BARONETAGE
Last updated 29/09/2017 (9 Mar 2025)
Date	Type	Order	Name	Born	Died	Age
Names of baronets shown in blue have not yet been placed on the Official Roll of the Baronetage.
Dates in italics in the "Born" column indicate that the baronet was baptised on that date; dates in italics in the "Died" column indicate that the baronet was buried on that date.
SMIJTH of Hill Hall, Essex
28 Nov 1661	E		See "Bowyer-Smyth"
SMILEY of Drumalis, Larne, co. Antrim and Gallowhill, Paisley, Renfrewshire
13 Oct 1903	UK	1	Hugh Houston Smiley	5 Jan 1841	1 Mar 1909	68
1 Mar 1909		2	John Smiley	28 Oct 1876	13 Apr 1930	53
13 Apr 1930		3	Hugh Houston Smiley	14 Nov 1905	1 Nov 1990	84
1 Nov 1990		4	John Philip Smiley	24 Feb 1934
SMITH of Crantock, Cornwall
27 Sep 1642 to     c 1661	E	1	William Smith Extinct on his death		c 1661
SMITH of Hatherton, Cheshire
16 Aug 1660	E	1	Thomas Smith MP for Chester 1661‑1675	c 1622	22 May 1675
22 May 1675 to     c May 1706		2	Thomas Smith Extinct on his death		c May 1706
SMITH of Edmonthorpe, Leics
20 Mar 1661	E	1	Edward Smith MP for Leicestershire 1653	c 1630	6 Sep 1707
6 Sep 1707 to     15 Feb 1721		2	Edward Smith Extinct on his death	c 1655	15 Feb 1721
SMITH of Long Ashton, Somerset
16 May 1661	E	1	Hugh Smith MP for Somerset 1660 and Mar 1679	21 Apr 1632	26 Jul 1680	48
26 Jul 1680		2	John Smith MP for Somerset 1685‑1689 and 1695‑1698	c 1659	26 May 1726
26 May 1726 to     Jul 1741		3	John Smith Extinct on his death		Jul 1741
SMITH of Isleworth, Middlesex
20 Apr 1694	E	1	John Smith		16 Aug 1726
16 Aug 1726 to     11 Oct 1760		2	John Smith Extinct on his death		11 Oct 1760
SMITH of East Stoke, Notts
31 Oct 1757	GB		See "Bromley"
SMITH of Long Ashton, Somerset
27 Jan 1763	GB	1	Jarrit Smith MP for Bristol 1756‑1768	c 1692	24 Jan 1783
24 Jan 1783		2	John Hugh Smith	c 1735	30 Mar 1802
30 Mar 1802		3	Hugh Smyth	3 Jul 1772	28 Jan 1824	51
28 Jan 1824 to     19 May 1849		4	John Smyth Extinct on his death For further information on the subsequent imposture of "Sir Richard Hugh Smyth", see the note at the foot of this page	9 Feb 1776	19 May 1849	73
SMITH of Tuam, King's Co.
28 Aug 1799	I		See "Cusack-Smith"
SMITH of Hadley, Middlesex
22 Dec 1802	UK		See "Eardley"
SMITH of Tring Park, Herts
11 Jun 1804	UK		See "Spencer-Smith"
SMITH of Eardiston, Worcs
			In 2008 the Official Roll of the Baronetage was amended retrospectively, when a note was added to show the true descent of the baronetcy rather than the line which had, albeit in good faith, been followed until that time. The entries in black are the traditional line of descent, while the entries in purple show the corrected line of descent. For an further explanation of the reason for the differing text colours below, see the note at the foot of this page
23 Sep 1809	UK	1	William Smith		1821
1821		2	Christopher Sidney Smith	14 May 1798	7 Aug 1839	41
7 Aug 1839		3	William Smith	5 Oct 1823	4 Jan 1893	69
4 Jan 1893		4	William Sydney Winwood Smith	1 Apr 1879	27 Jun 1953	74
			William Sydney Winwood Smith	16 Oct 1872	1954	81
27 Jun 1953		5	Christopher Sydney Winwood Smith	20 Sep 1906	3 Dec 2000	94
1954			Sydney Winwood Smith	1907	1983	76
3 Dec 2000		6	Robert Christopher Sydney Winwood Smith	1939
1983 to     1993			Antony Winwood Smith Dormant or extinct on the death of Antony Winwood Smith	3 Jun 1920	1993	73
SMITH of Pickering, Canada
30 Aug 1821 to     9 May 1837	UK	1	David Smith Extinct on his death	4 Sep 1764	9 May 1837	72
SMITH of Aliwal, Punjab
1846 to     12 Oct 1860	UK	1	Henry (Harry) George Wakelyn Smith Governor of the Cape of Good Hope 1847‑1852 Extinct on his death For further information on this baronet, see the note at the foot of this page	28 Jun 1787	12 Oct 1860	73
SMITH of Stratford Place, London
6 Sep 1897	UK	1	Thomas Smith	23 Mar 1833	1 Oct 1909	76
1 Oct 1909		2	Thomas Rudolph Hampden Smith	24 Jan 1869	25 Jun 1958	89
25 Jun 1958		3	Thomas Turner Smith	28 Jun 1903	11 May 1961	57
11 May 1961		4	Thomas Gilbert Smith	2 Jul 1937	13 Feb 2003	65
13 Feb 2003		5	Andrew Thomas Smith	17 Oct 1965
SMITH of Hillbrook, Yorks
11 Feb 1911	UK		See "Prince-Smith"
SMITH of Colwyn Bay, Denbigh
9 Jul 1912	UK	1	Frederick Henry Smith He was subsequently created Baron Colwyn in 1917 with which title the baronetcy then merged	24 Jan 1859	26 Jan 1946	87
SMITH of Charlton Park, Gloucs
10 Jul 1917	UK		See "Vassar-Smith"
SMITH of Birkenhead, Cheshire
24 Jan 1918	UK	1	Frederick Edwin Smith He was subsequently created Baron Birkenhead in 1919 with which title the baronetcy then merged until its extinction in 1985	12 Jul 1872	30 Sep 1930	58
SMITH of Kidderminster, Worcs
30 Jun 1920	UK	1	Herbert Smith	22 Jun 1872	14 Jul 1943	71
14 Jul 1943 to     12 Jul 1961		2	Herbert Smith Extinct on his death	26 Sep 1903	12 Jul 1961	57
SMITH of Appledore, Devon
1 Jul 1920	UK		See "Reardon-Smith"
SMITH of Totteridge, Herts
1 Dec 1944	UK		See "Newson-Smith"
SMITH of Crowmallie, Aberdeen
21 Jun 1945	UK	1	Sir Robert Workman Smith MP for Aberdeen and Kincardine Central 1924‑1945	7 Dec 1880	6 Dec 1957	76
6 Dec 1957		2	William Gordon Smith	30 Jan 1916	20 May 1983	67
20 May 1983		3	Robert Hill Smith MP for Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine 1997‑2015	15 Apr 1958
SMITH of Keighley, Yorks
28 Nov 1947	UK		See "Bracewell-Smith"
SMITH of Broxbourne, Herts
18 Jul 1960	UK		See "Walker-Smith"
SMITH-BURGES of East Ham, Essex
4 May 1793 to     24 Apr 1803	GB	1	John Smith-Burges Extinct on his death	c 1734	24 Apr 1803
SMITH-DODSWORTH of Newland Park, Yorks
22 Jan 1784	GB	1	John Silvester Smith	1734	15 Jun 1789	54
15 Jun 1789		2	Edward Smith (Dodsworth from 21 May 1821)	13 Aug 1768	31 Dec 1845	77
31 Dec 1845		3	Charles Smith (Smith-Dodsworth from 1846)	22 Aug 1775	28 Jul 1857	81
28 Jul 1857		4	Matthew Smith-Dodsworth	6 Feb 1819	30 Apr 1858	39
30 Apr 1858		5	Charles Edward Smith-Dodsworth	27 Jun 1853	5 Aug 1891	38
5 Aug 1891		6	Matthew Blayney Smith-Dodsworth	26 Oct 1856	8 Dec 1931	75
8 Dec 1931		7	Claude Matthew Smith-Dodsworth	12 Aug 1888	18 May 1940	51
18 May 1940		8	John Christopher Smith-Dodsworth	4 Mar 1935	21 Sep 2012	77
21 Sep 2012		9	David John Smith-Dodsworth	23 Oct 1963
SMITH-GORDON of Jamaica, West Indies
19 Jul 1838	UK	1	Lionel Smith Governor of Tobago 1833, Barbados and the Windward Islands 1833‑1836, Jamaica 1836‑1839 and Mauritius 1840‑1842	9 Oct 1778	2 Jan 1842	63
2 Jan 1842		2	Lionel Eldred Smith (Smith-Gordon from 5 Feb 1868)	2 Apr 1833	1 Dec 1905	72
1 Dec 1905		3	Lionel Eldred Pottinger Smith-Gordon	22 Mar 1857	10 Jan 1933	75
10 Jan 1933		4	Lionel Eldred Pottinger Smith-Gordon	25 Nov 1889	6 Dec 1976	87
6 Dec 1976		5	Lionel Eldred Peter Smith-Gordon	7 May 1935
SMITH-MARRIOTT of Sydling St. Nicholas, Dorset
1 Jun 1774	GB	1	John Smith	10 Apr 1744	13 Nov 1807	63
13 Nov 1807		2	John Wyldbore Smith	19 May 1770	19 Feb 1852	81
19 Feb 1852		3	John James Smith	10 Apr 1800	2 Sep 1862	62
2 Sep 1862		4	William Marriott Smith-Marriott	31 Aug 1801	4 Oct 1864	63
4 Oct 1864		5	William Henry Smith-Marriott	7 Aug 1835	30 Nov 1924	89
30 Nov 1924		6	William John Smith-Marriott	6 Nov 1870	24 May 1941	70
24 May 1941		7	John Richard Wyldbore Smith-Marriott	7 Dec 1875	5 Feb 1942	66
5 Feb 1942		8	William Smith-Marriott	5 Aug 1865	21 Dec 1943	78
21 Dec 1943		9	Hugh Randolph Cavendish Smith-Marriott	4 Oct 1868	21 Mar 1944	75
21 Mar 1944		10	Ralph George Cavendish Smith-Marriott	16 Dec 1900	16 Oct 1987	86
16 Oct 1987		11	Hugh Cavendish Smith-Marriott	22 Mar 1925	19 Jul 2013	88
19 Jul 2013		12	Peter Francis Smith-Marriott	14 Feb 1927	8 Nov 2023	96
8 Nov 2023		13	Martin Ralph Smith-Marriott	30 Dec 1962
SMITHSON of Stanwick, Yorks
2 Aug 1660	E	1	Hugh Smithson	c 1598	21 Oct 1670
21 Oct 1670		2	Jerome Smithson	c 1630	1684
1684		3	Hugh Smithson	1657	2 Mar 1733	75
2 Mar 1733		4	Hugh Smithson He subsequently succeeded to the Earldom of Northumberland in 1750 with which title the baronetcy remains merged	c 1714	6 Jun 1786
SMYTH of Redcliff, Bucks
10 May 1661	E	1	William Smyth	c 1616	1697
1697 to     20 Jun 1732		2	Thomas Smyth MP [I] for Kilkenny City 1703‑1713 and Duleek 1713‑1715 Extinct on his death	after 1657	20 Jun 1732
SMYTH of Hill Hall, Essex
28 Nov 1661	E		See "Bowyer-Smyth"
SMYTH of Upton, Essex
30 Mar 1665	E	1	Robert Smyth	c 1594	12 Jun 1669
12 Jun 1669		2	Robert Smyth	c 1630	by 1695
by 1695		3	Robert Smyth MP for Andover 1695‑1698	c 1659	27 Jan 1745
27 Jan 1745		4	Trafford Smyth	c 1720	8 Dec 1765
8 Dec 1765		5	Robert Smyth MP for Cardigan Boroughs 1774‑1775 and Colchester 1780‑1784 and 1784‑1790	10 Jan 1744	12 Apr 1802	58
12 Apr 1802 to     11 Jul 1852		6	George Henry Smyth MP for Colchester 1826‑1830 and 1835‑1850 Extinct on his death	30 Jan 1784	11 Jul 1852	68
SMYTH of Isfield, Sussex
2 Dec 1714	GB	1	James Smyth	c 1686	28 Feb 1717
28 Dec 1717		2	Robert Smyth	c 1709	10 Dec 1783
10 Dec 1783 to     2 Oct 1811		3	Hervey Smyth Extinct on his death	1734	2 Oct 1811	77
SMYTH of Tinny Park, Wicklow
5 Aug 1776 to     9 Sep 1797	I	1	Skeffington Edward Smyth MP [I] for Mullingar 1779‑1783, Belturbet 1783‑1790 and Galway Borough 1790‑1797; PC [I] 1785 Extinct on his death	May 1745	9 Sep 1797	52
SMYTH of Nutwood, Surrey
25 Aug 1821	UK		See "Carmichael"
SMYTH of Ashton Court, Somerset
25 Apr 1859 to     27 Sep 1901	UK	1	John Henry Greville Smyth Extinct on his death	2 Jan 1836	27 Sep 1901	65
SMYTH of Teignmouth, Devon
23 Jan 1956	UK	1	John George Smyth VC MP for Norwood 1950‑1966; PC 1962 For further information on this baronet and VC winner, see the note at the foot of this page	24 Oct 1893	26 Apr 1983	89
26 Apr 1983		2	Timothy John Smyth	16 Apr 1953
SMYTHE of Eske Hall, Durham
23 Feb 1661	E	1	Edward Smith		12 Oct 1714
12 Oct 1714		2	Richard Smythe		Dec 1736
Dec 1736		3	John Smythe		17 Sep 1737
17 Sep 1737		4	Edward Smythe	21 Oct 1719	2 Nov 1784	65
2 Nov 1784		5	Edward Smythe	21 May 1758	11 Apr 1811	52
11 Apr 1811		6	Edward Joseph Smythe	3 Aug 1787	11 Mar 1856	68
11 Mar 1856		7	Charles Frederick Joseph Smythe	16 Mar 1819	14 Nov 1897	78
14 Nov 1897		8	John Walter Smythe	7 Nov 1827	5 Mar 1919	91
5 Mar 1919 to     9 Mar 1942		9	Edward Walter Joseph Patrick Herbert Smythe Extinct on his death	20 Mar 1869	9 Mar 1942	72
SNADDEN of Coldock, Perth
13 Jul 1955 to     23 Nov 1959	UK	1	William McNair Snadden MP for Kinross and Western Perthshire 1938‑1955 Extinct on his death	15 Jan 1896	23 Nov 1959	63
SNOW of Salesbury, Hants
25 Jun 1679 to     16 Nov 1702	E	1	Jeremy Snow Extinct on his death	c 1629	16 Nov 1702
SOAME of Thurlow, Suffolk
5 Feb 1685	E	1	William Soame	c 1645	1686
1686		2	Peter Soame	1634	c 1693
c 1693		3	Peter Soame	c 1675	early 1709
early 1709 to     7 Sep 1798		4	Peter Soame Extinct on his death	c 1707	7 Sep 1798
SOMERVILLE of Somerville, Meath
14 Jun 1748	I	1	James Somerville MP [I] for Dublin City 1729‑1749	by 1693	16 Aug 1748
16 Aug 1748		2	Quaile Somerville	14 Mar 1714	5 Dec 1772	58
5 Dec 1772		3	James Quaile Somerville	c 1742	c Dec 1800
c Dec 1800		4	Marcus Somerville MP [I] for Meath County 1800; MP for Meath 1801‑1831	1772	11 Jul 1831	59
11 Jul 1831		5	William Meredyth Somerville He was subsequently created Baron Athlumney in 1863 with which title the baronetcy then merged until it became dormant in 1929	1802	7 Dec 1873	71
SOUTHBY of Burford, Oxon
12 Jun 1937	UK	1	Archibald Richard James Southby MP for Epsom 1928‑1947	8 Jul 1886	30 Oct 1969	83
30 Oct 1969		2	Archibald Richard Charles Southby	18 Jun 1910	4 Apr 1988	77
4 Apr 1988		3	John Richard Bilbe Southby	2 Apr 1948
SOUTHCOTE of Blighborough, Lincs
24 Jan 1662	E	1	George Southcote		Dec 1663
1664 to     c 1680		2	George Southcote Extinct on his death	1664	c 1680
SOUTHWELL of Castlemattress, Limerick
4 Aug 1662	I	1	Thomas Southwell		1680
1680		2	Thomas Southwell He was subsequently created Baron Southwell in 1717 with which title the baronetcy remains merged	1665	4 Aug 1720	55
SPEARMAN of Hanwell, Middlesex
28 Apr 1840	UK	1	Alexander Young Spearman PC 1869	13 Sep 1793	20 Nov 1874	81
20 Nov 1874		2	Joseph Layton Elmes Spearman For information about his son and heir, see the note at the foot of this page	22 Sep 1857	11 Feb 1922	64
11 Feb 1922		3	Alexander Young Spearman	19 Jun 1881	11 Feb 1959	77
11 Feb 1959		4	Alexander Bowyer Spearman	15 Feb 1917	27 May 1977	60
27 May 1977		5	Alexander Young Richard Mainwaring Spearman	3 Feb 1969
SPEARS of Warfield, Berks
30 Jun 1953 to     27 Jan 1974	UK	1	Sir Edward Louis Spears MP for Loughborough 1922‑1924 and Carlisle 1931‑1945 Extinct on his death	7 Aug 1886	27 Jan 1974	87
SPEELMAN of the Netherlands
9 Sep 1686 to     25 Sep 1695	E	1	Debora Speelman Extinct on her death For further information on her, and a discussion of whether she was actually created a baronetess, see the note at the foot of this page	c 1655	25 Sep 1695
9 Sep 1686	E	1	Cornelis Speelman	19 Jan 1684	30 Apr 1746	62
30 Apr 1746		2	Cornelis Speelman	5 Oct 1722	19 Sep 1787	64
19 Sep 1787		3	Cornelis Speelman	26 May 1747	14 Jun 1825	78
14 Jun 1825		4	Abraham Florentius Speelman	3 Sep 1784	25 Aug 1840	65
25 Aug 1840		5	Cornelis Jacob Abraham Speelman	5 Jan 1823	18 Jan 1898	75
18 Jan 1898		6	Helenus Marinus Speelman	27 Jul 1852	17 May 1907	54
17 May 1907		7	Cornelis Jacob Speelman	22 Sep 1881	3 Feb 1949	67
3 Feb 1949 to     23 Apr 2005		8	Cornelis Jacob Speelman On his death the baronetcy became dormant	17 Mar 1917	23 Apr 2005	88
SPEKE of Hamilbury, Wilts
12 Jun 1660	E	1	Hugh Speke MP for Chippenham 1661		5 Jul 1661
5 Jul 1661 to     14 Jan 1683		2	George Speke MP for Bath 1675‑1679 and Chippenham 1681‑1683 Extinct on his death	1 Oct 1653	14 Jan 1683	29
SPENCER of Yarnton, Oxon
29 Jun 1611	E	1	Thomas Spencer MP for Woodstock 1604‑1611	c 1585	7 Aug 1622
7 Aug 1622		2	William Spencer	c 1608	May 1647
May 1647		3	Thomas Spencer MP for Woodstock 1660‑1679	1 Jan 1639	6 Mar 1685	46
6 Mar 1685		4	Thomas Spencer		c 1722
c 1722		5	Henry Spencer		1726
1726		6	William Spencer		c 1735
c 1735 to     by 1771		7	Charles Spencer Extinct on his death		by 1771
SPENCER of Offley, Herts
14 Mar 1627 to     Aug 1633	E	1	John Spencer Extinct on his death		Aug 1633
SPENCER of Offley, Herts
26 Sep 1642	E	1	Brockett Spencer	c 1605	3 Jul 1668
3 Jul 1668		2	Richard Spencer	c 1647	21 Feb 1688
21 Feb 1688		3	John Spencer	27 Feb 1678	6 Aug 1699	21
6 Aug 1699 to     16 Nov 1712		4	John Spencer MP for Hertfordshire 1705‑1708 Extinct on his death	c 1650	16 Nov 1712
SPENCER-NAIRN of Monimail, Fife
20 Jan 1933	UK	1	Sir Robert Spencer-Nairn	11 Jul 1880	20 Oct 1960	80
20 Oct 1960		2	Douglas Leslie Spencer-Nairn MP for Ayrshire Central 1955‑1959	24 Dec 1906	8 Nov 1970	63
8 Nov 1970		3	Robert Arnold Spencer-Nairn	11 Oct 1933	13 Feb 2025	91
13 Feb 2025		4	James Robert Spencer-Nairn	7 Jul 1966
SPENCER-SMITH of Tring Park, Herts
11 Jun 1804	UK	1	Drummond Smith For details of the special remainder included in the creation of this baronetcy, see the note at the foot of this page	1740	22 Jan 1816	75
22 Jan 1816		2	Charles Joshua Smith	31 May 1800	14 Jan 1831	30
14 Jan 1831		3	Charles Cunliffe Smith	15 Sep 1827	1 Aug 1905	77
1 Aug 1905		4	Drummond Cunliffe Smith	23 Feb 1861	8 May 1947	86
8 May 1947		5	Drummond Cospatric Hamilton-Spencer-Smith	4 Nov 1876	18 Dec 1955	79
18 Dec 1955		6	Thomas Cospatric Hamilton-Spencer-Smith For information on the death of this baronet, see the note at the foot of this page	8 Dec 1917	14 Oct 1959	41
14 Oct 1959		7	John Hamilton Spencer-Smith	18 Mar 1947
SPEYER of Grosvenor Street, London
25 Jul 1906 to     16 Feb 1932	UK	1	Edgar Speyer PC 1909‑1921 (struck off) Extinct on his death For further information on this baronet, see the note at the foot of this page	7 Sep 1862	16 Feb 1932	69
SPICER of Lancaster Gate, London
17 Jul 1906	UK	1	Albert Spicer MP for Monmouth 1892‑1900 and Hackney Central 1906‑1918	16 Mar 1847	20 Dec 1934	87
20 Dec 1934		2	Albert Dykes Spicer	27 Nov 1880	27 Oct 1966	85
27 Oct 1966		3	Stewart Dykes Spicer	2 Nov 1888	11 Jan 1968	79
11 Jan 1968		4	Peter James Spicer	20 May 1921	30 Sep 1993	72
30 Sep 1993		5	Nicholas Adrian Albert Spicer	28 Oct 1953
SPRIGNELL of Coppenthorp, Yorks
14 Aug 1641	E	1	Richard Sprignell	c 1599	19 Jan 1659
Jan 1659		2	Robert Sprignell		c 1680
c 1680 to     Sep 1691		3	William Sprignell Extinct on his death		6 Sep 1691
SPRING of Pakenham, Suffolk
11 Aug 1641	E	1	William Spring MP for Bury St. Edmunds 1646‑1648 and Suffolk 1654	13 Mar 1613	17 Dec 1654	41
17 Dec 1654		2	William Spring MP for Suffolk 1679‑1685	May 1642	30 Apr 1684	41
30 Apr 1684		3	Thomas Spring	1 Dec 1672	5 Apr 1704	31
5 Apr 1704		4	William Spring	Jan 1697	22 Mar 1736	39
Mar 1736		5	John Spring	14 Jan 1674	30 May 1740	66
30 May 1740 to     17 Aug 1769		6	John Spring Extinct on his death		17 Aug 1769
SPRINGET of Broyle Place, Sussex
8 Jan 1661 to     5 Jan 1662	E	1	Herbert Springet MP for New Shoreham 1646‑1648 and 1660‑1662, and Sussex 1654‑1655 Extinct on his death	c 1615	5 Jan 1662
SPROT of Garnkirk, Lanark
1 Feb 1918 to     8 Feb 1929	UK	1	Alexander Sprot MP for Fife East 1918‑1922 and Lanarkshire North 1924‑1929 Extinct on his death	24 Apr 1853	8 Feb 1929	75
STAFFORD-KING-HARMAN of Rockingham, Roscommon
21 Jan 1914	UK	1	Thomas Stafford PC [I] 1918	3 May 1857	11 May 1935	78
11 May 1935 to     5 Feb 1987		2	Cecil William Francis Stafford-King-Harman Extinct on his death	6 Jan 1895	5 Feb 1987	92
STAMER of Dublin
15 Dec 1809	UK	1	William Stamer	1765	14 Jan 1838	72
14 Jan 1838		2	Lovelace Stamer	29 Apr 1797	5 Mar 1860	62
5 Mar 1860		3	Lovelace Tomlinson Stamer	18 Oct 1829	29 Oct 1908	79
29 Oct 1908		4	Lovelace Stamer	4 Apr 1859	1 Oct 1941	82
1 Oct 1941		5	Lovelace Anthony Stamer	28 Feb 1917	30 Apr 2012	95
30 Apr 2012		6	Peter Tomlinson Stamer	19 Nov 1951
STANDISH of Duxbury, Lancs
8 Feb 1677	E	1	Richard Standish MP for Wigan 1690‑1693	21 Jan 1651	5 Dec 1693	42
5 Dec 1693		2	Thomas Standish		21 Dec 1756
21 Dec 1756 to     18 May 1812		3	Frank Standish MP for Preston 1768 Extinct on his death	c 1746	18 May 1812
STANFORD of Brighton, Sussex
7 May 1929	UK		See "Thomas-Stanford"
STANHOPE of Stanwell, Middlesex
13 Nov 1807	UK	1	Henry Edwyn Stanhope	1754	20 Dec 1814	60
20 Dec 1814		2	Edwyn Francis Stanhope (Scudamore-Stanhope from 1827)	15 Dec 1793	8 Feb 1874	80
8 Feb 1874		3	Henry Edwyn Scudamore-Stanhope He subsequently succeeded to the Earldom of Chesterfield in 1883 with which title the baronetcy then merged until its extinction in 1952	8 Apr 1821	21 Jan 1887	65
STANIER of Peplow Hall, Salop
16 Jul 1917	UK	1	Beville Stanier MP for Newport (Shropshire) 1908‑1918 and Ludlow 1918‑1921	12 Jun 1867	15 Dec 1921	54
15 Dec 1921		2	Alexander Beville Gibbons Stanier	31 Jan 1899	1995	96
1995		3	Beville Douglas Stanier	20 Apr 1934
STANLEY of Bickerstaff, Lancs
26 Jun 1627	E	1	Edward Stanley		May 1640
May 1640		2	Thomas Stanley	22 Oct 1616	May 1653	36
May 1653		3	Edward Stanley	1643	16 Oct 1671	28
16 Oct 1671		4	Thomas Stanley MP for Preston 1695‑1698	27 Sep 1670	7 May 1714	43
7 May 1714		5	Edward Stanley He subsequently succeeded to the Earldom of Derby in 1736 with which title the baronetcy remains merged	17 Sep 1689	22 Feb 1776	86
STANLEY of Alderley, Cheshire
25 Jun 1660	E	1	Thomas Stanley	31 May 1597	31 Aug 1672	75
Aug 1672		2	Peter Stanley	29 May 1626	4 Oct 1683	57
Oct 1683		3	Thomas Stanley	25 Mar 1652	1721	69
1721		4	James Stanley		17 Mar 1747
Mar 1747		5	Edward Stanley		28 Aug 1755
28 Aug 1755		6	John Thomas Stanley	26 Mar 1735	29 Nov 1807	72
29 Nov 1807		7	John Thomas Stanley He subsequently created Baron Stanley of Alderley in 1839 with which title the baronetcy remains merged	26 Nov 1766	23 Oct 1850	83
STANLEY of Hooton, Cheshire
17 Jun 1661	E		See "Errington"
STANLEY of Grange Gorman, Dublin
13 Apr 1699 to     30 Nov 1744	E	1	John Stanley MP [I] for Gorey 1713‑1715; PC [I] 1713 Extinct on his death	1663	30 Nov 1744	81
STANLEY-MASSEY-STANLEY of Hooton, Cheshire
17 Jun 1661	E		See "Errington"
STAPLES of Lissan, co. Tyrone
18 Jul 1628	I	1	Thomas Staples		31 May 1653
31 May 1653		2	Baptist Staples		Jun 1672
Jun 1672		3	Alexander Staples		early 1673
early 1673		4	Robert Staples MP [I] for Dungannon 1692‑1693 and Clogher 1696‑1699	9 May 1643	21 Nov 1714	71
21 Nov 1714		5	John Staples	22 Sep 1684	1730	45
1730		6	Alexander Staples	11 Jun 1693	6 Jul 1741	48
6 Jul 1741		7	Robert Staples	1 Aug 1740	1816	75
1816		8	Robert Staples	13 Feb 1772	24 Jun 1832	60
24 Jun 1832		9	Thomas Staples MP [I] for Knocktopher 1800	31 Jul 1775	14 May 1865	89
14 May 1865		10	Nathaniel Alexander Staples	1 May 1817	12 Mar 1899	81
12 Mar 1899		11	John Molesworth Staples	29 Dec 1848	Feb 1933	84
Feb 1933		12	Robert Ponsonby Staples For further information on this baronet, see the note at the foot of this page	30 Jun 1853	18 Oct 1943	90
18 Oct 1943		13	Robert George Alexander Staples	21 Sep 1894	9 Dec 1970	77
9 Dec 1970		14	John Richard Staples	5 Apr 1906	10 Mar 1989	82
10 Mar 1989		15	Thomas Staples	9 Feb 1905	19 Dec 1997	92
19 Dec 1997		16	Gerald James Arland Staples	2 Dec 1909	22 Sep 1999	89
22 Sep 1999 to     8 Nov 2013		17	Richard Molesworth Ponsonby Staples Extinct or dormant on his death For further information on the fate of this baronetcy, see the note at the foot of this page	11 Jun 1914	8 Nov 2013	99
STAPLETON of Leeward Islands, West Indies
20 Dec 1679	E	1	William Stapleton		3 Aug 1686
3 Aug 1686		2	James Stapleton	24 Sep 1672	29 Jul 1690	17
Jul 1690		3	William Stapleton	14 Nov 1674	7 Dec 1699	25
7 Dec 1699		4	William Stapleton MP for Oxfordshire 1727‑1740	1698	12 Jan 1740	41
12 Jan 1740		5	Thomas Stapleton MP for Oxford 1759‑1768	24 Feb 1727	1 Jan 1781	53
1 Jan 1781		6	Thomas Stapleton, Lord le Despencer	10 Nov 1766	3 Oct 1831	64
3 Oct 1831		7	Francis Joseph Stapleton	Aug 1807	11 Feb 1874	66
11 Feb 1874		8	Francis George Stapleton	19 Mar 1831	30 Oct 1899	68
30 Oct 1899		9	Miles Talbot Stapleton	26 May 1893	4 Apr 1977	83
4 Apr 1977 to     5 Jan 1995		10	Henry Alfred Stapleton Extinct on his death	2 May 1913	5 Jan 1995	81
STAPLEY of Patcham, Sussex
28 Jul 1660 to     22 Aug 1701	E	1	John Stapley MP for Sussex 1654‑1655 and 1656‑1658 and Lewes 1660‑1679 Extinct on his death	29 Jun 1628	22 Aug 1701	73
STAPYLTON of Myton, Yorks
22 Jun 1660	E	1	Henry Stapleton MP for Boroughbridge 1647‑1648 and 1660	c 1617	26 Mar 1679
26 Mar 1679		2	Brian Stapylton MP for Aldborough 1679‑1681 and Boroughbridge 1690‑1695, 1698‑1705 and 1708‑1715	c 1657	23 Nov 1727
23 Nov 1727		3	John Stapylton MP for Boroughbridge 1705‑1708	c 1683	24 Oct 1733
24 Oct 1733		4	Miles Stapylton MP for Yorkshire 1734‑1750	c 1708	14 May 1752
14 May 1752		5	Brian Stapylton	c 1712	27 Jun 1772
27 Jun 1772		6	John Stapylton	c 1718	10 Feb 1785
10 Feb 1785		7	Martin Stapylton	c 1723	21 Jan 1801
21 Jan 1801 to     2 Jan 1817		8	Martin Stapylton Extinct on his death	14 Sep 1751	2 Jan 1817	65
STAPYLTON of Carlton, Yorks
20 Mar 1662 to     19 Feb 1707	E	1	Miles Stapylton Extinct on his death	19 Oct 1626	19 Feb 1707	80
STARKEY of Norwood Park, Notts
9 Jul 1935	UK	1	John Ralph Starkey MP for Newark 1906‑1922	1 Mar 1859	13 Nov 1940	81
13 Nov 1940		2	William Randle Starkey	11 Dec 1899	10 Jul 1977	77
10 Jul 1977		3	John Philip Starkey	8 May 1938
STAUNTON of Cargins, Galway
31 Oct 1785	I	1	George Leonard Staunton	10 Apr 1737	14 Jan 1801	63
14 Jan 1801 to     10 Aug 1859		2	George Thomas Staunton MP for Mitchell 1818‑1826, Heytesbury 1830‑1832, Hampshire South 1832‑1835 and Portsmouth 1838‑1852 Extinct on his death	26 May 1781	10 Aug 1859	78
STEEL of Murieston, Midcalder, Edinburgh
6 Jul 1903 to     4 Sep 1904	UK	1	James Steel Extinct on his death	1830	4 Sep 1904	74
STEEL of Philiphaugh, Selkirk
2 Jul 1938	UK		See "Strang-Steel"
STEELE of Hampstead, Surrey
12 Feb 1768	I	1	Richard Steele MP [I] for Mullingar 1765‑1776	1701	20 Feb 1785	83
Feb 1785		2	Parker Steele	c 1735	13 May 1787
13 May 1787		3	Richard Steele	4 Aug 1775	2 Aug 1850	74
2 Aug 1850		4	John Maxwell Steele (Steele-Graves from 30 Jul 1862)	4 May 1812	25 Sep 1872	60
25 Sep 1872 to     29 Jun 1876		5	Frederick Ferdinand Armstead Steele On his death the baronetcy became either extinct or dormant	25 Mar 1787	29 Jun 1876	89
STEPHEN of Montreal, Canada
3 Mar 1886	UK	1	George Stephen He was subsequently created Baron Mount Stephen in 1891 with which title the baronetcy then merged until its extinction in 1921	5 Jun 1829	29 Nov 1921	92
STEPHEN of de Vere Gardens, London
29 Jun 1891	UK	1	Sir James Fitzjames Stephen	3 Mar 1829	11 Mar 1894	65
11 Mar 1894		2	Herbert Stephen	25 Jun 1857	23 Oct 1932	75
23 Oct 1932		3	Harry Lushington Stephen	2 Mar 1860	1 Nov 1945	85
1 Nov 1945 to     1 Jun 1987		4	James Alexander Stephen Extinct on his death	25 Feb 1908	1 Jun 1987	79
STEPHENS of Horsford, Norfolk and Fulham, Middlesex
13 Mar 1795 to     20 Nov 1809	GB	1	Philip Stephens For information on the special remainder included in this creation, see the note at the foot of this page MP for Liskeard 1759‑1768 and Sandwich 1768‑1806 Extinct on his death	11 Oct 1723	20 Nov 1809	86
STEPHENSON of Hassop Hall, Derby
16 Jul 1936	UK	1	Henry Kenyon Stephenson MP for Park 1918‑1923	16 Aug 1865	20 Sep 1947	82
20 Sep 1947		2	Henry Francis Blake Stephenson	3 Dec 1895	14 Aug 1982	86
14 Aug 1982		3	Henry Upton Stephenson	26 Nov 1926	15 Feb 2025	98
15 Feb 2025		4	Matthew Francis Timothy Stephenson	24 Aug 1960
STEPNEY of Prendergast, Pembroke
24 Nov 1621	E	1	John Stepney	c 1581	Aug 1624
Aug 1624		2	Alban Stepney		c 1628
c 1628		3	John Stepney MP for Pembroke 1640 and Haverfordwest 1640‑1643		c 1650
c 1650		4	John Stepney	c 1632	c 1681
c 1681		5	Thomas Stepney MP for Carmarthenshire 1717‑1722	c 1668	19 Jan 1745
Jan 1745		6	John Stepney	early 1693	14 Mar 1748	55
Mar 1748		7	Thomas Stepney	12 Oct 1729	7 Oct 1772	42
7 Oct 1772		8	John Stepney MP for Monmouth 1767‑1788	19 Sep 1743	3 Oct 1811	68
3 Oct 1811 to     12 Sep 1825		9	Thomas Stepney Extinct on his death	11 Feb 1760	12 Sep 1825	65
STEPNEY of Llanelly, Carmarthen
22 Sep 1871	UK		See "Cowell-Stepney"
STERN of Strawberry Hill, Middlesex
31 Jul 1905	UK	1	Herbert Stern He was subsequently created Baron Michelham in Dec 1905 with which title the baronetcy them merged until its extinction in 1984	28 Sep 1851	7 Jan 1919	67
STERN of Chertsey, Surrey
16 Jun 1922 to     17 Apr 1933	UK	1	Sir Edward David Stern Extinct on his death	18 Jul 1854	17 Apr 1933	78
STEUART of Coltness, Lanark
29 Jan 1698	NS	1	Thomas Steuart	1631	6 Apr 1698	66
6 Apr 1698		2	David Steuart	1656	1723	67
1723		3	Thomas Steuart	1708	1737	29
1737		4	Robert Steuart	1675	by 1758
by 1758		5	John Steuart		12 May 1759
12 May 1759		6	Archibald Steuart-Denham	20 Jul 1683	12 Jun 1773	89
12 Jun 1773		7	Sir James Steuart-Denham, 2nd baronet	10 Oct 1713	Nov 1780	67
Nov 1780		8	James Steuart-Denham MP for Lanarkshire 1784‑1802	Aug 1744	12 Aug 1839	95
12 Aug 1839 to     1851		9	Henry Steuart-Barclay On his death the baronetcy became either extinct or dormant	1765	1851	86
STEUART of Allanton, Lanark
22 May 1815	UK		See "Seton-Steuart"
STEUART-DENHAM of Westshield, Lanark
31 Jan 1694	NS		See "Denham"
STEVENSON of Clevedon, Kelvinside, Glasgow
22 Jul 1914 to     11 Jul 1944	UK	1	Daniel Macaulay Stevenson Extinct on his death	1 Aug 1851	11 Jul 1944	92
STEVENSON of Walton Heath, Surrey
21 Feb 1917	UK	1	James Stevenson He was subsequently created Baron Stevenson in 1924 with which title the baronetcy then merged until its extinction in 1926	2 Apr 1873	10 Jun 1926	53

	The Smith baronetcy imposture
	The most famous imposture in relation to a baronetcy is, without doubt, that of the Tichborne claimant. However, the Tichborne imposture was not a unique case, as the following note will show.
	The Smiths of Long Ashton in Somerset descend from a merchant who, having made a fortune, became Mayor of Bristol in the years 1547 and 1554. His descendant, Hugh Smith, was created a baronet soon after the Restoration. This baronetcy became extinct on the death of the third baronet in 1741, while the estates passed to the third baronet's sister. She married a Mr. Jarrit Smith, who in 1763, was also created a baronet. On the death of the fourth baronet of the second creation, in 1849, the baronetcy again became extinct, the estates being inherited by the fourth baronet's sister, a Mrs. Upton. She died two years later when the estates passed to her grandson (her son having predeceased her). Because he was a minor at the time, the estates were managed by his uncle, a Mr. Way.
	The following account of the imposture is taken from a series entitled Romances of High Life" by the splendidly-named Dalrymple Belgrave, which was published in the Manchester Times during October, November and December 1898.
	A few months after the death of Mrs. Upton, a letter arrived one morning at breakfast time directed to Mr. Way, informing him that "Sir Richard Smyth, Bart., of Ashton Court, Sommersett [sic] had that day taken possession of Heath House (the other family place), and giving him notice not to interfere in any way, directly or indirectly, with the property.
	Shortly afterwards an old servant arrived from Heath House, who had something more to tell about "Sir Richard". The day before, two men had asked to see the house. They had been shown over it, and, on seeing the portrait of Sir Hugh Smyth [the third baronet], one of them prostrated himself before it, crying out: "Oh my father, my beloved father!" and then he said he was Sir Richard Smyth. The old retainer said he had known the family for fifty years, but he had never seen the like of him, and if he didn't clear out he would kick him out. The next person to arrive at Ashton Court was Sir Richard Smyth himself, with his lawyer. Sir Richard was a tall man of about sixty, with grey hair carefully curled, and an ugly sallow face. The lawyer, he said, would tell his story.
	It was to the effect that he was the son of Sir Hugh Smyth, by an earlier and secret marriage. "I would wish you to discharge the household," said Sir Richard, who spoke with the vulgar pomposity of the half educated, "as my own servants are coming here, and I request you to hand me the keys of the mansion; but you need not hurry, sir. I will allow you two hours to take your departure." Mr. Way replied by allowing the others two minutes to take theirs, and, on their staying, called the men servants who, with little ceremony, bundled them out of the house. After this for six months no more was heard of Sir Richard. His lawyer had given up his case. After some months, however, he found another gentleman to act for him, a well known thieves' lawyer, whose practice lay for the most part in getting up "alibis" and defending prisoners, and who lived under the shadow of the Old Bailey. He, in June 1853, served Mr. Way with a writ of ejectment. Mr. Way prepared to defend the case, and one of the first steps he took was to employ Inspector Field, of Scotland Yard - the famous detective from whom Dickens drew Inspector Bucket - to keep a watch on the lawyer's office and learn what he could of that gentleman's client, Sir Richard. In August 1853, the case was tried at Gloucester Assizes. Needless to say the court was crowded, as it was the event which everyone in the county of Gloucester was discussing, and the matter in dispute concerned estates worth £20,000 a year. For the plaintiff [Sir Richard Smyth] appeared Mr. Bovill Q.C., who, when he was afterward Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and tried the Tichborne case, must have been often reminded of that day. For the defendant [Mr. Way] there appeared, as his leading counsel, that great advocate and master of cross-examination, Sir Frederick Thesiger, afterwards Lord Chelmsford.
	Romantic to a degree was the story told by Mr. Bovill Q.C. The plaintiff was, so he said, brought up as the son of Provis, a carpenter at Warminster, but as he grew up he began to suspect that Provis was not his father, but that he was the son of Sir Hugh Smyth. Sir Hugh was supposed to have married twice. In 1797 he married Miss Wilson, daughter of the Bishop of Gloucester. In 1822, his first wife having died, he married a Miss Howell. As time passed on, however, and the plaintiff grew up, documents and evidence came to light which proved to the claimant that he was the legitimate son of Sir Hugh by a first and hitherto concealed marriage with Jane Vandenberg, daughter of Count Vandenberg, to whom he was secretly united in Ireland in 1796. In 1849, Mr. Bovill said, the claimant had visited Sir John Smyth at Ashton Court, and communicated his relationship and his claims. Sir John acknowledged his nephew in the most moving terms, but the shock of the interview was too much for him. For the rest of the day he was unable to eat, he wandered about disconsolate, and the next morning he was found dead in his bed.
	After that it was some time before the plaintiff, who had no money, was able to get legal assistance, but when he obtained it he brought the present action. Mr. Bovill said that his evidence consisted of documents, the handwriting of which would be proved, family relics, seals and portraits, and of verbal evidence. First, as to the marriage, he said that, in Ireland, in 1796, there were no public registers of marriages, but he said there was an entry in a family bible - "I certify that Hugh Smyth, son of Thomas Smyth Esq., of Stapleton, county Gloucester, in England, by Jane his wife, was on May 19th married by me to Jane, daughter of Count  John Vandenbergh, by Jane, daughter of Major Gookin, and Hesther, his wife, of Court Macsherry county of Cork, Ireland.
	(signed) Verney Lovett D.D. Vicar of Lismore
	Hugh Smyth     Jane Vandenbergh
	Caroline Bernard     John Vandenbergh
	Cousena Lovett."
	These signatures, the learned counsel said, would be proved by unexceptionable evidence.
	There was another entry in the Bible of the baptism of "Richard, son of Hugh Smyth and Jane his wife, born September 2nd, 1797, baptised September 10th, 1798, at the Royal-crescent, Bath.
	(signed) John Symes, clerk
	Caroline Bernard     Isabella Thynne."
	Then he also had a letter from Sir Hugh to his wife, who was staying at Warminster, telling her what doctor would attend her in her confinement, and saying that the person who brought the letter to her would nurse her. He added that he would be with her the next day. After the mother died, Sir Hugh kept the claimant's existence a secret, lest it should prevent his marrying Miss Wilson. Though the claimant was placed with Provis, the carpenter, he was afterwards educated at Winchester School.
	In 1822, Sir Hugh began to believe that the plaintiff was still alive, and he executed a document declaring the plaintiff to be his son, telling the story of his marriage and the subsequent birth of his son; and the death of his wife, when the latter, driven from Ireland by the troubles there, was staying at Warminster. The document went on to say that, believing his son to be dead, he had made a will, which "I now set aside by this, my last will and testament," and it went on to declare that he acknowledged Richard Hugh Smyth his son and heir, "that he might possess the vast estates of my ancestors, as secured to him by the will of my excellent father, Thomas Smyth, of Stapleton" and he went on to implore his "dearest brother John" to look for his son and secure his return. This document was signed by Sir Hugh Smyth, also by brother, John Smyth, and was witnessed by William Edwards, James Abbott, and William Dobson. There was another document to much the same effect, only it made two statements, neither of which can have been true - that Caroline Bernard, who signed the baptismal certificate, was the Countess of Bandon, and that Isabella Thynne, who also signed it, was the Countess of Bath. The second document was signed by "Hugh Smyth", and witnessed by William Dobson and James Abbott.
	Then came the evidence to prove this story. The claimant, after he had grown up, travelled on the Continent with a Mr. Knox, commonly called Lord Knox, devoting himself to various studies until 1826, when he returned to England and devoted himself to lecturing - circumstances preventing him from taking any steps to claim his inheritance until 1849.
	First there came into the box a clergyman and a magistrate of Gloucestershire, who knew Sir Hugh Smyth's writing, and swore to it in the certificate of the marriage, in the Bible, and in one of the deeds, and to the letter. As to the first of the two deeds, he could not swear to the signature because it was so tremulous. Mr. Bovill, however, had stated in his opening speech that he would show that at the time it was executed Sir Hugh was ill. Sir Frederick Thesiger cross-examined this witness, and though he made no attack upon him he was able to show that he had always taken the claimant's side, and was a warm partisan. The next witness was a doctor, who proved that Sir Hugh was ill in 1822 and 1823. Cross-examined, however, he said that Sir Hugh fancied himself ill one day and would go out hunting the next.
	Then came a Mr. Holland of Kingston, Ireland. He knew the late Rev. Verney Lovett, vicar of Lismore, and swore to his handwriting.
	The next witness was the Hon. Captain Bernard, a younger son of Lord Bandon. He had known the Rev. Verney Lovett, who was a relation of his family. His grandmother, Hesther, was a widow, Mrs. Smyth, before she married his grandfather. She was the daughter of Major Goodwin, who lived at Court Macsherry. This evidence did not amount to much, still it seemed to give some substance to the Goodwins and Bernards who figured in the certificate. In cross-examination, however, he said that his mother, the Countess of Bandon, was not Caroline Bernard. Her name was Catherine, not Caroline. Some time before he had had an interview with the claimant, who appeared to him to be anxious to find out what was his mother's name. He never had heard of any connection between his family and the Smyths of Ashton Court, nor had he ever heard of the Vanderberghs. Then came two witnesses, John Symes and Ann Symes, the son and daughter of the Rev. James Symes, of Bath, who was supposed to have signed the baptismal certificate. [According to the author of the article, the name is shown as John, not James.] Cross-examination showed that they were both persons in very reduced circumstances. Still it could not be said that any of these witnesses were broken down in cross-examination, nor were some witnesses who followed, who swore to the handwriting of the witnesses of the two deeds.
	So far the case looked as if it were going fairly well for "Sir Richard". Sir Frederick Thesiger, just before the adjournment, had something to say about the deeds. "Would the court keep them in its custody." The seals on the deeds purported to be impressed with the coat of arms and motto of the Smyth family. The motto of the Smyth family was "Qui Capit Capitur" (the English of which may be freely rendered as "The Biter Bit".) But on the seals the motto was "Qui Capit Capitor". The judge said that the court could not retain the custody of the document, as it had not been formally put in evidence, but he took notice of the seals and smiled as he read the suggestive adage. With this incident the first day of the trial ended. On the second day there was a little more evidence as to handwriting, and it was pointed out that Dobson, a tenant of Sir Hugh Smyth's, seemed to have signed his name with two b's as Dobbson, in one of the deeds. Then the Bible, the letter from Sir Hugh, and the two deeds were formally put in evidence. The crucial moment of the case came when the plaintiff, Sir Richard Hugh Smyth, came into the box.
	As he told his story, it must have been soon apparent to anyone acquainted with courts of justice that he was just the sort of witness for a counsel who called him to be afraid of. He could talk only too fluently, and he had the lecturer's manner and the lecturer's facility. He appeared to delight in his own answers, and in the way he told his story. He was always in the Provis family treated as a little gentleman. When he went to Warminster School he was taken there by "Lady Isabella". Lady Isabella Thynne was her full name. "But," said the witness, "in aristocratic families the first name only is mentioned." He was taken to Winchester by Sir Hugh's butler, Grace, but after a few terms, as Grace embezzled money which was given him to pay for schooling, his bills were not paid and he had to leave. After that he went to London, to Lady Bath's house. Her ladyship told him who we was, and said he had better go to Ashton Court and see his father, Sir Hugh. At the same time she gave him £1,400 which she said was his mother's money. After that he went on the Continent and studied. He came back in 1826 and travelled about, lecturing at schools on education. Lady Bath had told him that her butler, Davis, who lived at Warminster, would give him a Bible in which there was a certificate of his mother's marriage. In 1838 he inquired for Davis and found he was dead, but he found old Mr. Provis at Warminster. He asked him to tell him about his birth, but old Provis would tell him nothing, and, when he persisted in asking him questions, old Provis hit him with his stick. Then he went away, but Provis called him back and gave him the Bible that had been put in evidence, and a large picture which he produced, and some jewellery, a ring with the Bandon coat of arms and "J.B." on it, and a brooch with "Jame Gookin" on it. For some years he did nothing, but in 1849 he called on Sir John. Sir John, when he heard his story, said: "You are indeed the son of my dear brother." Sir John said that he was to fetch his family, who he said were to stay at Ashton Court. He also gave him all the money he had, a note for £50, and offered him a draft for more if he required it. "And," said the witness, "I only regret that I did not take it." After he left Sir John he went away to fetch his family, but on his return with them he found that Sir John had been found dead in his bed. Then he went on to tell how the deed had been sent to him in a mysterious way by the Great Western Railway, by a certain Frederick Crane in a brown paper parcel, and together with a letter saying that it had been obtained from a deceased solicitor. He also produced the brown paper it was wrapped in.
	Then Sir Frederick Thesiger began to cross-examine in his terribly suave manner. He was very interested in the Provis family, particularly in one son, John, and as question after question followed the claimant seemed to get restless. He was not, however, a man of so little address as to allow himself to be badgered by counsel without complaining.
	"Your questions," he said, "are irrelevant and unbecoming."
	"They are neither one nor the other," said the judges, who did not appear to be impressed by the lecturer, "and you will have to answer them."
	After some questions about the Provis family, Sir Frederick began to refer to letters which the claimant had written to people, giving a slightly different account of himself and his doings. It was suggested that he had at one time claimed to be of Lord Carrington's family, which showed that he had designs on another branch of the great house of Smith. Then he was questioned as to his educational studies on the Continent, and he was referred to a letter in which he wrote of having travelled with Lord Nox.
	"The spelling of the name," said the witness, "is arbitrary."
	Sir Frederick seemed surprised to hear this, and then he began a very long examination about spelling. How did he spell "set aside?" asked Sir Frederick.
	"That is not relevant to this inquiry," replied the lecturer. But the judge told him to answer, and then, amidst roars of laughter, he spelt it "sett assidde".
	"I have authority for it," said he; "it may sometimes be spelt aside, but I prefer spelling it "assidde".
	He also spelt "rapid" with two p's. "There are dictionaries in which it is spelt so," he said when he saw he was wrong. "No doubt edited by yourself," replied Sir Frederick, but people in court thought that the joke was becoming wearisome. "I will not be schooled like this," said the witness. "I can prove that your grammar is faulty." People in court began to think that the joke of the faulty spelling of the lecturer on education was being drawn out for too much. But those who had seen the documents knew that most of the mistakes made occurred in one or the other of them. The cross-examination was not concluded by the end of the second day. He was asked as to having published an advertisement to clergymen to search registers for the years 1795, 1796 and 1797, for the marriage certificate of Sir Hugh Smyth and Jane Vanderbergh. How did he come to publish those advertisements when he had the Bible which told him when the marriage was? he was asked. He was questioned on different subjects until he declared that the cross-examination was disgusting, to which Sir Frederick replied pleasantly that he had not half done with him.
	On the third day, the cross-examination was, from the first, more severe. He was asked about the different occasions on which he had represented himself to be a son of Provis, the carpenter, even after he had begun to call himself "Dr. Smith" to go about lecturing. Had he not, he was asked, on one occasion taken an inventory of John Provis's things and given it to a neighbour, telling the latter to take care of the things for him, as if Provis died he would be the heir. At first he denied this, but the inventory was produced, and he admitted it. His attention was called to one item, a painting of "son John", and he was asked whether that did not refer to a picture that hung up in the house. The picture was produced, and on the back of it was written "Hugh Smyth, Esq." of Stapleton, Gloucestershire, England, who married in 1796. He admitted that the picture was one which he had referred to in letters as one of his father. How did the writing come on the back? he was asked. At first he said it was always there. He put acid on, and that brought out the pencil marks. Sir Frederick cross-examined about this, and was anxious to know how acid could bring out pencil marks. "I decline to enter into the subject," said the witness, with some of his old manner, but there was not much of it left, and he grew limper and limper.
	Then he was cross-examined about when he received the will. It was on March 17th, 1853, he said, and he was quite sure of the date. Then came a great deal of cross-examination about seals which he had ordered from Mr. Moring, of Holborn, and impressions on his letters of one of those seals in which the motto was "Qui Capit Capitor". Here, however, he gave what seemed to be a good explanation. He had had the seal engraved from an impression which he had taken from the seal on the will. That was how the mistake had occurred in two places. The seal was made in June, 1853. Then Sir Frederick produced one of his letters. It was a damaging letter enough, for it was written to a Mr. Bennett, the Vicar of Lismore, Mr. Lovett's successor. "Sir Richard" asked for specimens of the late Mr. Lovett's handwriting, and to make the clergyman take some interest in him added that he was the patron of eight livings, the poorest of which was worth £600 a year. What was, however, more interesting about it was that on the letter was the seal with "Qui Capit Capitor".
	"How does this seal come on the letter on March 13th?" asked Sir Frederick.
	"You have explained it. I must have got the seal before." continued the witness.
	"But how could you have got the seal on March 13th when you only saw the document from which you say you took the impression for it on March 17th?" asked Sir Frederick. "Explain this."
	"I can't explain it. I feel confused, and I should like to retire," replied the witness.
	But Sir Frederick Thesiger had no intention of allowing him to retire until he had given him the "coup de grace". As he examined he had received a telegraphic message, and holding the despatch in his hand he proceeded to question the witness on the information he had received.
	Did he go in January to a shop in Oxford-street and order a ring to be engraved with the Bandon crest, and also a brooch, to have the name Gookin engraved on it. The man's face answered the question as he stood pale and nerveless before he replied: "I did." But the terrible cross-examiner had not finished with him. It was like the last rounds of a long fight, when the beaten man staggers up to the scratch to be knocked down again and again. Had he not been in gaol for horse stealing for 18 months of the time he had tried to account for? Had he not marks of the "King's Evil" [i.e. scrofula] on his neck? Let him uncover his neck. The wretched man tried to deny the idea that he was the man who had been suggested. But the marks by which it was supposed he could be identified were to be seen on his neck.
	Judge and jury had heard enough, and Mr. Justice Coleridge interposed with an observation to Mr. Bovill, who rose, and said that though he and his friends did not like to interfere during cross-examination, they felt that, after the appalling exhibition they had seen, it would be inconsistent with their duty as gentlemen of the Bar to continue the contest any longer.
	"Sir Richard's" next appearance was in the dock of the criminal court at Gloucester at the next Assizes. He was tried under his real name, Tom Provis. He defended himself with a good deal of his old assurance, and he appeared to think that law was simply a matter of assertion and manner. "I have always understood," he said, in objecting to his letters being read, "that letters are not evidence in a criminal case." The prosecution were able to show how he had carried out much of his fraud. It was shown that the Bible, which he said belonged to Sir Hugh Smyth, had been purchased by the prisoner in High Holborn from a Mr. Kempston, a second-hand book-seller. It was also shown that the will of Sir Hugh Smyth did not reach him in the mysterious manner he alleged. Frederick Crane, who is supposed to have sent it, was called, and he confessed that the prisoner persuaded him to write the letter, which was dictated to him. Then the "Qui Capit Capitor" mistake was explained by Mr. Moring, the engraver. Mr. Moring said that he had made a seal with the Smyth crest and arms to the prisoner's order. In copying the motto the letter "u" became blotted, and looked like "o". The engraver had written it as an "o". With this seal the deed had evidently been signed. Evidence was also given that the prisoner had purchased the rings and jewellery, and had them engraved with crests and names. The prisoner, who defended himself, in his address to the jury maintained that he really was the son of Sir Hugh Smyth, but he admitted that he had, in order to obtain his just rights, done some things in the way of fabricating evidence which could only be justified by the peculiar circumstances of his case. He was found guilty, and other previous convictions were proved against him, which showed that he was a man of the lowest character. He seems to have been a strange mixture of cunning and folly. In the course of his speech he produced from under his coat, where it had before been concealed, an enormous pig-tail of plaited hair. He said that this was a proof of his aristocratic birth, that he was "born with it", and that his son was born with one.
	After he had been found guilty he made a speech, in which he said that he had been convicted of using his best endeavours to obtain that which he conceived was his own. He was sentenced to twenty years' transportation. Some of the comments of the Press on the case are rather interesting. The "Examiner", for instance, of that date said "that Provis had been born too late, and that the age in which his type of imposter could flourish was over. The Press, the electric telegraph and Inspector Bucket were too much for him." This self-complacent article reads somewhat curiously when one remembers the career of the arch-imposter who flourished some fifteen years afterwards [i.e. the Tichborne claimant].
	The baronetcy of Smith of Eardiston [UK 1809]
	In 2008, for the first time, the Official Roll of the Baronetage was amended retrospectively, when a note was added to the Roll to show the true descent of this baronetcy, rather than the line which had, albeit in good faith, been followed until the current time. As a result, my entry for this baronetcy shows two lines of descent - black for the line of descent shown in most books of reference, and purple for the corrected line of descent added to the Roll in 2008.
	Some years ago I was in discussions with the late Sir Simon Watson, Bt., then a member of the Executive Committee of the Standing Council of the Baronetage, over the revision of Sir Martin Lindsay's book, The Baronetage. As part of these discussions, Sir Simon advised me of a recent [at that time] change which had been made to the Official Roll of the Baronetage in relation to the baronetcy of Smith of Eardiston [UK 1809]. Sir Simon provided me with the following wording regarding this change:-
	Christopher Sydney Winwood Smith, born in 1846, was the eldest surviving son of Sir William Smith of Eardiston, Worcestershire, 3rd baronet. As a young man Christopher was the black sheep of the family and he emigrated to New South Wales, where he worked as a labourer. In 1870, without telling his parents, he married a poor and illiterate Catholic maidservant called Ann Morgan, who was born in County Galway. They had three children, including a son, William Sydney Winwood Smith, who was born in 1872. About three years later, Christopher deserted his wife and young family, leaving them to struggle in poverty. He went to Sydney, where in 1877 he married Caroline Holland. On the certificate he was described as a bachelor and a gentleman, but Ann Morgan was still living, and this second union was clearly a bigamous one. This time he did tell his parents about his marriage, and in 1879 Christopher and Caroline had a son who was also named William Sydney Winwood Smith. This younger William was treated as the heir to the Baronetcy, and throughout his life lived in ignorance of the existence of his elder half-brother and namesake. Neither Ann Morgan's children, nor Caroline Holland's children, had any idea of each other's existence. Christopher died in Australia in 1887 at the age of 41, but his father, Sir William Smith, outlived him by five years. On Sir William's death in 1893, Caroline Holland's son, the younger William Sydney Winwood Smith, who was technically illegitimate, was recognised as the 4th Baronet. Unwittingly and in good faith, he used the title for the rest of his life, and his name appears in all related reference books. When he died in 1953, his eldest son, Christopher Sydney Winwood Smith, became the next Baronet, and was known thereafter as 'Sir Christopher Smith' until his death in 2000. However, in 1995 a descendant of Christopher Smith and Ann Morgan decided to research the family history. As the facts came to light, the family felt the need to put the record straight. Nothing could be done to restore the title to its true owner, since the last surviving male descendant of Christopher Smith by Ann Morgan died in 1983. Nevertheless the female descendants felt strongly that the records, particularly the 'Official Roll of the Baronetage', should be corrected to show who ought to have been the Baronet between 1893 (when Sir William Smith, 3rd Baronet, died), and 1983. The request seemed entirely reasonable, but the process proved to be time-consuming and complicated, since this situation had apparently never arisen before. The facts were set out in a 'Statement of Case' in 2004 and submitted to the Attorney-General. Help and guidance was received from Treasury Solicitors and considerable further documentation and several Statutory Declarations were requested before the submission succeeded. This was the first time a formal request had been made to alter, retrospectively, the Official Roll [of the Baronetage]. Subsequently, to the delight of the family, a formal note was added to the Official Roll to show the true line of descent; a little piece of legal and genealogical history had thus been made.
	In the most recent editions of Debrett's Peerage, the following is shown under the entry for this baronetcy:-
	On 22 February 2008 the register of the Baronetage, on advice from the Attorney General, submitted a caveat to be entered in the Official Roll of the Baronetage against the baronetcy of Smith of Eardiston (UK, 1809) with effect that the title is now extinct or dormant.
	Research in NSW, Australia, revealed that Christopher Sydney Winwood Smith, eldest surviving son of the third Baronet, was secretly married 16 May 1870 (East Maitland, NSW, Australia) to Ann Morgan, by whom he had issue one son and two daughters. It would appear that C.S.W. Smith deserted his wife and family, and without obtaining a divorce or annulment, contracted a second marriage 10 August 1877 to Caroline Holland, by whom he had further issue one son and two daughters.
	Christopher Sydney Winwood Smith predeceased his father in 1887 in Australia. When the third Baronet died 1893 the baronetcy passed in good faith to the son of the second marriage, and so continued to Christopher Sydney Winwood Smith, called 5th Baronet, who died 2000.
	The legitimate line of descent would appear as follows: Sir William Sydney Winwood Smith, de jure 4th baronet, b. 16 Oct 1872, s his grandfather Sir William 1893: m 1901, Mary Helen, da of Richard Way Griffiths, and d 1954, leaving issue, one son and five daughters. His only son Sir Sydney Winwood Smith, de jure 5th baronet, b 1907: m 1941, Alice May, da of Arthur James Liddy, and d 1983, without male issue. He was succeeded by his second cousin, Sir Antony Winwood Smith, DFC, RAF, de jure 6th Baronet (only son of late Christopher William Winwood Smith, only son of late William Arthur Winwood Smith, 5th son of 3rd Baronet), b 1920, d unm 1993 (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe), when the title became dormant or extinct.
	Sir Henry (Harry) George Wakelyn Smith, 1st and only baronet [UK 1846]
	The following biography of Sir Harry Smith appeared in the February 1956 issue of the Australian monthly magazine Parade. For a fictional account of the early years of the marriage of Harry Smith and Juana de Leon, see Georgette Heyer's historical novel The Spanish Bride.
	Two young British officers, still grimy from battle, stood at their tent flap on April 6, 1812, looking grimly towards the Spanish town of Badajos, then being sacked by British soldiers. As they watched the plumes of smoke rising from burning houses, two Spanish girls approached, their faces streaked with blood. They had been attacked, they said, by looters who had wrenched the rings from their ears without bothering to unclasp them and had come to the camp to seek protection from the reign of terror. Young Captain Harry Smith of the Light Division was embarrassed by their presence. He solved the problem two days later by marrying the younger, thus starting an empire-building partnership that was to resound through British history. The girl he married was Juana Maria de Los Dolores de Leon, then 14 years old and strikingly beautiful. Descendant of high born hidalgos, one of whom went to America with Columbus, she was to follow Harry Smith through all the Napoleonic battles to the field of Waterloo. British, Boers and natives alike in South Africa were proud to name Ladysmith after her and Harrismith after her gallant, dashing husband who became their governor.
	Britain has little cause for pride in the victory of Badajos which brought the adventurous young couple together. British soldiers looted the town with the ferocity of barbarians. They had some reason. In the first place Badajos had been betrayed to Napoleon's French by treacherous Spaniards. When the British invested the town, 5000 were killed before it fell. Wellington, not for nothing known as the Iron Duke, handed the town over to his soldiers. Ten thousand of them tore it apart. Civilians were murdered wantonly. Homes were fired. No woman was safe. Behind the drunken soldiers came a rabble of camp followers, men and women who stripped the corpses and when they could not remove rings with their fingers tore them off with their teeth. The troops even killed some of the British officers who tried to intervene.
	The de Leons owned one of the largest mansions in the town. It was already ablaze and ringing with the screams of serving women, when Juana's elder sister seized the child's hand and fled through the smoke-filled streets to the British camp, where fate threw them at the feet of the debonair Captain Smith.
	At that time Captain George Henry Wakelyn Smith, son of a country doctor of Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, had not a single thought of matrimony. When not fighting he was more interested in the greyhounds and horses which accompanied him on all campaigns together with the herd of goats driven by small Spanish urchins, orphans of the war, long lost to their native towns. The youthful Juana, always a tomboy, slipped naturally into this bizarre setting. She became the mascot of the ruffians who had sacked her home - and Smith's wife. The child bride shared all the rigours of the campaign with her husband. Utterly in love, they slept in barns, haylofts, tents, sometimes in open meadows. When Harry swept into battle she stayed restlessly in the rear till it was won, then rode over the stricken field to find him. Long before Florence Nightingale she became the "angel" of the wounded. At Salamanca she was seen tending a gunner who had both arms shot off. No one, it is recorded, could have been more pitying and less squeamish.
	Juana, still only 17, was a veteran of a dozen hard­fought battles when Wellington smashed the final French resistance at Toulouse in the Pyrenees foothills. Napoleon was imprisoned on Elba. The war which had terrified all Europe and the Middle East with blitz tactics and secret weapons was over. In a round of balls, routs and gaiety, Harry and Juana Smith enjoyed a belated honeymoon. Then, suddenly, they were parted for the first time.
	Harry Smith was ordered to America, where the Americans, enraged by a British naval blockade Americans, enraged by a British naval blockade which stopped their traffic with France, had attacked Canada. He was in the army which sacked and burned Washington and was at New Orleans when the British were soundly drubbed by Andrew Jackson, hero of the Indian wars and later President of the United States.
	Harry Smith returned to England to be met by a very determined young woman who told him that never again would he leave her behind. He never did. From then, whenever Harry Smith fought and governed, his fiery Spanish wife was with him. They were hardly reunited before the shadow of Napoleon again fell across Europe. The "ogre" escaped from Elba and rallied the remnants of his Grand Army. Harry Smith, now a brigade major, was ordered to Brussels, where Wellington was massing an army for the final showdown. He chartered a special sloop to take Juana, himself and their five horses to Belgium.
	They were just in time. Harry was rushed straight to Quatre Bas, flashpoint of Waterloo where battle was joined next morning. Juana was at a tumbledown inn just outside Brussels when, after a day of conflicting rumours, news was received of final victory. She set out at once to seek her husband. The first soldiers she met told her he had been killed. She spent the whole day searching for his corpse among the 65,000 dead and wounded that littered the battle-field. She was half distraught when Major Charles Gore found her at sundown and told her he had just left Harry Smith perfectly well and safe, riding his horse Young Lochinvar in search of her.
	They went to Paris for the peace and were caught up in a whirl of extravagance. Harry was gazetted colonel and imported his own pack of foxhounds. Juana indulged in a wild orgy of shopping among the Paris fashion houses. His pay slipped through their fingers. They were soon so heavily in debt that Harry was forced to raffle his horse, Young Lochinvar. He complained wryly that his wife was taking money out of his pocket when he heard that Juana had bought a ticket but changed his tune when she won his horse back for him.
	But all good things come to an end. Smith's division was posted to Scotland to control an incipient rebellion spear-headed by the now out-of-work heroes of Waterloo. Harry was bodyguard to "Prinny", when the Prince Regent went to Edinburgh. The disturbances ended with the hanging of three rebels. The Smiths were duly transferred to Ireland, then to Nova Scotia and on to Jamaica, where they fought a plague of yellow fever which wiped out British soldiers by the hundred. It was merely a period of preparation for the greater responsibilities ahead.
	These came in 1828 when Colonel Harry Smith was ordered to Cape Town as Deputy Quarter-Master General to the new Governor, Sir Richard Bourke. Britain had muddled the administration of the colony from the very day she seized it from Napoleon's Dutch allies. The colony, largely Boer and growing rapidly, was seething with discontent. Blissfully unaware of local problems, the British home Government caused economic chaos by abolishing slavery overnight and made matters worse by granting equal rights to natives. On all sides the small pockets of whites were threatened by savage Bantu warriors.
	The crisis simmered gently till 1834, when the new Governor, Sir Benjamin D'Urban, received a message at his New Year's Eve party that 15,000 Kaffir warriors had swept across the frontier murdering white farmers, plundering and burning homesteads and driving away the cattle. Without alarming his guests, D'Urban with a nod of his head summoned Harry Smith to a conference. No details of the rising were yet to hand, so Harry volunteered to ride to Grahamstown, a small British settlement 600 miles away, cut off by warriors. Harry Smith's ride to Grahamstown is as famous in Africa as Paul Revere's in America and Dick Turpin's in England. He covered the 600 miles through hostile territory in less than six days and soon discovered that the Kaffir warriors had wiped out 450 farmsteads and damaged 350 others.
	Then, at the head of his division, he tumbled the Kaffirs back across the border, cleared them out of the Fish River area and proceeded to allot the newly-conquered lands to settlers who had survived the massacre. D'Urban made him Governor of the newly-formed Queen Adelaide Province, intended to be a buffer between the Cape and the surging Bantu savages.
	Meanwhile Juana had joined him in his capital, King Williams Town. She made the 800-miles journey across the veldt and over mountain passes still infested by roving warrior bands in a creaking bullock wagon. In King Williams Town she helped him pacify the natives. While he arranged defence posts of friendly Kaffirs and smashed the witch doctors, she organised the training of Kaffir women and children.
	Cape Province was set for a period of peace and prosperity when Lord Glenelg, one of Britain's most stupid colonial secretaries, declared that the continued encroachment of the colonists amply justified the war-like action of the Kaffirs. Accordingly he ordered D'Urban to reinstate the natives in the area from which they had been driven. Harry Smith, raving that they were "restoring Queen Adelaide Province to barbarism" was ordered to India as Adjutant-General. The Boers too were enraged. The abandonment of the Province and the transfer of Harry Smith were largely responsible for the secession of the Boer adventurers who drove north into Zulu territory in what is known as the Great Trek.
	In India the Smiths were immediately engulfed in a volcano of warfare. Harry Smith was given a division in the campaign to put down a reign of terror in Gwalior. At the battle of Maharajpur [29 December 1843], he captured all the enemy guns in a dashing cavalry charge. For gallantry in this action Smith was knighted. With an independent command and new blitz tactics, he then smashed the Sikhs at Aliwal [28 January 1846] for which on his return triumphant to England, he was created a baronet and received the freedom of London and Glasgow.
	There was not much rest for Harry and Juana Smith, however. The position in South Africa was drifting from bad to worse. The Kaffirs were on the rampage again. The Boers were truculent. He was sent back as Governor and High to restore the order he had built before. Backed by Juana, he became the complete empire builder. Virtually ignoring the home Government, he added British Kaffraria to Cape Province and extended his borders to the Orange River. Because the Boers were always skirmishing with the Griqua tribes, he proclaimed the whole district between the Orange and the Vaal rivers as a British dominion, and when Boer leader Pretorius objected, smashed his troops in the battle of Boomplaats [29 August 1848].
	He was pressing British claims on the Transvaal, which would have obviated the bloodthirsty Boer War decades later, when the British Government had another attack of cold feet and called him home. The Government fell before their arrival so Major-General Sir Harry Smith and his Spanish wife were received as heroes. The damage had been done, however. The Orange River area was handed back to the Boers, The stage was set for the siege, years later, of Ladysmith.
	Rich in honours, Harry Smith, one of Britain's greatest empire builders, died on October 12, 1860, aged 73. The wife who had shared his campaigns followed him 12 years later.
	Sir John George Smyth VC, 1st baronet and MP for Norwood 1950‑1966
	Smyth was a Lieutenant in the 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, Indian Army, when he was awarded the Victoria Cross. The citation, which is dated 29 June 1915, reads as follows:-
	For most conspicuous bravery near Richebourg L'Avoue [France] on 18th May, 1915.
	With a bombing party of 10 men, who voluntarily undertook this duty, he conveyed a supply of 96 bombs to within 20 yards of the enemy's position over exceptionally dangerous ground, after the attempts of two other parties had failed.
	Lieutenant Smyth succeeded in taking the bombs to the desired position with the aid of two of his men (the other eight having been killed or wounded), and to effect his purpose he had to swim a stream, being exposed the whole time to howitzer, shrapnel, machine gun and rifle fire.
	After a controversial career during WW2, Smyth entered politics and sat for Norwood between 1950 and 1966.
	Joseph William Spearman, son and heir of Sir Joseph Layton Elmes Spearman, 2nd baronet [22 August 1879‑1917]
	Some people are born unlucky - this appears to have been the case with this gentleman, as described in the following article which appeared in the Sydney Star on 7 April 1909:-
	Heir to a baronetcy, and an ex-officer in the Army, Joseph William Spearman finds himself starving in London after crowding years of adventure into his 29 years of life.
	He is the eldest son of Sir Joseph Layton Elmes Spearman, second Baronet of Craigour, Gullane, East Lothian. The title was created in 1840, the first baronet being Sir Alexander Young Spearman, at one time Assistant Secretary to the Treasury, and afterwards Comptroller-General and Secretary to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt. The present baronet is his grandson, and it is his great-grandson whose plight has been discovered by a London press representative. It may be added that his identity was vouched for by a barrister, who has known him and his family all his life.
	Sitting in his barely furnished room in one of the mean streets off the Old Kent-road, Mr. Spearman told of the hard times that had befallen him. "I've been tramping all over London to try to find work," he said, "and I'd welcome any job. My wife and I are penniless, and hungry."
	Mr. Spearman was born on August 22, 1879, and after education at Shrewsbury served for a year in the Suffolk (Militia) Regiment, as sub-lieutenant. Then a roving spirit came over him. "I sailed for Canada, on November 26, 1898, in the Labrador," he said, "with the idea of taking up ranching. My first taste of adventure soon came. I was crossing the continent on the Canadian Pacific Railway, and we were going through the Rockies when the train jumped the metals and fell into a ditch to the right of the track. We scrambled out unhurt, and saw how narrow had been our escape, for had the train gone over to the left we would have all been dashed to pieces hundreds of feet below. There was no dining car on the train, as we were to have a meal at a station some way ahead, and twenty of us had to share out a tin of salmon and a few biscuits till relief arrived twelve hours later. I had a flask of whisky, and could have sold it over and over again for its weight in gold.
	"Then I got into Chilcoot country and apprenticed myself to learn ranching. So began nearly three years of a regular cowboy life, with plenty of ups and downs, and enough fun breaking horses and branding cattle to keep one lively. Of course, I was very raw at first. My first load of hay slipped on my cart, and I had a busy time getting it back again. But for excitement give me branding cattle, when a rope breaks and a steer tries to horn you for your trouble. That taught me some new ideas in sprinting and getting over six feet fences.
	"In 1901 I thought I would try town life again, and made my way to New Westminster, British Columbia, where I took an office, and started an agency for the Veterinary Science Association, the idea being to visit farms and sell books on horses and cattle. A local veterinary surgeon, seeing the plate on my door, tried to get me arrested for practising without a licence or qualifications, and I had to convince the authorities that I was a mere harmless book canvasser. Books didn't pay very well, and during the next two years I tried my hand at all sorts of things. I helped in a tobacconist's shop, worked in a saloon, cannery, and went on a farm as haymaker.
	"In 1903 I came home for a short holiday, and, raising some money, I returned to Vancouver and bought a small fruit farm. But luck was against me. Some pest killed all my apple trees, and before long I was wandering about doing any odd job I could get. In January, 1906, I came to South London, and with a little money I had left started a tobacconist's shop in the Old Kent-road and married the daughter of a butcher who lived near by. This caused the estrangement from my father, and on July 13, 1907, I again sailed westward, intending this time to take up poultry farming in Toronto. But land was too expensive, so I took a lodging-house, which was mostly used by English people who wanted to stay with me for nothing, and bolted without paying as soon as they got work.
	"Down on my luck again, I did all sorts of odd jobs, digging foundations, making concrete floorings, and the like. Then came my worst misfortune of all. Some coffee had frozen in a pot, and as I chipped it with a knife a splinter of icicle of coffee flew up, and made a slight wound in my right hand. Blood poisoning set in, and here is my hand half-crippled so that I can do no more heavy jobs, though I can manage to write and do clerical work, if only I could get it.
	"At last my wife and I determined to return, and landed in Liverpool last September. We were penniless. A local relief society helped us for a time, and a few weeks ago we reached London."
	Since this interview the press representative has been able, with the assistance of the Church "Army", to secure temporary employment for Mr. Spearman, who hopes soon to get such regular work as will enable him and his wife to face the future with less dread.
	According to Burke's Peerage, Joseph William Spearman died in 1917. As far as I can tell, he did not die from any involvement in the Great War. It is interesting to note, however, that the obituaries which were published after the death of his father in 1922 are unanimous in stating that Joseph William would now succeed to the baronetcy - that is to say, the newspapers appeared to be unaware that he had died some years before.
	Lady Deborah Speelman (c 1655‑25 Sep 1695)
	I have seen it stated that Deborah Speelman, widow of John Cornelis Speelman, was created a baronetess in September 1686. These references usually include the comment that, as a result, she became one of only two baronetesses ever created, the other being Dame Mary Bolles, who was created a baronetess in 1635. I suspect that the reason for this confusion is that Deborah Speelman receives her own entry in Cokayne's Complete Baronetage, which is possibly sufficient to persuade some readers that she was created a baronetess.
	To the best of my knowledge, Deborah Speelman was never created a baronetess. It was the intention of the king at the time, James II, to create her husband, John Cornelis Speelman, as a baronet, but he died on 4 June 1686 before the royal warrant creating him a baronet had passed the Great Seal. Consequently, the infant son of John Cornelis and Deborah Speelman was created a baronet on 9 September 1686. On the same day, Deborah Speelman was raised by letters patent to the rank of a baronet's widow for the term of her life.
	The wording of Deborah Speelman's patent is given in The Complete Baronetage. Thanks to the good monks of the local Benedictine monastery, I have been supplied with a translation of the patent, which includes the wording "… we declare, bring forward and create Deborah Speelman, her maiden name Kievit, being the widow left of … John Cornelis Speelman, onto and in the dignity and grade of a baronet's widow, to be held, possessed and enjoyed by the same Deborah Speelman, widow, for and during her natural life, together with the inscription, the title, the privilege, the place and pre-eminence of a wife, or as a widow, of a baronet of this Our Kingdom of England."
	The special remainder to the baronetcy of Smith (later Spencer-Smith) created in 1804
	From the London Gazette of 8 May 1804 (issue 15700, page 590):-
	The King has been pleased to grant the Dignity of a Baronet of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to Drummond Smith, of Tring Park, in the County of Herts, Esq; with Remainder to Charles Smith, of Suttons, in the County of Essex, Esq.
	Sir Thomas Cospatric Hamilton-Spencer-Smith, 6th baronet
	Sir Thomas was found dead in his home in October 1959. The following report of the inquest into his death appeared in The Times on 19 October 1959:-
	The inquest on Sir Thomas Spencer-Smith, aged 41, who was found dead at his home at Stapleford Tawney, near Ongar, Essex, last Wednesday, was adjourned at Epping on Saturday until November 9 while the Home Office forensic department trace the poison from which he died.
	Sir Thomas Spencer-Smith, the sixth baronet, was found dead by Mr. Leonard Moore, a handyman employed at his home, and husband of Sir Thomas's housekeeper. Mr. Moore said he saw Sir Thomas Spencer-Smith the evening before and he appeared quite normal. On Wednesday morning there was a note on the kitchen table from him saying: "Wake me in the morning."
	Mr. Moore said: "On the table there was also a piece of red cloth which should have indicated to me to be on guard. This was an arrangement made about two years ago and it meant there was something I was not to touch or I was to be on guard."
	The Coroner (Mr. L.F. Beccles) - On guard for what? - I do not know. Had you ever seen a piece of red cloth before? - No.
	Mr. Moore said the note in itself would have been perfectly normal had he not seen the red cloth. He found Sir Thomas Spencer-Smith in bed as though asleep.
	Mrs. J. Cox, of White Cottage, North Weald, said she and her husband were friends of Sir Thomas Spencer-Smith and on the Tuesday evening he had telephoned to say he would go and see them. "He said he was feeling a bit low. He did not give any particular reason but said he had a bit of a headache and was feeling rather low and fed-up. He said he was thinking of selling his house and moving back to London."
	Police-constable G. Arrell said there was an empty glass on a small table near the bed and an opened bottle of tonic water. On the bed was a small capsule. The piece of cloth on the kitchen table appeared to have been torn from something, but he found no similar material elsewhere in the house.
	On a table in the hall was a stamped letter addressed to Lady Spencer-Smith. Referring to this, the Coroner said: "Without disclosing the full contents, I can say it did indicate that it was quite clear he intended to do himself an injury."
	Dr. Irene Tuck, consulting pathologist at St. Margaret's Hospital, Epping, said she found evidence in the post-mortem suggesting death from poisoning by a drug, but so far they had failed to identify the drug.
	She said that there were no puncture marks on the body which would have suggested the use of a hypodermic needle. The capsule found on the bed had contained a barbiturate drug, but there was no trace of barbiturates in the stomach.
	"It is clearly a death by poisoning and cannot be anything else. The cause of death is obscure at the moment because the poison has not been identified."
	Dr. Tuck spoke of finding a hypodermic syringe, but, she said, it was an old model and had not been used for a considerable time.
	"The poison is something obscure and outside the usual range," she added. "There was nothing in the house that could have killed him. He must have used it, whatever it was, and left no trace and no container."
	To my great frustration, I have been unable to find any mention of any further proceedings of the adjourned inquest, and consequently have been unable to discover whether the poison which killed Sir Thomas was ever identified. If any reader can supply me with any further information, I would be very grateful.
	Sir Edgar Speyer, 1st baronet
	Speyer was the second son of Gustavus Speyer, of Frankfort, by his wife Sophia, daughter of Rudolph Rubino, of Fritzlar, Prussia. After being educated at Frankfort, at the age of 22 he became a partner in his father's three companies. Three years later, he took up the management of one of these companies, Speyer Brothers, in London, where both he and the company prospered. He was naturalized as a British citizen in 1892.
	The company operated mainly in the arbitrage markets between America and the Continent, and was a large player in American financial circles. The company was heavily involved from inception with the project of electrification of the London Underground railway system, with Speyer being Chairman of the Underground Electric Railways Company of London.
	In 1902, Speyer married Leonora, daughter of Ferdinand, Count von Stosch, of Mantze in Silesia. In July 1906, he was created a baronet, and in 1909 was sworn of the Privy Council.
	Even though he was naturalized, Speyer had been born an alien. He was an extremely successful businessman during a period when popular magazines and literature were engaging in a campaign of fear over the build-up of the German military threat. Best-selling novels by authors such as Erskine Childers (The Riddle of the Sands) and William Le Queux (The Invasion of 1910) gave impetus to the public's general unease with Germany. [Although, to be fair, it must be noted that there were probably just as many stories published in Germany sewing fear of a British invasion. For example, the ending of Le Queux's Invasion of 1910, when published in Germany, had a completely different ending to the English edition]. For an excellent survey of this type of literature, I recommend Voices Prophesying War by I.F. Clarke (Oxford University Press 1992).
	Following the outbreak of World War 1, Speyer was in a difficult position. Although he immediately resigned from all non-English businesses with which he was associated, a hate campaign was mounted against him due to his German parentage. He was accused of disloyalty and treachery; he was forced to remove his children from their school and to resign from the boards of a number of charitable institutions, and also as chairman of the Underground Electric Railways Company.
	On 17 May 1915, Speyer wrote to the Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith, saying:-
	Nothing is harder to bear than a sense of injustice that finds no vent in expression. For the last nine months I have kept silence and treated with disdain the charges of disloyalty and suggestions of treachery made against me in the Press and elsewhere. But I can keep silence no longer, for these charges and suggestions have now been repeated by public men who have not scrupled to use their position to inflame the overstrained feelings of the people.
	I am not a man who can be driven or drummed by threats or abuse into an attitude of justification. But I consider it due to my honour as a loyal British subject, and my personal dignity as a man, to retire from all my public positions. I therefore ask you to accept my resignation as a Privy Councillor and to revoke my baronetcy.
	On 22 May Asquith wrote back to Speyer, saying "I can quite understand the sense of injustice and indignation which prompted your letter to me. I have known you long and well enough to estimate at their true value those baseless and malignant imputations upon your loyalty to the British Crown. The King is not prepared to take any steps such as you suggest in regard to the marks of distinction which you have received in recognition of public services and philanthropic munificence." In any event, there would be grave doubts, at that time at least, over whether a person would be allowed to resign from the Privy Council or a baronetcy, since it was felt that as both honours were granted by the sovereign, only the sovereign could take those honours away.
	In July 1915, Sir George Makgill, who was secretary to the Anti-German Union, applied to the Courts to have the membership of the Privy Council stripped from both Speyer and another German-born Privy Counsellor, Sir Ernest Cassel. In December 1915, the Court rejected this application. An appeal against this decision was also rejected in July 1916. [For further information, see the note under Privy Counsellors 1836‑1914.]
	After the war had concluded, however, Speyer's conduct during the war was examined by the Certificates of Naturalization (Revocation) Committee, with the result that the following pronouncement was made in the London Gazette of 13 December 1921:-
	In the matter of Sir Edgar Speyer, Bt.
	Revocation of Certificate of Naturalization.
	Whereas I am satisfied, as a result of an inquiry conducted by the Certificates of Naturalization (Revocation) Committee, that Sir Edgar Speyer, Baronet, a member of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, to whom a Certificate of Naturalization number A 7015 was granted on the 29th February, 1892
	(1) Has shown himself by act and speech to be disaffected and disloyal to his Majesty, and;
	(2) has, during the war in which his Majesty was engaged, unlawfully communicated with subjects of an enemy State and associated with a business which was to his knowledge carried on in such a manner as to assist the enemy in such war [the pronouncement makes it clear that this did not extend to the other partners of the firm].
	And whereas I am satisfied that the continuance of the said certificate is not conducive to the public good:
	Now, therefore, by this order … I revoke the said certificate; and I direct such revocation to have effect from the date hereof; and I further order the said certificate to be given up and to be cancelled.
	And I further direct that Leonora Speyer, the wife of the said Sir Edgar Speyer, and Pamela Speyer, Leonora Speyer, and Vivien Clare Speyer, the minor children of the said Sir Edgar Speyer, shall cease to be British subjects.
	Edward Shortt
	One of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State [Home Secretary]
	In the same London Gazette, a further pronouncement reads:-
	It is this day ordered by his Majesty in Council that the name of Sir Edgar Speyer, Bt., be struck out of the List of his Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council.
	The Committee's report upon which the Home Secretary based his decision was released on 6 January 1922. The principal findings of the Committee were published the following day in The Times:-
	The chief points in the Committee's Report are as follows:-
	For a considerable time Sir Edgar Speyer remained in partnership with an enemy [Herr Beit von Speyer, his brother-in-law] and shared with him the profits of trading with Germany, and he relinquished that position with obvious reluctance and on compulsion.
	We are clearly of opinion that Sir Edgar Speyer engaged in transactions with Teixeira, of Amsterdam, with knowledge that they involved benefit to individual Germans and assistance to the enemy in the war.
	From June, 1915, when he landed in New York, up to the end of the war, Sir Edgar Speyer was in regular and constant correspondence with his brother-in-law at Frankfort.
	This correspondence is plainly unlawful communication with the subject of an enemy State during the war. It was in breach of Sir Edgar Speyer's oath as a Privy Councillor and in flagrant and habitual violation of his personal undertaking.
	Sir Edgar Speyer was party to repeated and systematic attempts to evade the British censorship, and he repeatedly attempted to seduce his English partners to do the same. He desisted from these attempts only because of the strong opposition of his English partners, and through fear of further injury to his business interests.
	We are entirely satisfied that early in 1918 he wrote to Beit von Speyer professing German sympathies, expressing a desire to settle in Berlin and carry on business there after the war.
	We are satisfied that Sir Edgar Speyer had ceased to entertain any feeling of loyalty to his Majesty or affection for this country, and that he desired (at least in the event of a German victory) to substitute for his British citizenship a German allegiance and association.
	Sir Edgar Speyer soon after his arrival in the United States was introduced to Dr. Carl Muck, and from that time maintained openly a friendly intimacy with him.
	We think that this frequent and friendly intimacy with an avowed enemy of his country would have been repugnant to any loyal subject.
	After May 1915, Speyer and his family resided in America, although Speyer himself died in Berlin, having travelled to there for an operation. Notwithstanding the revocation of his British citizenship, he was permitted to retain his baronetcy, which became extinct on his death.
	Sir Robert Ponsonby Staples, 12th baronet
	Sir Robert had his own remedy for rheumatism, as is shown by the following extract from the Cairns Post of 20 July 1938:-
	This week Sir Robert Ponsonby Staples, 85-years-old baronet and artist, walked out of Lissan House, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, in his bare feet. For half-an-hour he walked in the lanes outside the grounds of his home, all the time without shoes or socks.
	Whatever the weather Sir Robert has his daily barefoot walk. It is his way of keeping fit.
	Said Sir Robert after his stroll: "I suppose it is forty years since I began to walk in my bare feet. Walking barefoot has hardened me."
	"I used to have twinges of rheumatism but not now. The embarrassment I sometimes felt when, for instance, I walked barefoot in the centre of London, has been worth while."
	The fate of the Staples baronetcy
	This baronetcy appears doomed to become extinct on the death of its current holder. There s nobody shown as being in remainder in Burke's Peerage. The following article which appeared in The Irish Times on 18 August 2003 discusses the looming extinction:-
	A Co. Tyrone title is available if a suitable family member can be found to fill it. It must be a man and the name has to be Staples - the search for a baronet has been extended to Canada.
	The Co. Tyrone Baronetcy of Lissan is up for grabs if the rightful Mr. Staples can be located to take on the title of 18th baronet. Otherwise, according to Mr. Beir Briers, co-editor of Debretts Peerage, "the title becomes extinct."
	The current baronet, Sir Richard Staples (89), is living in Waterford and has no children. The ancestral home, 28-bedroom Lissan House and 300 acres, just outside Cookstown, is occupied by his cousin, Mrs. Hazel Radclyffe Dolling (80). She was left the house by her father, the 13th baronet.
	He died in 1970 and, as he had no sons, the title passed to his cousin, a brother of the current baronet. Mrs. Radclyffe Dolling has one sister who has two girls and a boy, but as the title can only pass through males, her children have no claim.
	It is thought, said Mrs. Radclyffe Dolling yesterday, that there may be an unaware successor in Canada or the United States.
	"One of the Staples in Canada is trying to see if there is any link between the Canadian Staples and us." Baronet Richard Staples had, she said, sent a sample of DNA to Canada.
	However, Mr. Briers said a simple DNA test would not suffice. A complex study of the genealogy would have to be undertaken to establish rightful succession before anyone could assume the title.
	He said it was known that a Rev. Alexander Staples, Rector of Gowan, who was a junior successor, died in 1864 leaving five sons.
	"But nobody knows what became of them. They may have emigrated to Canada, Australia, the United States. And then they may have left plenty of descendants or may have all died without issue."
	Mrs. Radclyffe Dolling stressed yesterday that any successor would have no claim on Lissan House upon her death.
	"They will just get the title, the right to call themselves 'Sir'." On her death the 400-year-old house will be handed over to the Friends of Lissan House Trust, which she established five years ago.
	Having lived in the house all her life she is determined that it should be restored and used for the benefit of the community.
	It currently features as one of the three Northern Ireland finalists in [the] BBC architectural history programme 'Restoration'. Viewers can vote on which big house they want the programme to restore. The winning house will have an estimated £4 million spent on restoring it.
	The above was written in October 2012. Sir Richard died in November 2013, at the age of 99, at which time the baronetcy became either extinct or, if the reference to possible relatives in Canada or the USA proves to be true, dormant.
	The special remainder to the baronetcy of Stephens created in 1795
	From the London Gazette of 7 March 1795 (issue 13758, page 222):-
	The King has been pleased to grant the Dignity of a Baronet of the Kingdom of Great Britain to Philip Stephens, of St. Faith and Horsford in the County of Norfolk, and Fulham in the County of Middlesex, Esq; and the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten; with Remainder to his Nephew Stephens Howe, Esq; Aide de Camp to the King and Lieutenant-Colonel of His Majesty's Sixty-third Regiment of Foot, and the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten.

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