Died Age
FEVERSHAM
8 Apr 1676 E 1 Sir George Sondes
Created Baron of Throwley, Viscount Sondes and Earl of Feversham 8 Apr 1676
MP for Ashburton 1661‑1676
Nov 1599 16 Apr 1677 77
16 Apr 1677
to    
19 Apr 1709
2 Louis de Duras, 1st Baron Duras
Lord Lieutenant Kent 1688‑1689; KG 1685
Peerages extinct on his death
1641 19 Apr 1709 67

19 Mar 1719
to    
10 May 1743
E[L] Ermengarde Melusina Schulenberg
Created Baroness of Dundalk, Countess and Marchioness of Dungannon and Duchess of Munster for life 18 Jul 1716, and Baroness Glastonbury, Countess of Feversham and Duchess of Kendal for life 19 Mar 1719
Mistress of George I
Peerages extinct on her death
1659 10 May 1743 83

23 Jun 1747
to    
18 Jun 1763
B 1 Anthony Duncombe
Created Baron Feversham 23 Jun 1747
MP for Salisbury 1721‑1734 and Downton 1734‑1747
Peerage extinct on his death
c 1695 18 Jun 1763

14 Jul 1826 B 1 Charles Duncombe
Created Baron Feversham 14 Jul 1826
MP for Shaftesbury 1790‑1796, Aldborough 1796‑1806, Heytesbury 1812‑1816 and Newport IOW 1818‑1826
5 Dec 1764 16 Jul 1841 76
16 Jul 1841 2 William Duncombe
MP for Grimsby 1820‑1826, Yorkshire 1826‑1831 and Yorkshire North Riding 1832‑1841
14 Jan 1798 11 Feb 1867 69
11 Feb 1867
25 Jul 1868
 
E
3
1
William Ernest Duncombe
Created Viscount Helmsley and Earl of Feversham 25 Jul 1868
MP for East Retford 1852‑1857 and North Riding Yorkshire 1859‑1867
28 Jan 1829 13 Jan 1915 85
13 Jan 1915 4
2
Charles William Reginald Duncombe
MP for Thirsk & Malton 1906‑1915
8 May 1879 15 Sep 1916 37
15 Sep 1916
to    
4 Sep 1963
5
3
Charles William Slingsby Duncombe
On his death the Earldom and Viscountcy became extinct whilst the Barony passed to -
2 Nov 1906 4 Sep 1963 56
4 Sep 1963 6 Charles Anthony Peter Duncombe 3 Jan 1945 29 Mar 2009 64
29 Mar 2009 7 Jasper Orlando Slingsby Duncombe 14 Mar 1968
FFRENCH
14 Feb 1798 B[I] 1 Dame Rose ffrench
Created Baroness ffrench 14 Feb 1798
8 Dec 1805
8 Dec 1805 2 Sir Thomas ffrench, 2nd baronet
For further information on the death of this peer, see the note at the foot of this page
c 1765 9 Dec 1814
9 Dec 1814 3 Charles Austin ffrench 9 Apr 1786 25 Sep 1860 74
25 Sep 1860 4 Thomas ffrench 13 Sep 1810 20 Jan 1892 81
20 Jan 1892 5 Marcus Joseph ffrench 1 Oct 1813 2 Nov 1893 80
2 Nov 1893 6 Charles Austin Thomas Robert John Joseph ffrench 20 Jun 1868 4 Mar 1955 86
4 Mar 1955 7 Peter Martin Joseph Charles John Mary ffrench 4 May 1926 30 Jan 1986 59
30 Jan 1986 8 Robuck John Peter Charles Mario ffrench 14 Mar 1956
FIELD
14 Apr 1890
to    
23 Jan 1907
B 1 William Ventris Field
Created Baron Field 14 Apr 1890
PC 1890
Peerage extinct on his death
21 Aug 1813 23 Jan 1907 93
FIELD OF BIRKENHEAD
11 Sep 2020 B[L] Frank Ernest Field
Created Baron Field of Birkenhead 11 Sep 2020
MP for Birkenhead 1979‑2019; PC 1997; CH 2022
16 Jul 1942
FIELDHOUSE
26 Feb 1990
to    
17 Feb 1992
B[L] Sir John David Elliott Fieldhouse
Created Baron Fieldhouse for life 26 Feb 1990
Admiral of the Fleet 1985; Chief of the Defence Staff 1985‑1988
Peerage extinct on his death
12 Feb 1928 17 Feb 1992 64
FIFE
c 1115 E[S] 1 Beth
Witness to Charter of Scone as Earl of Fife in 1115

c 1120 E[S] 1 Constantine c 1128

c 1129 E[S] 1 Gillemichael Macduff 1139
1139 2 Duncan Macduff 1154
1154 3 Duncan Macduff 1203
1203 4 Malcolm Macduff 1228
1228 5 Malcolm Macduff 1266
1266 6 Colbran Macduff 1270
1270 7 Duncan Macduff 1262 25 Sep 1288 26
25 Sep 1288 8 Duncan Macduff 1285 1353 68
1353 9 Isabel [or Elizabeth] Stewart
She resigned the peerage in favour of -
c 1389
1371 10 Robert Stewart
Third son of Robert II of Scotland who was created Duke of Albany 1398
1340 3 Sep 1420 80
3 Sep 1420
to    
24 May 1425
11 Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany
He was executed and his peerages forfeited
24 May 1425

12 May 1567
to    
29 Dec 1567
M[S] 1 James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell
Created Marquess of Fife and Duke of Orkney 12 May 1567
Peerages forfeited 29 Dec 1567
c 1535 14 Apr 1578

26 Apr 1759 E[I] 1 William Duff
Created Baron Braco of Kilbryde 28 Jul 1735 and Viscount Macduff and Earl Fife 26 Apr 1759
MP for Banffshire 1727‑1734
c 1696 30 Sep 1763
30 Sep 1763
5 Jul 1790
to    
28 Jan 1809
 
B
2
1
James Duff
Created Baron Fife [GB] 5 Jul 1790
MP for Banffshire 1754‑1784 and Elginshire 1784‑1790; Lord Lieutenant Banff 1794‑1809
On his death the Barony became extinct whilst the Earldom passed to -
28 Sep 1729 28 Jan 1809 79
28 Jan 1809 3 Alexander Duff 1731 17 Apr 1811 79
17 Apr 1811
28 Apr 1827
to    
9 Mar 1857
 
B
4
1
James Duff
Created Baron Fife [UK] 28 Apr 1827
MP for Banffshire 1818‑1826; Lord Lieutenant Banff 1813‑1856; KT 1827
On his death the Barony became extinct whilst the Earldom passed to -
6 Oct 1776 9 Mar 1857 80
9 Mar 1857 5 James Duff
Created Baron Skene 1 Oct 1857
MP for Banffshire 1837‑1857; Lord Lieutenant Elgin 1851‑1856 and Banff 1856‑1879; KT 1860
6 Jul 1814 7 Aug 1879 65
7 Aug 1879
13 Jul 1885
29 Jul 1899
16 Oct 1899
to    
29 Jan 1912
 
E
D
D
6
1
1
1
Alexander William George Duff
Created Earl of Fife 13 Jul 1885, Marquess of Macduff and Duke of Fife 29 Jul 1889, and Earl of Macduff and Duke of Fife 16 Oct 1899
For a discussion on the date of creation of the second Dukedom, which differs from the date shown in standard peerage reference books, see the note at the foot of this page
For details of the special remainders included in the creations of the Earldom and Dukedom of 1899, see the note at the foot of this page
For information on the shipwrecking of the Duke and his family in December 1911, see the note at the foot of this page

MP for Elgin & Nairnshire 1874‑1879; Lord Lieutenant Elgin 1872‑1902 and London 1900‑1912; PC 1880; KT 1881; KG 1911
On his death the Earldom of 1759 became probably dormant, the Earldom of 1885 and the Marquessate and the Dukedom of 1889 became extinct whilst the Earldom and Dukedom of 1899 passed to -
10 Nov 1849 29 Jan 1912 62
29 Jan 1912 2 Princess Alexandra Victoria Alberta Edwina Louise of Connaught 17 May 1891 26 Feb 1959 67
26 Feb 1959 3 James George Alexander Bannerman Carnegie
He succeeded as 12th Earl of Southesk in 1992
23 Sep 1929 22 Jun 2015 85
22 Jun 2015 4 David Charles Carnegie 3 Mar 1961
FILKIN
29 Jul 1999 B[L] David Geoffrey Nigel Filkin
Created Baron Filkin for life 29 Jul 1999
1 Jul 1944
FINCASTLE
16 Aug 1686 V[S] 1 Lord Charles Murray
Created Lord Murray of Blair, Viscount of Fincastle and Earl of Dunmore 16 Aug 1686
See "Dunmore"
28 Feb 1661 19 Apr 1710 49
FINCH OF DAVENTRY
10 Jan 1673 B 1 Heneage Finch
Created Baron Finch of Daventry 10 Jan 1673 and Earl of Nottingham 12 May 1681
See "Nottingham"
23 Dec 1621 18 Dec 1682 60
FINCH OF FORDWICH
7 Apr 1640
to    
20 Nov 1660
B 1 John Finch
Created Baron Finch of Fordwich 7 Apr 1640
MP for Canterbury 1614 and 1625‑1629; Speaker of the House of Commons 1628‑1629; Lord Keeper 1640‑1641
Peerage extinct on his death
17 Sep 1584 20 Nov 1660 76
FINDLATER
20 Feb 1638 E[S] 1 James Ogilvy, 2nd Lord Ogilvy of Deskford
Created Earl of Findlater 20 Feb 1638
c 1653
c 1653 2 Patrick Ogilvy 30 Mar 1658
30 Mar 1658 3 James Ogilvy 1711
1711 4 James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Seafield
KT 1704; PC 1723
11 Jul 1663 19 Aug 1730 67
19 Aug 1730 5 James Ogilvy c 1689 9 Jul 1764
9 Jul 1764 6 James Ogilvy c 1714 3 Nov 1770
3 Nov 1770
to    
5 Oct 1811
7 James Ogilvy
Peerage extinct on his death
10 Apr 1750 5 Oct 1811 61
FINGALL
26 Sep 1628 E[I] 1 Luke Plunkett, 10th Baron Killeen
Created Earl of Fingall 26 Sep 1628
1589 29 Mar 1637 47
29 Mar 1637 2 Christopher Plunkett 18 Aug 1649
18 Aug 1649 3 Luke Plunkett 1639 c 1684
c 1684 4 Peter Plunkett 1678 24 Jan 1718 39
24 Jan 1718 5 Justin Plunkett 27 Mar 1734
27 Mar 1734 6 Robert Plunkett 31 Jan 1738
31 Jan 1738 7 Arthur James Plunkett Jul 1731 21 Aug 1793 62
21 Aug 1793
20 Jun 1831
 
B
8
1
Arthur James Plunkett
Created Baron Fingall [UK] 20 Jun 1831
KP 1821
9 Sep 1759 30 Jul 1836 76
30 Jul 1836 9
2
Arthur James Plunkett
MP for Meath 1830‑1832; Lord Lieutenant Meath 1849‑1869; PC [I] 1834; KP 1846
29 Mar 1791 21 Apr 1869 78
21 Apr 1869 10
3
Arthur James Plunkett 10 May 1819 24 Apr 1881 61
24 Apr 1881 11
4
Arthur James Francis Plunkett
PC [I] 1892
1 Apr 1859 12 Nov 1929 70
12 Nov 1929
to    
5 Mar 1984
12
5
Oliver James Horace Plunkett
Peerages extinct on his death
17 Jun 1896 5 Mar 1984 87
FINK
18 Jan 2011 B[L] Stanley Fink
Created Baron Fink for life 18 Jan 2011
15 Sep 1957
FINKELSTEIN
11 Sep 2013 B[L] Daniel William Finkelstein
Created Baron Finkelstein for life 11 Sep 2013
30 Aug 1962
FINLAY
27 Mar 1919 V 1 Robert Bannatyne Finlay
Created Baron Finlay 19 Dec 1916 and Viscount Finlay 27 Mar 1919
MP for Inverness Burghs 1885‑1892 and 1895‑1906 and Edinburgh & St. Andrews Universities 1910‑1916; Solicitor General 1895‑1900; Attorney General 1900‑1905; Lord Chancellor 1916‑1919; PC 1905
11 Jul 1842 9 Mar 1929 86
9 Mar 1929
to    
30 Jun 1945
2 William Finlay
Lord Justice of Appeal 1938‑1945; PC 1938
Peerage extinct on his death
15 Oct 1875 30 Jun 1945 69
FINLAY OF LLANDAFF
28 Jun 2001 B[L] Ilora Gillian Finlay
Created Baroness Finlay of Llandaff for life 28 Jun 2001
23 Feb 1949
FINN
14 Oct 2015 B[L] Simone Jari Finn
Created Baroness Finn for life 14 Oct 2015
10 Jun 1968
FINSBERG
27 Jun 1992 B[L] Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
Created Baron Finsberg for life 27 Jun 1992
MP for Hampstead 1970‑1983 and Hampstead & Highgate 1983‑1992
Peerage extinct on his death
13 Jun 1926 7 Oct 1996 70
FISHER
7 Dec 1909 B 1 John Arbuthnot Fisher
Created Baron Fisher 7 Dec 1909
Admiral of the Fleet 1905; OM 1905
25 Jan 1841 10 Jul 1920 79
10 Jul 1920 2 Cecil Vavasseur-Fisher 18 Jul 1868 11 May 1955 86
11 May 1955 3 John Vavasseur Fisher 24 Jul 1921 31 Oct 2012 91
31 Oct 2012 4 Patrick Vavasseur Fisher 14 Jun 1953
FISHER OF CAMDEN
19 Jun 1974
to    
12 Oct 1979
B[L] Sir Samuel Fisher
Created Baron Fisher of Camden for life 19 Jun 1974
Peerage extinct on his death
20 Jan 1905 12 Oct 1979 74
FISHER OF LAMBETH
2 Jun 1961
to    
14 Sep 1972
B[L] Geoffrey Francis Fisher
Created Baron Fisher of Lambeth for life 2 Jun 1961
Bishop of Chester 1932‑1939; Bishop of London 1939‑1945 and Archbishop of Canterbury 1945‑1961; PC 1939
Peerage extinct on his death
5 May 1887 14 Sep 1972 85
FISHER OF REDNAL
2 Jul 1974
to    
18 Dec 2005
B[L] Doris Mary Gertrude Fisher
Created Baroness Fisher of Rednal for life 2 Jul 1974
MP for Ladywood 1970‑1974; MEP 1975‑1979
Peerage extinct on her death
13 Sep 1919 18 Dec 2005 86
FISHERWICK
3 Jul 1790 B 1 Arthur Chichester, 5th Earl of Donegall
Created Baron Fisherwick 3 Jul 1790
See "Donegall"
13 Jun 1739 5 Jan 1799 59
FISKE
18 Sep 1967
to    
13 Jan 1975
B[L] Sir William Geoffrey Fiske
Created Baron Fiske for life 18 Sep 1967
Peerage extinct on his death
3 Jul 1905 13 Jan 1975 69
FITT
14 Oct 1983
to    
26 Aug 2005
B[L] Gerard Fitt
Created Baron Fitt for life 14 Oct 1983
MP for Belfast West 1966‑1983
Peerage extinct on his death
9 Apr 1926 26 Aug 2005 79
FITZALAN
23 Jun 1295
to    
B 1 Brian Fitzalan
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Fitzalan 23 Jun 1295
On his death the peerage fell into abeyance
1 Jun 1306
FITZALAN OF DERWENT
28 Apr 1921 V 1 Edmund Bernard Fitzalan-Howard
Created Viscount Fitzalan of Derwent 28 Apr 1921
MP for Chichester 1894‑1921; Viceroy of Ireland 1921‑1922; PC 1918; PC [I] 1921; KG 1925
1 Jun 1855 18 May 1947 91
18 May 1947
to    
17 May 1962
2 Henry Edmund Fitzalan-Howard
Peerage extinct on his death
30 Oct 1883 17 May 1962 78
FITZBERNARD
8 Jan 1313 B 1 Thomas Fitzbernard
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Fitzbernard 8 Jan 1313
5 Jan 1289 18 Dec 1322 33
18 Dec 1322
to    
4 Apr 1361
2 John Fitzbernard
Peerage extinct on his death
4 Apr 1361
FITZCLARENCE
4 Jun 1831 V 1 George Augustus Frederick FitzClarence
Created Baron Tewkesbury, Viscount FitzClarence and Earl of Munster 4 Jun 1831
See "Munster"
16 Jan 1794 20 Mar 1842 48
FITZGERALD
23 Jun 1882
to    
16 Oct 1889
B[L] John David FitzGerald
Created Baron FitzGerald for life 23 Jun 1882
MP for Ennis 1852‑1860; Solicitor General of Ireland 1855‑1856; Attorney General of Ireland 1856‑1858 and 1859‑1860; Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1882‑1889; PC [I] 1856; PC 1882
Peerage extinct on his death
1 May 1816 16 Oct 1889 73
FITZGERALD OF OFFALY
1176 B[I] 1 Maurice FitzGerald
Received a grant of the Barony of Offaly 1176
Sep 1177
Sep 1177 2 Gerald FitzGerald 1205
1205 3 Maurice FitzGerald 1195 20 May 1257 61
20 May 1257 4 Maurice FitzGerald 1277
1277 5 Gerald FitzGerald 1287
1287 6 Maurice FitzGerald c 1294
c 1294 7 John FitzThomas FitzGerald
He was created Earl of Kildare in 1316 with which title this peerage then merged
c 1250 10 Sep 1316
FITZGERALD AND VESEY
31 Jul 1826 B[I] 1 Catherine Fitzgerald
Created Baroness Fitzgerald and Vesey 31 Jul 1826
1759 3 Jan 1832 72
3 Jan 1832
10 Jan 1835
to    
11 May 1843
 
B
2
1
William Vesey-Fitzgerald
Created Baron Fitzgerald 10 Jan 1835
MP for Clare 1818‑1828, Newport (Cornwall) 1829‑1830, Lostwithiel 1830 and Ennis 1808‑1812, 1813‑1818 and 1831‑1835; President of the Board of Control 1841‑1843; Lord Lieutenant Clare 1831‑1843; PC [I] 1810; PC 1812
On his death the UK Barony became extinct whilst the Irish Barony passed to -
c 1782 11 May 1843
11 May 1843
to    
30 Mar 1860
3 Henry Vesey-Fitzgerald
Peerage extinct on his death
c 1786 30 Mar 1860
FITZGIBBON
6 Jul 1789
6 Dec 1793
24 Sep 1799
B[I]
V[I]
B
1
1
1
John Fitzgibbon
Created Baron Fitzgibbon [I] 6 Jul 1789, Viscount Fitzgibbon [I] 6 Dec 1793, Earl of Clare [I] 12 Jun 1795 and Baron Fitzgibbon [GB] 24 Sep 1799
See "Clare"
1748 28 Jan 1802 53
FITZHARDINGE
14 Jul 1663 V[I] 1 Charles Berkeley
Created Baron Berkeley of Rathdowne and Viscount Fitzhardinge 14 Jul 1663 and Baron Botetourt of Langport and Earl of Falmouth 17 Mar 1665
MP for New Romney 1661‑1665
11 Jan 1630 3 Jun 1665 35
3 Jun 1665 2 Charles Berkeley
MP for Heytesbury 1661‑1665
14 Dec 1599 12 Jun 1668 68
12 Jun 1668 3 Sir Maurice Berkeley, 1st baronet
MP for Wells 1661‑1679 and Bath 1681‑1690; Lord Lieutenant Somerset 1689‑1690; PC [I] 1663
15 Jun 1628 13 Jun 1690 61
13 Jun 1690
to    
19 Dec 1712
4 John Berkeley
MP for Hindon 1691‑1695 and Windsor 1695‑1710
Peerage extinct on his death
18 Apr 1650 19 Dec 1712 62

17 Aug 1841
to    
10 Oct 1857
E 1 William Fitzhardinge Berkeley
Created Baron Segrave of Berkeley Castle 10 Sep 1831 and Earl Fitzhardinge 17 Aug 1841
MP for Gloucestershire 1810‑1811; Lord Lieutenant Gloucester 1835‑1857
Peerages extinct on his death
26 Dec 1786 10 Oct 1857 70

5 Aug 1861 B 1 Sir Maurice Frederick Fitzhardinge Berkeley
Created Baron Fitzhardinge 5 Aug 1861
MP for Gloucester 1831‑1833, 1835‑1837 and 1841‑1857; PC 1855
3 Jan 1788 17 Oct 1867 79
17 Oct 1867 2 Francis William Fitzhardinge Berkeley
MP for Cheltenham 1856‑1865
16 Nov 1826 29 Jun 1896 69
29 Jun 1896
to    
5 Dec 1916
3 Charles Paget Fitzhardinge Berkeley
MP for Gloucester 1862‑1865
Peerage extinct on his death
19 Apr 1830 5 Dec 1916 86
FITZHARRIS
29 Dec 1800 V 1 James Harris, 1st Baron Malmesbury
Created Viscount Fitzharris and Earl of Malmesbury 29 Dec 1800
See "Malmesbury"
9 Apr 1746 21 Nov 1820 74
FITZHENRY
4 Mar 1309 B 1 Aucher Fitzhenry
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Fitzhenry 4 Mar 1309
10 Apr 1339
10 Apr 1339
to    
after 1345
2 Henry Fitzaucher
On his death the peerage became either dormant or extinct
1299 after 1345
FITZHERBERT
26 Jun 1660 B 1 Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Winchilsea
Created Baron Fitzherbert 26 Jun 1660
See "Winchilsea"
c 1627 1 Sep 1689
FITZHUGH
15 May 1321 B 1 Henry FitzHugh
Summoned to Parliament as Lord FitzHugh 15 May 1321
1356
1356 2 Henry FitzHugh 1338 29 Aug 1386 48
29 Aug 1386 3 Henry FitzHugh
KG c 1409
1363 11 Jan 1425 61
11 Jan 1425 4 William FitzHugh 1398 22 Oct 1452 54
22 Oct 1452 5 Henry FitzHugh 1429 4 Jun 1472 42
4 Jun 1472 6 Richard FitzHugh 1457 20 Nov 1487 30
20 Nov 1487
to    
28 Jan 1513
7 George FitzHugh
On his death the peerage fell into abeyance
28 Jan 1513
FITZJOHN
23 Jun 1295
to    
5 Aug 1297
B 1 Richard Fitzjohn
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Fitzjohn 23 Jun 1295
Peerage extinct on his death
1252 5 Aug 1297 45
FITZMAURICE
7 Oct 1751 V[I] 1 John Petty
Created Baron Dunkeron and Viscount Fitzmaurice 7 Oct 1751, Earl of Shelburne 6 Jun 1753 and Baron Wycombe 20 May 1760
See "Shelburne"
1706 10 May 1761 54

9 Jan 1906
to    
21 Jun 1935
B 1 Edmond George Petty-Fitzmaurice
Created Baron Fitzmaurice 9 Jan 1906
MP for Calne 1868‑1885 and Cricklade 1898‑1905; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1898‑1909; PC 1908
Peerage extinct on his death
19 Jun 1846 21 Jun 1935 89
FITZPAYNE
6 Feb 1299 B 1 Robert Fitzpayne
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Fitzpayne 6 Feb 1299
22 Aug 1316
22 Aug 1316
to    
30 Nov 1354
2 Robert Fitzpayne
On his death the peerage became dormant until 1450 when it fell into abeyance
1288 30 Nov 1354 66
FITZREGINALD
29 Dec 1299 B 1 John Fitzreginald
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Fitzreginald 29 Dec 1299
10 Feb 1310
10 Feb 1310
to    
after 1310
2 Herbert Fitz-John Fitzreginald
On his death the peerage is presumed to have become extinct
after 1310
FITZROGER
6 Feb 1299 B 1 John Fitzroger
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Fitzroger 6 Feb 1299
10 Apr 1299 B 2 Andrew Fitzroger
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Fitzroger 10 Apr 1299
Nothing further is known of these peerages
FITZWALTER
23 Jun 1295 B 1 Robert FitzWalter
Summoned to Parliament as Lord FitzWalter 23 Jun 1295
1247 18 Jan 1325 77
18 Jan 1325 2 Robert FitzWalter c 1297 6 May 1328
6 May 1328 3 John FitzWalter c 1314 18 Oct 1361
18 Oct 1361 4 Walter FitzWalter 1345 26 Sep 1386 41
26 Sep 1386 5 Walter FitzWalter c 1368 16 May 1406
16 May 1406 6 Humphrey FitzWalter 18 Oct 1398 1 Sep 1415 16
1 Sep 1415 7 Walter FitzWalter 22 Jun 1401 25 Nov 1431 30
25 Nov 1431 8 Elizabeth Radcliffe 28 Jul 1430 c 1485
c 1485
to    
24 Nov 1496
9 John Radcliffe
He was attainted and the peerage forfeited
1 Jan 1452 24 Nov 1496 44
25 Jan 1506
18 Jun 1525
 
V
10
1
Robert Radclyffe
Created Viscount FitzWalter 18 Jun 1525 and Earl of Sussex 8 Dec 1529
KG 1524
Restored to the peerage 1506
c 1483 27 Nov 1542
27 Nov 1542 11
2
Henry Radclyffe, 2nd Earl of Sussex c 1507 17 Feb 1557
17 Feb 1557 12
3
Thomas Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Sussex
He was summoned to Parliament by a Writ of Acceleration as Baron FitzWalter 24 Aug 1553
c 1525 9 Jun 1583
9 Jun 1583 13
4
Henry Radclyffe, 4th Earl of Sussex c 1532 14 Dec 1593
14 Dec 1593 14
5
Robert Radclyffe, 5th Earl of Sussex
On his death the Viscountcy passed to Edward Radclyffe, 6th Earl of Sussex (see below) whilst the Barony passed to -
12 Jun 1573 22 Sep 1629 56
22 Sep 1629 15 Henry Mildmay c 1585 1654
1654 16 Henry Mildmay 24 Mar 1662
24 Mar 1662 17 Benjamin Mildmay c 1646 1 Jun 1679
1 Jun 1679 18 Charles Mildmay 31 Aug 1670 16 Feb 1728 57
16 Feb 1728
14 May 1730
to    
29 Feb 1756
 
E
19
1
Benjamin Mildmay
Created Viscount Harwich and Earl FitzWalter 14 May 1730 (not 1735 as shown in Burke's Peerage)
President of the Board of Trade 1735‑1756; Lord Lieutenant Essex 1741‑1756; PC 1735
On his death the creations of 1730 became extinct and the Barony fell into abeyance
27 Dec 1672 29 Feb 1756 83
30 Sep 1924
14 May 1730
to    
12 Sep 1932
20 Henry Fitzwalter Plumptre
Abeyance terminated in his favour 1924. On his death the peerage again fell into abeyance
For information on claims to this peerage made in 1841-1844 and 1924, see the note at the foot of this page
12 Dec 1860 12 Sep 1932 71
28 May 1953 21 Fitzwalter Brook Plumptre
Abeyance terminated in his favour 1953
15 Jan 1914 14 Oct 2004 90
14 Oct 2004 22 Julian Brook Plumptre 18 Oct 1952

22 Sep 1629
to    
Aug 1643
V 6 Edward Radclyffe, 6th Earl of Sussex
Peerage extinct on his death
c 1559 Aug 1643
FITZWALTER OF WOODHAM WALTER
17 Apr 1868
to    
6 Dec 1875
B 1 Brook William Bridges, 5th baronet
Created Baron Fitzwalter of Woodham Walter 17 Apr 1868
MP for Kent East 1852 and 1857‑1868
Peerage extinct on his death
2 Jun 1801 6 Dec 1875 74
FITZWARINE
23 Jun 1295 B 1 Fulke Fitzwarine
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Fitzwarine 23 Jun 1295
c 1250 c 1315
c 1315 2 Fulke Fitzwarine 1349
1349 3 Fulke Fitzwarine c 1342 Mar 1373
Mar 1373 4 Fulke Fitzwarine 1378
1378 5 Fulke Fitzwarine c 1363 8 Aug 1391
8 Aug 1391 6 Fulke Fitzwarine c 1388 Oct 1407
Oct 1407 7 Fulke Fitzwarine 1406 21 Sep 1420 14
21 Sep 1420
to    
c 1428
8 Elizabeth Hankford
On her death the peerage fell into abeyance
c 1403 c 1428
2 Jan 1449 9 Thomazine Bourchier
She married Sir William Bourchier who was summoned to Parliament as Lord Fitzwarine in her right in 1449. He died c 1471
c 1421 26 Mar 1467
c 1471 10 Fulke Bourchier 12 Sep 1479
12 Sep 1479 11 John Bourchier
He was created Earl of Bath in 1536
c 1470 30 Apr 1539
30 Apr 1539 12 John Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Bath 1499 10 Feb 1561 61
10 Feb 1561 13 William Bourchier, 3rd Earl of Bath by 1557 12 Jul 1623
12 Jul 1623
to    
2 Mar 1637
14 Edward Bourchier, 4th Earl of Bath
On his death the peerage again fell into abeyance
Feb 1590 2 Mar 1637 47

25 Feb 1342 B 1 William Fitzwarine
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Fitzwarine 25 Feb 1342
28 Oct 1361
28 Oct 1361
to    
6 Sep 1414
2 Ivo Fitzwarine
On his death the peerage fell into abeyance
6 Sep 1414
 

Thomas ffrench, 2nd Baron ffrench
Both the title and the family name are spelled with a lower case double-'f'.
The 2nd Baron ffrench committed suicide in the room of one of his sons at Trinity College, Dublin, on 9 December 1814. The following account of the inquest held into his death is taken from The Caledonian Mercury of 26 December 1814.
On Saturday an inquest was held by Alderman Bloxham, Coroner, on the body of the late Right Hon. Thomas ffrench. The Jury, after identifying and examining the body, adjourned to the Medical Lecture Room, in the College, where the inquest was held.
Surgeon Richard Stanley Ireland, deposed, that the deceased came by his death by a ball from a gun or pistol, passing through the right side of his head.
Matthew Rawden, sworn - is servant to Gonville ffrench, Esq., and other young gentlemen of the College; saw Lord ffrench, for the last time alive, on Friday, about two o'clock; deceased called witness into the room where the body is, and told him to sign his name to a paper which lay on the table; witness asked the contents; deceased said, "no matter, sign your name after mine;" witness did so; deceased remarked (as witness thought in a jesting tone) "you take up much room;" witness did not remark any thing unusual, but thought that deceased looked frightened, and paced the room backwards and forwards very fast; witness remained about five minutes in the room; then went to the room of Mr Pakenham opposite; heard a shot; did not know from whence it was fired; thought it not extraordinary, as some young gentlemen might amuse themselves by firing their pistols; remained about half an hour, when he again entered the room of Mr ffrench, it was full of smoke; he saw Lord ffrench lying on the carpet, with his face covered with blood; entered the room by a key in his possession, merely about his business; thinks he heard two shots, almost at the same moment; is sure he was the first who entered the room; he would have heard if any other person entered; when he saw the body, he returned immediately to Mr Pakenham's room, and said there was a shocking sight in the next room; Mr Pakenham, Mr Smyth, and witness entered the room where the deceased lay, and saw him, apparently dead; witness saw the deceased at McDonald's Hotel, in Mary Street, the day before; saw him during the day on which this event happened; heard persons say he appeared deranged; there was no person in the room when witness signed the paper [apart from Lord ffrench, one assumes]; it was a printed paper, with the name of ffrench subscribed.
Mr Magrath, the Police Magistrate, here produced a letter marked "private" directed to the Hon. Thomas ffrench; it was found on the chimney piece; it was sealed with wax, bearing the impression of a tenpenny bank token.
Counsellor O'Dwyer here said, that he conceived it his duty to state to the Jury, that they would exceed their duty by opening a letter, which was the property of the Hon. Thomas ffrench. It would be an outrage on the sacredness of a seal, which no principle of law authorised.
Alderman Bloxham thought it his duty to submit any document to the Jury which would tend to satisfy their minds in giving their verdict; however, he would wait to hear whatever evidence would be produced. He said, that he could call to mind no instance of Counsel being employed in a case of this nature.
Counsellor O'Dwyer answered, that in the course of a practice of twenty years he had been frequently heard at inquests.
The letter was not opened.
Christopher Hughes, examined - Knew the deceased for many years; saw him last on Thursday, in the hall of the Four Courts, between two and three o'clock; observed that he looked more joyous than a man under pressure of such misfortunes could be supposed to do. Witness dined with the deceased on Thursday last, at Radcliffe's tavern; they drank small beer at dinner; had no wine; deceased called for a glass of rum, part of which he made into punch. Deceased talked very incoherently, so as to impress witness with a notion that he was insane; deceased talked something of one man being fed on venison, and another on mutton; but it was so foolish that witness could not understand him; witness dreaded some misfortune; on his oath he did not consider deceased to be of sound mind.
Mr J. Ormsby, sworn - Knew the deceased 25 years; met him on Friday about one o'clock, at the lower end of Nassau Street; he looked gloomy and heavy; when witness approached, he thought deceased looked wild, he held down his head without saluting him; thought he must have seen him; was always in the habit of saluting witness; when he went home, he remarked to his partner that Lord ffrench seemed distracted.
R.B. Foster, Esq., sworn - the daughter of Lord ffrench is married to the elder brother of witness; he saw the deceased on Wednesday last, and wished to speak to him; Lord ffrench appeared unusually busy, and did not salute witness; never passed witness before without saluting him; thought the deceased rather sharp sighted than otherwise; when he saw deceased in this unusual mood, he was uneasy lest he might have a duel on his hands; attempted several times to speak to the deceased, but was always avoided; he mentioned this to a gentleman who was with him; witness had a conversation with the deceased afterwards; he appeared inconsistent both in mind and manner; witness remarked the same to his family.
Peter Nugent Daly, Esq., sworn - Is an officer in the 95th regiment; returned to this country on Monday last; waited on Lord ffrench on Tuesday; was received in a most friendly manner; witness saw the deceased again on Thursday, in Henry Street; witness was walking with an officer, to whom he said, "This is Lord ffrench". The officer remarked that he looked hurried in thought; witness said, "How do you do, my Lord?" deceased made no answer; he took deceased by the hand, who looked wildly on witness; asked several questions of deceased, but received no answer; witness thought him mad, and told his mother when he went home that Lord ffrench would lose his reason.
John Daniel Byrne, Esq., swore - that he and the deceased were intimately acquainted; he met him on Thursday in Charles Street; deceased stared at witness without appearing to know him, though he always treated witness with courtesy and attention; he thought, at the time, that deceased was deranged.
Isaac Cahill, sworn - Is apprentice to Mr Betagh, attorney; saw Lord ffrench last on Thursday, in the Four Courts; he expressed to his Lordship that he was glad a certain matter of business had terminated as his Lordship wished; deceased immediately started off, with seeming to regard him; deceased had always been extremely polite to him; he had waited on him on Saturday last, to settle some professional business; deceased began to talk of extraneous matter, which had no relation to the business he came about; was complaining to witness of some treachery which witness could not understand; deceased interrupted the business by introducing various other subjects; deceased had always been a man of uncommon precision in business.
John Ffrench Madden, Esq., sworn - Knew deceased for many years; saw him last on Thursday; did not consider him sound in mind; he observed to his partner, Mr Kelly, that there seemed a wonderful alteration of intellect in his Lordship.
Richard Pakenham, Esq., sworn - Is a member of the University; entered the room where deceased lay, along with Rawden, the first witness; observed deceased, as before described, with a pistol in his hand; has seen Lord ffrench often, but did not know him as an acquaintance.
The evidence ended here.
There were two bags of papers found in the room, which the Jury wished to inspect. To this Counsellor O'Dwyer objected; they had no proof that these papers were the property of the deceased; they were found in the room of Gonville ffrench, Esq., and it would be exceeding the limits of their duty to inspect them. He commented on the evidence which had been given. He hoped that the Jury would not, by returning a verdict, aggravate the misfortunes of this afflicted family, by which the chattels and goods of the deceased must revert to the Crown [until 1961 English law considered suicide (or attempted suicide) to be a crime punishable by forfeiture of goods and property to the Crown unless the suicide was the result of madness or illness]; of this he had no apprehensions, satisfied as he was, that their verdict would flow from the evidence before them.
The Jury, after consulting about half an hour, returned a verdict of Insanity.
Lord ffrench is described as being a 'prominent banker'. In the Dublin Freeman's Journal of 9 December 1814, it is stated that "the perplexities into which his Lordship was plunged, by the unfortunate storm which had so unexpectedly overtaken the great banking concern with which he once had a connection, is the only cause to which this melancholy catastrophe can be traced".
The date of the second creation of the Dukedom of Fife
The standard works of reference on the peerage all state that the second creation of the Dukedom of Fife occurred on 24 April 1900. The creation was announced in the London Gazette on that date (for the wording of the announcement see the following note). The entry does not include any date of the creation, and it appears that the standard works of reference have simply adopted the date of the Gazette as being the date of creation.
Another website devoted to the peerage is that maintained by David Beamish. David's excellent page can be found at http://www.peerages.info/. I noted that his page shows a date of creation of the 2nd Dukedom of Fife of 16 October 1899. I therefore wrote to David, and he very kindly provided me with additional information in support of that date. David referred me to C231/19, page 153, of the Crown Office Docket Books held in the National Archives. Another friend, Richard Rutter, who is also very interested in matters pertaining to the peerage, has now provided me with a photograph of the relevant page referred to above.
The entry reads "Letters Patent granting unto His Grace Alexander William George Duke of Fife K.T. the dignities of an Earl and Duke of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland by the respective names styles and titles of Earl of Macduff in the County of Banff and Duke of Fife to hold the same to him and the heirs male of his marriage with Her Royal Highness Princess Louise Victoria Alexandra Dagmar of Wales Duchess of Fife with remainder to Lady Alexandra Victoria Alberta Edwina Louisa Duff by the respective names styles and titles of Countess of Macduff aforesaid and Duchess of Fife and her heirs male and in default of such issue with remainder to Lady Maud Alexandra Victoria Georgina Bertha Duff by the same names styles and titles and her heirs male and in default of such issue to the after born daughters of the said Alexander William George Duke of Fife by his aforesaid marriage by the same names styles and titles and their respective heirs male. Dated 16th October 1899. By Warrant."
My thanks to David and Richard for their assistance in resolving this question.
The special remainders to the Earldom of Macduff and Dukedom of Fife created in 1899
From the London Gazette of 24 April 1900 (issue 27186, page 2605):-
The Queen has been pleased, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to grant the dignities of Earl and Duke of the said United Kingdom unto unto Alexander William George, Duke of Fife, K.T., by the names, styles, and titles of Earl of Macduff, in the county of Banff, and Duke of Fife: With remainder to the heirs male of his body by his marriage with Her Royal Highness Princess Louise Victoria Alexandra Dagmar of Wales. With remainder in default of such issue to their elder daughter, Alexandra Victoria Alberta Edwina Louise Duff, commonly called Lady Alexandra Victoria Alberta Edwaina Louise Duff, by the names, styles, and titles of Countess of Macduff, in the county of Banff, and Duchess of Fife: and after her decease with remainder to her heirs male by the names, styles, and titles of Earl of Macduff and Duke of Fife.
The shipwrecking of the Duke of Fife and his family in December 1911
In late 1911, while on their way to Egypt, the ship in which the Fife family were travelling was wrecked off the coast of Morocco, near Tangier. The following edited account of the family's subsequent hardships appeared in The Times on 14 December 1911:-
The P. and O. liner Delhi, with the Duke and Duchess of Fife and their two daughters, Princess Alexandra and Princess Maud, among her passengers on board, stranded in dirty weather at 2 o'clock yesterday morning two miles off Cape Spartel [at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, 12 km west of Tangier]. The Royal Party were on their way to Egypt, where the Princess Royal has wintered of late years.
The fact having been reported by wireless telegraphy and the ship's position appearing to be critical, the torpedo-boat No. 93 immediately proceeded at full speed from Gibraltar to the scene of the occurrence, followed by the battleship London, the cruiser Duke of Edinburgh, and the Admiralty tug Energetic, towing the Gibraltar lifeboat. Salvage steamers were also sent. Later the cruiser Weymouth also left with an artillery party and live-saving apparatus on board. The Atlantic Fleet, which was to have left homeward bound yesterday, was at once detained.
The Royal Party were rescued, and the passengers are reported to be in safety. Three seamen of the French cruiser Friant, which had a prominent part in the work of rescue, were drowned. The boat carrying the Princess Royal, her husband, and two daughters to the shore sank when still some distance from the beach. All were wearing lifebelts and floated to the surface, but were terribly buffeted by the waves. Princess Alexandra disappeared for a moment under the sea. After suffering great hardships the party reached Tangier.
The following Marconi message has been received from Cadiz:- "Royal party on board s.s. Delhi desire following published in all English papers:- 'S.s. Delhi to Queen Alexandra, London. All safe - LOUISE' "
THE STRANDING OF THE DELHI - THE PRINCESS ROYAL'S EXCITING EXPERIENCE (From our Correspondent) - The P. and O. Liner Delhi ran ashore at an early hour some three miles south of Cape Spartel. The night was very black and stormy with strong westerly winds and torrential rains. It was about 2 a.m. when the vessel struck and the passengers, amongst whom were the Princess Royal, the Duke of Fife, and the Princesses Alexandra and Maud, were immediately summoned to the deck saloon. They had not time even to dress, and some were in nightdresses with such coats as they could pick up in the hurry of the moment. The vessel took a list shortly after striking, and the water entered the lower cabins.
Meanwhile, news had reached Tangier and the French cruiser Friant proceeded to the scene of the wreck. The sea was running very high, and there was considerable difficulty in communicating with the ship. Some women and children, however, were transhipped safely to the warships London and Duke of Edinburgh, which had arrived from Gibraltar meanwhile.
An accident to Friant's vedette [small naval launch] caused this transhipment to be abandoned, and I regret to have to relate that in saving British passengers in a dangerous sea three French sailors of the vedette lost their lives, being washed into the sea and drowned.
Owing to the heavy sea that was running the naval authorities decided that the Princess Royal and her party must be landed on the shore, as that course would be less dangerous than transshipment. Shortly before 11 o'clock her Royal Highness with the Princesses Alexandra and Maud and the Duke of Fife went on board a boat belonging to the cruiser Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by Rear-Admiral [Christopher] Cradock [1862‑1914]. Very considerable difficulty was experienced in getting into the boat, and the ladies had literally to be dropped and caught. When the boat was still some way from the shore the breakers began to fill her, in spite of the fact that the Duke and others bailed as hard as possible. While the boat was still some distance from the beach she filled and sank. The whole party were wearing lifebelts, and they floated to the surface of the water, where they were terribly buffeted by the waves. Princess Alexandra disappeared for a moment under the sea. However, after great efforts and after the members of the Royal party had been washed off their feet in the shallower water they were safely landed.
The rain was falling in torrents and the gale was fierce; and, drenched, cold, and clothed in nightdresses and coats, the Princesses struggled over the rocky shore to Cape Spartel lighthouse, some four miles away. The track was only a rocky path and the sufferings of the party were extreme. On their arrival at the lighthouse such clothing as could be found was given to them and hot coffee was prepared. Sir Reginald Lister [son of the 3rd Baron Ribblesdale, 1865‑1912], the British Minister, arrived a little later at the lighthouse with spare horses and such wraps as he had been able hurriedly to get together. I accompanied him, and on our arrival the Duke of Fife, who was still in his nightshirt and was wearing a pair of lighthouse-keeper's trousers, informed the Princess that a start could be made for Tangier. Her Royal Highness, who looked pale but was remarkably calm, accompanied by the Princesses, came out from a little room in which they had been warming themselves by a wood fire.
Having mounted mules, in pouring rain the weary party set out for Tangier, some ten miles distant. It is no exaggeration to say that all were in a pitiable plight, clothed in such garments as could be found in an African lighthouse, cold, and wet. But in spite of this her Royal Highness and all the party showed most remarkable courage and pluck, and, during the long ride of over three hours in pouring rain, concealed the fatigue from which they were all undoubtedly suffering, talking cheerfully the whole way.
From those who had been with them in the ship and in the boat when the accident that so nearly proved fatal happened, I hear the same account of the courage with which the Princess Royal and all the members of the party faced their great danger.
It was after 6 o'clock this evening when the Princess Royal, the Duke of Fife, and the two Princesses, drenched with rain, arrived on muleback, guided by the glimmer of a few native lanterns, at the British Legation, where every preparation had been made for their reception. Their luggage remains on board the Delhi, and they have no clothes except the lighthouse-keeper's garments in which they made the journey from Cape Spartel.
Although he appeared to have survived his ordeal with no ill-effects, the Duke caught a chill which subsequently turned to pleurisy, and he died less than two months later at Aswan in Egypt.
The claims made for the Fitzwalter barony in 1841‑1844 and 1924
The following report appeared in The Times on 19 July 1844:-
Yesterday the House of Lords sat in a committee for privileges, to hear the further proceedings upon the claim to this barony, on the part of Sir Brook William Bridges, Bart.
Mr. Wigram [for the claimant] proceeded at considerable length to sum up the evidence which had been adduced before the committee, from which it appeared that the barony of Fitzwalter was a barony in fee, and that the first Baron had been summoned to the Upper House in the reign of Edward I; that in 1670 the barony had devolved on Benjamin Mildmay, claiming through his father, Robert Mildmay; that this Benjamin had left issue, but that on the death of his second son, also named Benjamin, in 1756, all issue in that line had become extinct. The evidence then, continued the learned counsel, had gone on to establish that, exclusive of the said Benjamin Mildmay, afterwards Lord Fitzwalter, the only children of Robert Mildmay were an elder son, Henry, who had died without issue, and an only daughter, who had married Henry Mildmay of Graces; and therefore that upon the extinction of the descendants of the said Benjamin Mildmay, the title would have fallen upon Mary Mildmay, if she had been alive. It then appeared, that amongst other children, this Mary Mildmay had had issue a daughter named Lucy, who married Thomas Gardiner, and a daughter named Frances, who married Christopher Fowler, and a daughter Catherine, who married Thomas Townsend. All the children of Mary Mildmay died without ever having had issue, with the exception of the said Lucy, Frances, and Catherine. Now the present claimant was by lineal descent the heir of Frances Fowler. The learned counsel next went on to show, that upon the evidence it had been clearly proved that the descendants of Catherine Mildmay had entirely failed, and that Lucy Mildmay, afterwards Gardiner, her sister, had left no other descendant than a grand-daughter named Jemima, who had married one Robert Duke, whose descendants, notwithstanding the most diligent search and inquiries which had been made, it had been impossible to find, and were consequently supposed to be extinct. The result of the evidence on the whole case, therefore, was, that on the death of the last Baron Fitzwalter in 1756, the barony had fallen into abeyance between Fanny Fowler, who married the grandfather of the present claimant (Sir Brook Bridges), Dame Lucy Bacon, and Jemima Duke, as the then co-heirs of Mary Mildmay; that the said Dame Lucy Bacon had afterwards died without issue, and that no descendant of the said Jemima Duke could now be discovered. Upon this state of facts it was humbly submitted to their Lordships that the barony had now either devolved absolutely on the claimant, or that, if there should chance to be existing a descendant of Jemima Duke, then that the barony was in abeyance between the claimant and such descendant, and their Lordships were therefore prayed to report to the House accordingly.
The Solicitor-General [Sir Frederic Thesiger, later Baron Chelmsford], who appeared for the first time in this case, said he had carefully looked through the evidence, which appeared to him to have satisfactorily proved the pedigree which had been put in. It afforded him pleasure, too, to add that the present Lord Chief Baron [Sir Jonathan Pollock], who had been Attorney-General while the various witnesses had been undergoing examination at their Lordships' bar, had entertained a similar opinion as to the sufficiency of proof. There were only two points, therefore, to which he would draw the attention of the committee - first, that there had not been any evidence offered for the purpose of proving how it had happened that a period of 88 years [i.e. 1756 to 1844] had been permitted to pass without any attempt to set up a claim to the barony being made; there had in truth been no endeavour to show how it was that the barony had been allowed to remain dormant for so many years; and next, as to the insufficiency of evidence in reference to the extinction of the branch of Gardiner. He could not tell whether the committee would consider the very little evidence, which had been given upon that point in the case as satisfactory, but at any rate it was his duty to direct their attention to it.
The Lord Chancellor did not think that there was sufficient evidence to account for the descendants of Jemima Duke.
The Solicitor-General said, no doubt where a lady in her station had contracted a marriage, as appeared to have been the case, with a person who was greatly her inferior, there would be great difficulty in tracing out her descendants, the moreso, too, as she and her husband and family had gone abroad, and had not since been heard of.
The Lord Chancellor wished to hear what Mr. Wigram had to say to these points.
Mr. Wigram did not apprehend that delay would be held as a bar to the claim. But the truth was that until the present claimant there had not, since 1756, been any descendant who had been in a position to enable him to aspire to a seat in their Lordships' House. He was quite aware that with regard to the extinction of the Gardiners' branch of the descendants, the evidence might not be held to be sufficient, and therefore it was that he had prayed, that if the committee should not be of opinion that the barony had devolved absolutely upon the present claimant, then that they would be of opinion that the barony was in abeyance between the claimant and such descendant of the said Jemima Duke.
The Lord Chancellor considered this last point to have been clearly made out at all events - namely, that the claimant was co-heir to the barony. The question in this form was then understood to be put by the noble chairman of the committee, and that a report to that effect be made to the House, and to be unanimously carried.
Sir Brook Bridges had, therefore, been found to be a co-heir to the barony of Fitzwalter. This was a long way short of being found to be the sole heir, and he never became the holder of the ancient peerage. However, in 1868, he was created Baron Fitzwalter of Woodham Walter, but this title became extinct on his death in 1875.
More successful was Sir Brook Bridges' great-nephew, in whose favour the abeyance was terminated in 1924. His petition for the termination of the abeyance was reported in The Times of 27 May 1924:-
A petition has been presented by Henry Fitzwalter Plumptre, of Goodnestone Park, Canterbury, claiming to be Baron Fitzwalter in the peerage of England, or in the alternative a co-heir to the barony, and asking that any abeyance in existence may be determined in his favour. The petition has been referred to the Committee for Privileges to consider and report.
Unlike many of the baronies by writ which have been called out of abeyance during the last 100 years, the Barony of Fitzwalter, which dates from 1295, was actually enjoyed by a number of successive generations of holders who were summoned to Parliament and sat as lords 1295‑1325, 1340‑1360, 1369‑1385, 1390‑1404, and 1429‑1430. The widow of the third lord, Philippa de Mohun, married the second Duke of York, who was killed at Agincourt. The fourth [sixth] lord was carried off as a slave by Barbary pirates. With the death of the fifth [seventh] lord in 1431 the direct male line of the original Sir Robert Fitzwalter, of Woodham Walter, came to an end and the barony passed to John Radcliffe, son of Elizabeth, daughter of the fifth [seventh] lord, who had married the son of Sir John Radcliffe, K.G. He was summoned to Parliament as a baron in 1485 and sat until attainted for high treason in connexion with Perkin Warbeck's claim to the Throne in 1495. He was beheaded at Calais in 1496. His son obtained a reversal of his father's attainder in 1506 and was summoned as seventh [tenth] lord in 1511. He was created Viscount Fitzwalter in 1525 and Earl of Sussex in 1529, and, except for the years 1553-1557, when the son of second earl was summoned in his father's barony to the House of Lords, the Barony of Fitzwalter was merged in the Earldom of Sussex until the death of the fifth earl in 1629, when it passed to the descendants of the Lady Frances, daughter of the second earl, who had married Sir Thomas Mildmay.
Her son, Sir Henry Mildmay, claimed the barony in 1641 and 1645, but the times were disturbed and unpropitious for his case [being during the English Civil War], and his grandson Henry, a minor, who claimed it after the Restoration, died in 1662, before any decision had been reached. Henry's brother Benjamin renewed the claim and was summoned to Parliament as Lord Fitzwalter in 1670. The barony was merged in the Viscountcy of Harwich in 1730 and in the Earldom of Fitzwalter in 1735 [sic - the Earldom was created at the same time as the Viscountcy in 1730], but when those became extinct in 1756 it fell into abeyance between the descendants of Mary, sister of Benjamin, the 14th [17th] lord, who had married her kinsman Henry Mildmay. Their great-great-grandson, Sir Brook William Bridges, claimed the barony in 1841 and obtained a favourable decision from the Committee for Privileges in 1844. It was not, however, called out of abeyance, but, by way of consolation, Mr. Disraeli induced Queen Victoria to confer a Barony of Fitzwalter of Woodham in the Peerage of the United Kingdom upon the unsuccessful claimant in 1868. The new creation became extinct in 1875, and Mr. Henry Fitzwalter Plumptre, great-nephew of the late peer, is now claiming the original barony, with its precedence of 1295.
Plumptre's petition was successful, and the abeyance was terminated on 30 September 1924.