PEERAGES
Last updated 20/08/2016 (17 Mar 2024)
Date Rank Order Name Born Died Age
HABGOOD
8 Sep 1995
to    
6 Mar 2019
B[L] John Stapylton Habgood
Created Baron Habgood for life 8 Sep 1995
Archbishop of York 1983‑1995; PC 1983
Peerage extinct on his death
23 Jun 1927 6 Mar 2019 91
HACHE
6 Feb 1299
to    
1306
B 1 Eustace de Hache
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Hache 6 Feb 1299
Peerage extinct on his death
1306
HACKING
2 Jul 1945 B 1 Sir Douglas Hewitt Hacking, 1st baronet
Created Baron Hacking 2 Jul 1945
MP for Chorley 1918‑1945; PC 1929
4 Aug 1884 29 Jul 1950 65
29 Jul 1950 2 Douglas Eric Hacking 7 Dec 1910 7 Nov 1971 60
7 Nov 1971 3 Douglas David Hacking 17 Apr 1938
HADDINGTON
11 Jun 1606
to    
28 Feb 1626
V[S] 1 John Ramsay
Created Lord Ramsay of Barns and Viscount of Haddington 11 Jun 1606, Lord Ramsay of Melrose 25 Aug 1615 and Baron of Kingston upon Thames and Earl of Holdernesse 22 Jan 1621
Peerages extinct on his death
c 1580 28 Feb 1626

17 Aug 1627 E[S] 1 Thomas Hamilton
Created Lord Binning 30 Nov 1613 and Earl of Melrose 20 Mar 1619. On the death of Viscount Haddington (see above) the patent was changed to Earl of Haddington 17 Aug 1627
1563 29 May 1637 73
29 May 1637 2 Thomas Hamilton 25 May 1600 30 Aug 1640 40
30 Aug 1640 3 Thomas Hamilton c 1625 8 Feb 1645
8 Feb 1645 4 John Hamilton c 1626 31 Aug 1669
31 Aug 1669 5 Charles Hamilton c 1650 May 1685
May 1685 6 Thomas Hamilton
Lord Lieutenant Haddington 1716; KT 1717
29 Aug 1680 28 Nov 1735 55
28 Nov 1735 7 Thomas Hamilton 1720 19 May 1794 73
19 May 1794 8 Charles Hamilton
Lord Lieutenant Haddington 1804‑1823
5 Jul 1753 17 Mar 1828 74
17 Mar 1828 9 Thomas Hamilton
Created Baron Melros 24 Jul 1827
MP for St. Germans 1802‑1806, Cockermouth 1807, Callington 1807‑1812, Mitchell 1814‑1818, Rochester 1818‑1826 and Yarmouth 1826‑1827; Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1834‑1835; First Lord of the Admiralty 1841‑1846; Lord Privy Seal 1846; PC 1814; KT 1853
21 Jun 1780 1 Dec 1858 78
1 Dec 1858 10 George Baillie-Hamilton 14 Apr 1802 25 Jun 1870 68
25 Jun 1870 11 George Baillie-Hamilton
Lord Lieutenant Haddington 1876‑1917; KT 1902
26 Jul 1827 11 Jun 1917 89
11 Jun 1917 12 George Baillie-Hamilton
Lord Lieutenant Berwickshire 1952‑1969; KT 1951
18 Sep 1894 17 Apr 1986 91
17 Apr 1986 13 John George Baillie‑Hamilton 21 Dec 1941 5 Jul 2016 74
5 Jul 2016 14 George Edmund Baldred Baillie‑Hamilton 27 Dec 1985
HADDO
30 Nov 1682 B[S] 1 George Gordon, 3rd baronet
Created Lord Haddo, Methlick, Tarves and Kellie, Viscount of Formantine and Earl of Aberdeen 30 Nov 1682
See "Aberdeen"
3 Oct 1637 20 Apr 1720 82

15 May 1915 E 1 John Campbell Hamilton-Gordon, 7th Earl of Aberdeen
Created Earl of Haddo and Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair 15 May 1915
See "Aberdeen"
3 Aug 1847 7 Mar 1934 86
HADEN-GUEST
2 Feb 1950 B 1 Leslie Haden Haden-Guest
Created Baron Haden-Guest 2 Feb 1950
MP for Southwark North 1923‑1927 and Islington North 1937‑1950
10 Mar 1877 20 Aug 1960 83
20 Aug 1960 2 Stephen Haden Haden‑Guest 7 Jun 1902 21 Dec 1974 72
21 Dec 1974 3 Richard Haden Haden‑Guest 20 Jul 1904 26 May 1987 82
26 May 1987 4 Peter Haden Haden‑Guest 29 Aug 1913 8 Apr 1996 82
8 Apr 1996 5 Christopher Haden-Guest 5 Feb 1948
HAGUE OF RICHMOND
9 Oct 2015 B[L] William Jefferson Hague
Created Baron Hague of Richmond for life 9 Oct 2015
MP for Richmond (Yorkshire) 1989‑2015; Secretary of State for Wales 1995‑1997; Foreign & Commonwealth Secretary 2010‑2014; First Secretary of State 2010‑2015; Leader of the House of Commons 2014‑2015; PC 1995
26 Mar 1961
HAIG
29 Sep 1919 E 1 Sir Douglas Haig
Created Baron Haig, Viscount Dawick and Earl Haig 29 Sep 1919
KT 1917; OM 1919
19 Jun 1861 29 Jan 1928 66
29 Jan 1928 2 George Alexander Eugene Douglas Haig 15 Mar 1918 10 Jul 2009 91
10 Jul 2009 3 Alexander Douglas Derrick Haig 30 Jun 1961
HAILES
15 Feb 1957
to    
5 Nov 1974
B 1 Patrick George Thomas Buchan‑Hepburn
Created Baron Hailes 15 Feb 1957
MP for East Toxteth 1931‑1950 and Beckenham 1950‑1957; Minister of Works 1955‑1957; Governor General of the West Indies 1957‑1962; PC 1951; CH 1962
Peerage extinct on his death
2 Apr 1901 5 Nov 1974 73
HAILEY
15 Jul 1936
to    
1 Jun 1969
B 1 Sir William Malcolm Hailey
Created Baron Hailey 15 Jul 1936
Governor of Punjab 1924‑1928 and United Provinces 1928‑1934; PC 1949; OM 1956
Peerage extinct on his death
15 Feb 1872 1 Jun 1969 97
HAILSHAM
5 Apr 1928
4 Jul 1929
B
V
1
1
Sir Douglas McGarel Hogg
Created Baron Hailsham 5 Apr 1928 and Viscount Hailsham 4 Jul 1929
MP for St. Marylebone 1922‑1928; Attorney General 1923‑1924 and 1924‑1928; Lord Chancellor 1928‑1929 and 1935‑1938; Secretary of State for War 1931‑1935; Lord President of the Council 1938; PC 1922
28 Feb 1872 16 Aug 1950 78
16 Aug 1950
to    
20 Nov 1963
30 Jun 1970
to    
12 Oct 2001
2 Quintin McGarel Hogg
He disclaimed the peerage for life 20 Nov 1963
Created Baron Hailsham of St. Marylebone for life 30 Jun 1970
MP for Oxford 1938‑1950 and St. Marylebone 1963‑1970; First Lord of the Admiralty 1956‑1957; Minister of Education 1957; Lord President of the Council 1959 and 1960‑1964; Lord Privy Seal 1959‑1960; Minister for Science & Technology 1959‑1964; Lord Chancellor 1970‑1974 and 1979‑1987; PC 1956; CH 1974; KG 1988
Life peerage extinct on his death
9 Oct 1907 12 Oct 2001 94
12 Oct 2001 3 Douglas Martin Hogg
MP for Grantham 1979-1997 and Sleaford & North Hykeham 1997‑2010; Minister of State for Industry 1989‑1990; Minister of State, Foreign Office 1990‑1995; Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food 1995‑1997; PC 1992
Created Baron Hailsham of Kettlethorpe for life 12 Oct 2015
5 Feb 1945
HAILSHAM OF KETTLETHORPE
12 Oct 2015 B[L] Douglas Martin Hogg, 3rd Viscount Hailsham
Created Baron Hailsham of Kettlethorpe for life 12 Oct 2015
See "Hailsham"
5 Feb 1945
HAILSHAM OF ST. MARYLEBONE
30 Jun 1970
to    
12 Oct 2001
B[L] Quintin McGarel Hogg, 2nd Viscount Hailsham
Created Baron Hailsham of St. Marylebone for life 30 Jun 1970
See "Hailsham"
9 Oct 1907 12 Oct 2001 94
HAIN
22 Oct 2015 B[L] Peter Gerald Hain
Created Baron Hain for life 22 Oct 2015
MP for Neath 1991‑2015; Secretary of State for Wales 2002‑2008 and 2009‑2010; Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons 2003‑2005; Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 2005‑2007; Secretary of State for Work & Pensions 2007‑2008; PC 2001
16 Feb 1950
HAIRE OF WHITEABBEY
13 May 1965
to    
7 Oct 1966
B[L] John Edwin Haire
Created Baron Haire of Whiteabbey for life 13 May 1965
MP for Wycombe 1945‑1951
Peerage extinct on his death
14 Nov 1908 7 Oct 1966 57
HALDANE
27 Mar 1911
to    
19 Aug 1928
V 1 Richard Burdon Haldane
Created Viscount Haldane 27 Mar 1911
MP for Haddingtonshire 1885‑1911; Secretary of State for War 1905‑1911; Lord Chancellor 1912‑1915 and 1924; PC 1902; KT 1913; OM 1915
Peerage extinct on his death
30 Jul 1856 19 Aug 1928 72
HALDON
29 Apr 1880 B 1 Sir Lawrence Palk, 4th baronet
Created Baron Haldon 29 Apr 1880
MP for Devon South 1854‑1868 and Devon East 1868‑1880
5 Jan 1818 22 Mar 1883 65
22 Mar 1883 2 Lawrence Hesketh Palk 6 Sep 1846 31 Dec 1903 57
31 Dec 1903 3 Lawrence William Palk
For further information on this peer, see the note at the foot of this page
13 Jul 1869 12 Jan 1933 63
12 Jan 1933 4 Lawrence Edward Broomfield Palk
For further information on this peer, see the note at the foot of this page
13 May 1896 16 Aug 1938 42
16 Aug 1938
to    
11 Jan 1939
5 Edward Arthur Palk
Peerage extinct on his death
1854 11 Jan 1939 84
HALE
24 Apr 1972
to    
9 May 1985
B[L] Charles Leslie Hale
Created Baron Hale for life 24 Apr 1972
MP for Oldham 1945‑1950 and Oldham West 1950‑1968
Peerage extinct on his death
13 Jul 1902 9 May 1985 82
HALE OF RICHMOND
12 Jan 2004 B[L] Dame Brenda Marjorie Hale
Created Baroness Hale of Richmond for life 12 Jan 2004
Lord Justice of Appeal 1999‑2004; Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 2004‑2009; Justice of the Supreme Court 2009‑2020; President of the Supreme Court 2009‑2020; PC 1999
31 Jan 1945
HALES
c 1458 B[S] 1 Sir Patrick Hepburn
Created Lord Hales c 1458
c 1410 c 1480
c 1480 2 Adam Hepburn c 1435 c 1484
c 1484 3 Patrick Hepburn
He was created Earl of Bothwell in 1488 into which title this peerage then merged

16 Jun 1581
to    
12 Jul 1592
B[S] 1 Francis Stewart
Created Lord Hales and Earl of Bothwell 16 Jun 1581
See "Bothwell"
c 1604
HALIBURTON
13 Jun 1898
to    
21 Apr 1907
B 1 Sir Arthur Lawrence Haliburton
Created Baron Haliburton 13 Jun 1898
Peerage extinct on his death
26 Sep 1832 21 Apr 1907 74
HALIFAX
13 Jan 1668
16 Jul 1679
17 Aug 1682
V
E
M
1
1
1
George Savile
Created Baron Saville of Eland and Viscount Halifax 13 Jan 1668, Earl of Halifax 16 Jul 1679 and Marquess of Halifax 17 Aug 1682
MP for Pontefract 1660; Lord Privy Seal 1682‑1685 and 1689‑1690; Lord President of the Council 1685; PC 1679
11 Nov 1633 5 Apr 1695 61
5 Apr 1695 2 William Savile
MP for Newark 1689‑1695
Peerages extinct on his death
c 1665 31 Aug 1700

13 Dec 1700
19 Oct 1714
to    
19 May 1715
B
E
1
1
Charles Montagu
Created Baron Halifax 13 Dec 1700 and Viscount Sunbury and Earl of Halifax 19 Oct 1714
MP for Maldon 1689‑1695 and Westminster 1695‑1700; Chancellor of the Exchequer 1694‑1699; First Lord of the Treasury 1697‑1699 and 1714‑1715; Lord Lieutenant Surrey 1714‑1715; PC 1694; KG 1714
On his death the Earldom and Viscountcy became extinct whilst the Barony passed to -
16 Apr 1661 19 May 1715 54
19 May 1715
14 Jun 1715
 
E
2
1
George Montagu
Created Viscount Sunbury and Earl of Halifax 14 Jun 1715
MP for Northampton 1705‑1715; PC 1717
c 1684 9 May 1739
9 May 1739 2 George Montagu-Dunk
President of the Board of Trade 1748‑1761; Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1761‑1763; First Lord of the Admiralty 1762; Secretary of State 1762‑1765 and 1771; Lord Privy Seal 1770‑1771; Lord Lieutenant Northampton 1749‑1771; PC 1749; KG 1764
Peerages extinct on his death
6 Oct 1716 8 Jun 1771 54

21 Feb 1866 V 1 Sir Charles Wood, 3rd baronet
Created Viscount Halifax 21 Feb 1866
MP for Great Grimsby 1826‑1831, Wareham 1831‑1832, Halifax 1832‑1865 and Ripon 1865‑1866; Chancellor of the Exchequer 1846‑1852; President of the Board of Control 1852‑1855; First Lord of the Admiralty 1855‑1858; Secretary of State for India 1859‑1866; Lord Privy Seal 1870‑1874; PC 1846
20 Dec 1800 8 Aug 1885 84
8 Aug 1885 2 Charles Lindley Wood 7 Jun 1839 19 Jan 1934 94
19 Jan 1934
11 Jul 1944
 
E
3
1
Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Baron Irwin
Created Earl of Halifax 11 Jul 1944
MP for Ripon 1910‑1925; President of the Board of Education 1922‑1924; Minister of Agriculture 1924‑1925; Viceroy of India 1926‑1931; Secretary of State for War 1935; Lord Privy Seal 1935‑1937; Lord President of the Council 1937; Foreign Secretary 1938‑1940; PC 1922; KG 1931; OM 1946
16 Apr 1881 23 Dec 1959 78
23 Dec 1959 2 Charles Ingram Courtenay Wood
MP for York 1937‑1945; Lord Lieutenant Yorkshire East Riding 1968‑1974 and Humberside 1974‑1980
3 Oct 1912 19 Mar 1980 67
19 Mar 1980 3 (Charles Edward) Peter Neil Wood 14 Mar 1944
HALL
28 Oct 1946 V 1 George Henry Hall
Created Viscount Hall 28 Oct 1946
MP for Aberdare 1922‑1946; Secretary of State for Colonies 1945‑1946; First Lord of the Admiralty 1946‑1951; PC 1942
31 Dec 1881 8 Nov 1965 83
8 Nov 1965
to    
24 Jul 1985
2 William George Leonard Hall
Peerage extinct on his death
9 Mar 1913 24 Jul 1985 72
HALL OF BIRKENHEAD
19 Mar 2010 B[L] Anthony William Hall
Created Baron Hall of Birkenhead for life 19 Mar 2010
3 Mar 1951
HALLETT
11 Oct 2019 B[L] Dame Heather Carol Hallett
Created Baroness Hallett for life 11 Oct 2019
16 Dec 1949
HALSBURY
26 Jun 1885
19 Jan 1898
B
E
1
1
Hardinge Stanley Giffard
Created Baron Halsbury 26 Jun 1885 and Viscount Tiverton and Earl of Halsbury 19 Jan 1898
MP for Launceston 1877‑1885; Solicitor General 1875‑1880; Lord Chancellor 1885‑1886, 1886‑1892 and 1895‑1905; PC 1885
For further information on this peer, and for a ghost story concerning him, see the note at the foot of this page
3 Sep 1823 11 Dec 1921 98
11 Dec 1921 2 Hardinge Goulburn Giffard 20 Jun 1880 15 Sep 1943 63
15 Sep 1943 3 John Anthony Hardinge Giffard 4 Jun 1908 14 Jan 2000 91
14 Jan 2000
to    
31 Dec 2010
4 Adam Edward Giffard
Peerages extinct on his death
3 Jun 1934 31 Dec 2010 76
HAMBLEDEN
11 Nov 1891 V 1 Emily Danvers Smith
Created Viscountess Hambleden 11 Nov 1891
For details of the special remainder included in the creation of this peerage, see the note at the foot of this page
1828 13 Aug 1913 85
13 Aug 1913 2 William Frederick Danvers Smith
MP for Strand 1891‑1910
12 Aug 1868 16 Jun 1928 59
16 Jun 1928 3 William Henry Smith 25 Jul 1903 31 Mar 1948 44
31 Mar 1948 4 William Herbert Smith 2 Apr 1930 2 Aug 2012 82
2 Aug 2012 5 William Henry Bernard Smith 18 Nov 1955
HAMBRO
26 Sep 1994
to    
7 Nov 2002
B[L] Charles Eric Alexander Hambro
Created Baron Hambro for life 26 Sep 1994
Peerage extinct on his death
24 Jul 1930 7 Nov 2002 72
HAMEED
27 Mar 2007 B[L] Khalid Hameed
Created Baron Hameed for life 27 Mar 2007
1 Jul 1941
HAMILTON
28 Jun 1445 B[S] 1 Sir James Hamilton
Created Lord Hamilton 28 Jun 1445
c 1453
c 1453 2 James Hamilton c 1415 Nov 1479
Nov 1479 3 James Hamilton
He was created Earl of Arran in 1503 with which title this peerage then merged

17 Apr 1599 M[S] 1 John Hamilton
Created Lord Aven and Innerdale, Earl of Arran and Marquess of Hamilton 17 Apr 1599
c 1535 12 Apr 1604
12 Apr 1604 2 James Hamilton
He succeeded as 4th Earl of Arran in 1609
KG 1623
1589 2 Mar 1625 35
2 Mar 1625
12 Apr 1643
 
D[S]
3
1
James Hamilton
Created Lord Aven and Innerdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge, Marquess of Clydesdale and Duke of Hamilton 12 Apr 1643
KG 1630
19 Jun 1606 9 Mar 1649 42
9 Mar 1649 2 William Hamilton
Created Lord Machansyre & Polmont and Earl of Lanark 31 Mar 1639
MP for Portsmouth 1640; KG 1650
14 Dec 1616 12 Sep 1651 34
12 Sep 1651 3 Anne Hamilton
She married Lord William Hamilton (see below) and resigned the peerages in 1698 in favour of James Hamilton (see below)
16 Jan 1632 17 Oct 1716 84

20 Sep 1660 D[S][L] Lord William Hamilton
Created Lord Daer and Shortcleugh and Earl of Selkirk 4 Aug  1646, and Lord Aven, Machansire, Polmont and Daer, Earl of Arran, Lanark and Selkirk, Marquess of Clydesdale and Duke of Hamilton for life 20 Sep 1660
KG 1682; PC 1687
The creations of 1660 became extinct on his death - see also "Selkirk"
24 Dec 1635 18 Apr 1694 58

9 Jul 1698 4 James Hamilton
Created Baron of Dutton and Duke of Brandon 10 Sep 1711
Lord Lieutenant Lancashire 1710‑1712; KT 1687; PC 1710; KG 1712
11 Apr 1658 15 Nov 1712 54
15 Nov 1712 5 James Hamilton (also 2nd Duke of Brandon) 5 Jan 1703 2 Mar 1743 40
KT 1726
2 Mar 1743 6 James Hamilton (also 3rd Duke of Brandon)
KT 1755
5 Jul 1724 17 Jan 1758 33
17 Jan 1758 7 James George Hamilton (also 4th Duke of Brandon)
He succeeded as 4th Marquess of Douglas in 1761
18 Feb 1755 7 Jul 1769 14
7 Jul 1769 8 Douglas Hamilton (also 5th Duke of Brandon)
Lord Lieutenant Lanarkshire 1794‑1799; KT 1786
24 Jul 1756 2 Aug 1799 43
2 Aug 1799 9 Archibald Hamilton (also 6th Duke of Brandon)
MP for Lancashire 1768‑1772; Lord Lieutenant Lanarkshire 1799‑1802
15 Jul 1740 16 Feb 1819 78
16 Feb 1819 10 Alexander Hamilton (also 7th Duke of Brandon)
MP for Lancaster 1802‑1806; Lord Lieutenant Lanarkshire 1802‑1852; PC 1806; KG 1836
He was summoned to Parliament by a Writ of Acceleration as Baron Dutton 4 Nov 1806
For further information on this peer, see the note at the foot of this page
3 Oct 1767 18 Aug 1852 84
18 Aug 1852 11 William Alexander Anthony Archibald Hamilton (also 8th Duke of Brandon)
Lord Lieutenant Lanarkshire 1852‑1863
19 Feb 1811 8 Jul 1863 52
8 Jul 1863 12 William Alexander Louis Stephen Douglas‑Hamilton (also 9th Duke of Brandon)
He succeeded as 8th Earl of Selkirk in 1886
KT 1878
12 Mar 1845 16 May 1895 50
16 May 1895 13 Alfred Douglas Douglas‑Hamilton (also 10th Duke of Brandon)
For information on a claim made to the dukedom in 1897‑1899, see the note at the foot of this page
6 Mar 1862 16 Mar 1940 78
16 Mar 1940 14 Douglas Douglas-Hamilton (also 11th Duke of Brandon)
MP for Renfrewshire East 1930‑1940; PC 1940; KT 1951
3 Feb 1903 30 Mar 1973 70
30 Mar 1973 15 Angus Alan Douglas Douglas-Hamilton (also 12th Duke of Brandon) 13 Sep 1938 5 Jun 2010 71
5 Jun 2010 16 Alexander Douglas Douglas-Hamilton (also 13th Duke of Brandon) 31 Mar 1978
HAMILTON OF DALZELL
14 Aug 1886 B 1 John Glencairn Carter Hamilton
Created Baron Hamilton of Dalzell 14 Aug 1886
MP for Falkirk 1857‑1859 and Lanarkshire South 1868‑1874 and 1880‑1886
16 Nov 1829 15 Oct 1900 70
15 Oct 1900 2 Gavin George Hamilton
Lord Lieutenant Lanarkshire 1938‑1952; KT 1909
29 Jun 1872 23 Jun 1952 79
23 Jun 1952 3 John d'Henin Hamilton
Lord Lieutenant Surrey 1973‑1986
1 May 1911 31 Jan 1990 78
31 Jan 1990 4 James Leslie Hamilton 11 Feb 1938 28 Sep 2006 68
28 Sep 2006 5 Gavin Goulburn Hamilton 8 Oct 1968
HAMILTON OF EPSOM
17 Jun 2005 B[L] Sir Archibald Gavin Hamilton
Created Baron Hamilton of Epsom for life 17 Jun 2005
MP for Epsom & Ewell 1978‑2001; Minister of State for the Armed Forces 1988‑1993; PC 1991
30 Dec 1941
HAMILTON OF GLENAWLY
2 Mar 1661 B[I] 1 Hugh Hamilton
Created Lord Hamilton, Baron of Glenawly 2 Mar 1661
Apr 1679
Apr 1679
to    
Feb 1680
2 William Hamilton
Peerage extinct on his death
Feb 1680
HAMILTON OF HAMELDON
20 May 1776 B 1 Elizabeth Campbell
Created Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon 20 May 1776
20 Dec 1793
20 Dec 1793 2 Douglas Hamilton, 8th Duke of Hamilton and 5th Duke of Brandon 24 Jul 1756 2 Aug 1799 43
2 Aug 1799 3 George William Campbell
He subsequently succeeded to the Dukedom of Argyll in 1806 with which title this peerage then merged and still remains so
22 Sep 1766 22 Oct 1839 73
HAMILTON OF HAMILTON
24 Aug 1786 V 1 James Hamilton, 8th Earl of Abercorn
Created Viscount Hamilton of Hamilton 24 Aug 1786
See "Abercorn"
22 Oct 1712 9 Oct 1789 76
HAMILTON OF STACKALLAN
20 Oct 1715 B[I] 1 Gustavus Hamilton
Created Baron Stackallan of Hamilton 20 Oct 1715 and Viscount Boyne 20 Aug 1717
See "Boyne"
c 1640 16 Sep 1723
HAMILTON OF STRABANE
8 May 1617 B[I] 1 James Hamilton
Created Lord Hamilton, Baron of Strabane 8 May 1617
He resigned the peerage in favour of -
c 1670
1633 2 Claud Hamilton 14 Jun 1638
14 Jun 1638 3 James Hamilton 1633 16 Jun 1655 21
16 Jun 1655 4 George Hamilton 14 Apr 1668
14 Apr 1668 5 Claud Hamilton
He succeeded to the Earldom of Abercorn in 1680 with which title this peerage then merged and still remains so

10 Aug 1868 M[I] 1 James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Abercorn
Created Marquess of Hamilton of Strabane and Duke of Abercorn 10 Aug 1868
See "Abercorn"
21 Jan 1811 31 Oct 1885 74
HAMILTON OF WISHAW
10 Sep 1831 B 1 Robert Montgomery Hamilton, 8th Lord Belhaven and Stenton
Created Baron Hamilton of Wishaw 10 Sep 1831
Peerage extinct on his death
1793 22 Dec 1868 75
HAMLYN
23 Feb 1998
to    
31 Aug 2001
B[L] Paul Bertrand Hamlyn
Created Baron Hamlyn for life 23 Feb 1998
Peerage extinct on his death
12 Feb 1926 31 Aug 2001 75
HAMMOND
5 Mar 1874
to    
29 Apr 1890
B 1 Edmund Hammond
Created Baron Hammond 5 Mar 1874
PC 1866
Peerage extinct on his death
25 Jun 1802 29 Apr 1890 87
HAMMOND OF RUNNYMEDE
30 Sep 2020 B[L] Philip Hammond
Created Baron Hammond of Runnymede for life 30 Sep 2020
MP for Runnymede & Weybridge 1997‑2019; Secretary of State for Transport 2010‑2011; Secretary of State for Defence 2011‑2014; Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs 2014‑2016; Chancellor of the Exchequer 2016‑2019; PC 2010
4 Dec 1955
HAMNETT
6 Jul 1970
to    
17 Mar 1980
B[L] Cyril Hamnett
Created Baron Hamnett for life 6 Jul 1970
Peerage extinct on his death
20 May 1906 17 Mar 1980 73
HAMPDEN
14 Jun 1776 V 1 Robert Hampden, 4th Baron Trevor
Created Viscount Hampden 14 Jun 1776
Postmaster General 1759‑1765
17 Feb 1706 22 Aug 1783 77
22 Aug 1783 2 Thomas Hampden
MP for Lewes 1768‑1774
11 Sep 1746 20 Aug 1824 77
20 Aug 1824
to    
9 Sep 1824
3 John Trevor
Peerage extinct on his death
24 Feb 1749 9 Sep 1824 75
HAMPDEN OF GLYNDE
4 Mar 1884 V 1 Henry Bouverie William Brand
Created Viscount Hampden of Glynde 4 Mar 1884
MP for Lewes 1852‑1868 and Cambridgeshire 1868‑1884; Speaker of the House of Commons 1872‑1884; Lord Lieutenant Sussex 1886‑1892; PC 1866
24 Dec 1814 14 Mar 1892 77
14 Mar 1892 2 Henry Robert Brand
MP for Hertfordshire 1868‑1873 and Stroud 1874 and 1880‑1886; Governor of New South Wales 1895‑1899
2 May 1841 22 Nov 1906 65
22 Nov 1906 3 Thomas Walter Brand
Lord Lieutenant Hertford 1915‑1952
29 Jan 1869 4 Sep 1958 89
4 Sep 1958 4 Thomas Henry Brand 30 Mar 1900 17 Oct 1965 65
17 Oct 1965 5 David Francis Brand 14 Jun 1902 4 Sep 1975 73
4 Sep 1975 6 Anthony David Brand 7 May 1937 4 Jan 2008 70
4 Jan 2008 7 Francis Anthony Brand 17 Sep 1970
HAMPTON
6 Mar 1874 B 1 Sir John Somerset Pakington, 1st baronet
Created Baron Hampton 6 Mar 1874
MP for Droitwich 1837‑1874; Secretary of State for Colonies 1852; First Lord of the Admiralty 1858‑1859 and 1866‑1867; PC 1852
20 Feb 1799 9 Apr 1880 81
9 Apr 1880 2 John Slaney Pakington 13 Jul 1826 26 Apr 1893 66
26 Apr 1893 3 Herbert Perrott Murray Pakington 12 Feb 1848 17 Mar 1906 58
17 Mar 1906 4 Herbert Stuart Pakington 15 May 1883 30 Oct 1962 79
30 Oct 1962 5 Humphrey Arthur Pakington 8 Sep 1888 17 Feb 1974 85
17 Feb 1974 6 Richard Humphrey Russell Pakington 25 May 1925 9 Jul 2003 78
9 Jul 2003 7 John Humphrey Arnott Pakington
[Elected hereditary peer 2022-]
24 Dec 1964
HAMPTON COURT
26 Jan 1717 V 1 Margaret Newton
Created Baroness of Hampton Court and Viscountess Coningsby 26 Jan 1717
See "Coningsby"
c 1709 13 Jun 1761
HAMWEE
6 Jun 1991 B[L] Sally Rachel Hamwee
Created Baroness Hamwee for life 6 Jun 1991
12 Jan 1947
HANHAM
15 Jul 1999 B[L] Joan Brownlow Hanham
Created Baroness Hanham for life 15 Jul 1999
23 Sep 1939
HANKEY
3 Feb 1939 B 1 Sir Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey
Created Baron Hankey 3 Feb 1939
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1940; Paymaster General 1941‑1942; PC 1939
1 Apr 1877 26 Jan 1963 85
26 Jan 1963 2 Sir Robert Maurice Alers Hankey 4 Jul 1905 28 Oct 1996 91
28 Oct 1996 3 Donald Robin Alers Hankey 12 Jun 1938
HANMER
1 Oct 1872
to    
8 Mar 1881
B 1 Sir John Hanmer, 3rd baronet
Created Baron Hanmer 1 Oct 1872
MP for Shrewsbury 1832‑1837, Hull 1841‑1847 and Flint Boroughs 1847‑1872
Peerage extinct on his death
22 Dec 1809 8 Mar 1881 71
HANNAN OF KINGSCLERE
25 Jan 2021 B[L] Daniel John Hannan
Created Baron Hannan of Kingsclere for life 25 Jan 2021
MEP for South East England 1999‑2020
1 Sep 1971
HANNAY OF CHISWICK
19 Jun 2001 B[L] Sir David Hugh Alexander Hannay
Created Baron Hannay of Chiswick for life 19 Jun 2001
CH 2003
28 Sep 1935
HANNEN
28 Jan 1891
to    
29 Mar 1894
B[L] James Hannen
Created Baron Hannen for life 28 Jan 1891
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1891‑1894; PC 1872
Peerage extinct on his death
19 Mar 1821 29 Mar 1894 73
HANNETT OF EVERTON
12 Mar 2024 B[L] John Hannett
Created Baron Hannett of Everton for life 12 Mar 2024
23 Jun 1953
HANNINGFIELD
31 Jul 1998 B[L] Paul Edward Winston White
Created Baron Hanningfield for life 31 Jul 1998
16 Sep 1940
HANSON
30 Jun 1983
to    
1 Nov 2004
B[L] Sir James Edward Hanson
Created Baron Hanson for life 30 Jun 1983
Peerage extinct on his death
20 Jan 1922 1 Nov 2004 82
HANWORTH
28 Jan 1926
17 Jan 1936
B
V
1
1
Sir Ernest Murray Pollock, 1st baronet
Created Baron Hanworth 28 Jan 1926 and Viscount Hanworth 17 Jan 1936
MP for Warwick & Leamington 1910‑1923; Solicitor General 1919‑1922; Attorney General 1922; Master of the Rolls 1923‑1935; PC 1922
25 Nov 1861 22 Oct 1936 74
22 Oct 1936 2 David Bertram Pollock 1 Aug 1916 31 Aug 1996 80
31 Aug 1996 3 David Stephen Geoffrey Pollock
[Elected hereditary peer 2011‑]
16 Feb 1946
HARBERTON
10 Oct 1783
5 Jul 1791
B[I]
V[I]
1
1
Arthur Pomeroy
Created Baron Harberton 10 Oct 1783 and Viscount Harberton 5 Jul 1791
MP [I] for Kildare County 1761‑1783
16 Jan 1723 9 Apr 1798 75
9 Apr 1798 2 Henry Pomeroy
MP [I] for Strabane 1776‑1798
8 Dec 1749 29 Nov 1829 79
29 Nov 1829 3 Arthur James Pomeroy 3 Mar 1753 27 Sep 1832 79
27 Sep 1832 4 John Pomeroy 19 Dec 1758 4 Jul 1833 74
4 Jul 1833 5 John James Pomeroy 29 Dec 1790 5 Oct 1862 71
5 Oct 1862 6 James Spencer Pomeroy 23 Nov 1836 4 Dec 1912 76
4 Dec 1912 7 Ernest Arthur George Pomeroy 1 Dec 1867 22 Apr 1944 76
22 Apr 1944 8 Ralph Legge Pomeroy 31 Dec 1869 4 Jul 1956 86
4 Jul 1956 9 Henry Ralph Martyn Pomeroy 12 Oct 1908 25 May 1980 71
25 May 1980 10 Thomas de Vautort Pomeroy 19 Oct 1910 12 Mar 2004 93
12 Mar 2004 11 Henry Robert Pomeroy 23 Apr 1958
HARBOROUGH
19 Oct 1714
8 May 1719
B
E
1
1
Bennet Sherard, 3rd Baron Sherard [I]
Created Baron Harborough 19 Oct 1714, Viscount Sherard 31 Oct 1718 and Earl of Harborough 8 May 1719
The creations of the Barony of 1714 and the Earldom of 1719 both contained a special remainder failing heirs of his body, to Philip Sherard, of Whissendine, co. Rutland
MP for Leicestershire 1701‑1702 and Rutland 1713‑1715; Lord Lieutenant Rutland 1700‑1712 and 1715‑1732
9 Oct 1675 16 Oct 1732 57
16 Oct 1732 2 Philip Sherard
MP for Rutland 1708‑1710; Lord Lieutenant Rutland 1733‑1750
c 1680 20 Jul 1750
20 Jul 1750 3 Bennet Sherard 3 Sep 1709 23 Feb 1770 60
23 Feb 1770 4 Robert Sherard 21 Oct 1719 21 Apr 1799 79
21 Apr 1799 5 Philip Sherard
MP for Rutland 1795‑1796
10 Oct 1767 10 Dec 1807 40
10 Dec 1807
to    
28 Jul 1859
6 Robert Sherard
Peerage extinct on his death
26 Aug 1797 28 Jul 1859 61
HARCLA
15 May 1321 B 1 Sir Andrew de Harcla
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Harcla 15 May 1321. He was subsequently created Earl of Carlisle 25 Mar 1322
See "Carlisle"
3 Mar 1323
HARCOURT
3 Sep 1711
11 Sep 1721
B
V
1
1
Simon Harcourt
Created Baron Harcourt 3 Sep 1711 and Viscount Harcourt 11 Sep 1721
MP for Abingdon 1690‑1705, 1708‑1709 and 1710, Bossiney 1705‑1708 and Cardigan Boroughs 1710; Solicitor General 1702‑1707; Attorney General 1707‑1708 and 1710; Lord Keeper 1710‑1713; Lord Chancellor 1713‑1714; PC 1710
c Dec 1661 23 Jul 1727 65
29 Jul 1727
1 Dec 1749
 
E
2
1
Simon Harcourt
Created Viscount Nuneham and Earl Harcourt 1 Dec 1749
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1772‑1777; PC 1751
For further information on the death of this peer, see the note at the foot of this page
1714 16 Sep 1777 63
16 Sep 1777 2 George Simon Harcourt
MP for St. Albans 1761‑1768
1 Aug 1736 20 Apr 1809 72
20 Apr 1809
to    
17 Jun 1830
3 William Harcourt
MP for Oxford 1768‑1774; Field Marshal 1821
Peerages extinct on his death
20 Mar 1743 17 Jun 1830 87

3 Jan 1917 V 1 Lewis Harcourt
Created Baron Nuneham and Viscount Harcourt 3 Jan 1917
MP for Rossendale 1904‑1916; First Commissioner of Works 1905‑1910 and 1915‑1916; Secretary of State for Colonies 1910‑1915; PC 1905
31 Jan 1863 24 Feb 1922 59
24 Feb 1922
to    
3 Jan 1979
2 William Edward Harcourt
Peerage extinct on his death
5 Oct 1908 3 Jan 1979 70
HARDIE
21 May 1997 B[L] Andrew Rutherford Hardie
Created Baron Hardie for life 21 May 1997
Lord Advocate 1997‑2000; PC 1997
8 Jan 1946
HARDING OF PETHERTON
17 Feb 1958 B 1 Sir Allan Francis John Harding
Created Baron Harding of Petherton 17 Feb 1958
Field Marshal 1953; Governor of Cyprus 1955‑1957
10 Feb 1896 20 Jan 1989 92
20 Jan 1989 2 John Charles Harding 12 Feb 1928 6 Jun 2016 88
6 Jun 2016 3 William Alan John Harding 5 Jul 1969
HARDING OF WINSCOMBE
15 Sep 2014 B[L] Diana Mary [Dido] Harding
Created Baroness Harding of Winscombe for life 15 Sep 2014
9 Nov 1967
HARDINGE
2 May 1846 V 1 Henry Hardinge
Created Viscount Hardinge 2 May 1846
MP for Durham City 1820‑1830, St. Germans 1830, Newport (Cornwall) 1830‑1832 and Launceston 1832‑1844; Secretary at War 1828‑1830 and 1841‑1844; Chief Secretary for Ireland 1830 and 1834‑1835; Governor General of India 1844‑1848; Field Marshal 1855; PC 1828; PC [I] 1830
30 Mar 1785 24 Sep 1856 71
24 Sep 1856 2 Charles Stewart Hardinge
MP for Downpatrick 1851‑1856
12 Sep 1822 28 Jul 1894 71
28 Jul 1894 3 Henry Charles Hardinge 1 Aug 1857 30 May 1924 66
30 May 1924 4 Caryl Nicholas Charles Hardinge 25 Dec 1905 13 Jun 1979 73
13 Jun 1979 5 Henry Nicholas Paul Hardinge 15 Aug 1929 16 Jul 1984 54
16 Jul 1984 6 Charles Henry Nicholas Hardinge 25 Aug 1956 18 Jan 2004 47
18 Jan 2004 7 Andrew Hartland Hardinge 7 Jan 1960 11 Feb 2014 54
11 Feb 2014 8 Thomas Henry de Montarville Hardinge 19 Jun 1993
HARDINGE OF PENSHURST
21 Jul 1910 B 1 Sir Charles Hardinge
Created Baron Hardinge of Penshurst 21 Jul 1910
Viceroy of India 1910‑1916; PC 1904; KG 1916
20 Jun 1858 2 Aug 1944 86
2 Aug 1944 2 Alexander Henry Louis Hardinge
PC 1936
17 May 1894 29 May 1960 66
29 May 1960 3 George Edward Charles Hardinge 31 Oct 1921 14 Jul 1997 75
14 Jul 1997 4 Julian Alexander Hardinge 23 Aug 1945
 

Lawrence William Palk, 3rd Baron Haldon
One of the juicier family histories …
The family descends from Sir Robert Palk, 1st baronet (qv) who made a fortune in India and who represented Ashburton and Wareham in the House of Commons. The body of water between India and Sri Lanka, the Palk Strait, is named after him.
The 2nd Baron Haldon was always known as 'Piggy', apparently due to a marked resemblance to that species. In 1885, he was successful in obtaining a special Act of Parliament called Lord Haldon's Estates Act [48 and 49 Victoria c.4] which gave him the right to deal with the settled estates. Under the Act, the 3rd Baron was to receive an income of £1,000 per year, although the income was never paid. The reason for this Act appears to be that the 2nd Baron spent the greater part of his life in financial straits and had been a frequent visitor to the bankruptcy courts. He is said to have lost a fortune in the then-popular 'sport' of racing spiders around a dinner plate.
In 1891, the 2nd Baron's son sold his interest in the estates for £3,750, one of the conditions of the sale being that the son's existing debts of £20,000 be paid. It appears that the son, who was later to become the 3rd Baron, was constantly in debt and, by all accounts, not overly burdened with scruples. In November 1893, he appeared in court charged with having forged his mother's name on a promissory note. He wrote to her informing her that he had been compelled by dire necessity to put her name to the document, and she produced his letter in court rather than pay the promissory note. No conviction was recorded, since it was believed that the usurer who had lent the money had been aware at the time that Lady Haldon's signature had been forged, and that he only let her son have the money with a view to subsequent blackmail. For further information, see The Times of 9 November 1893.
The 3rd Baron, who was formerly a captain in the Royal Fusiliers, took part in the Boer War as a member of the Imperial Yeomanry. At the end of the Boer War, he was mustered out and for a time was destitute until he found a job as a railroad conductor at Pretoria in South Africa. When he succeeded to the peerage in 1903, the 3rd Baron was in prison, having been charged with two other men in endeavouring to defraud a man named Cowie by offering to sell him a parcel of diamonds which turned out to be glass. At his subsequent trial he was acquitted, the court believing that he was a mere dupe rather than a confederate. He had also been declared bankrupt during his absence from England.
Haldon now blossomed forth as a promoter of patent medicines and became the secretary of the Artificial Teeth Aid Society, which was formed for the purpose of selling false teeth on the instalment plan, or even in renting them out. His partner in this enterprise was a shady character named F S Kennedy who was also Haldon's partner in another dodgy company named the Chemical Blood Manufacturing Company which claimed its product would 'cure' gout and eczema.
We next meet with Lord Haldon in February 1915 when he attempted to have himself discharged from bankruptcy in order to recover the commission he once held in the army. Although unsuccessful on this occasion, he was able to emerge from bankruptcy in February 1919.
The 2nd Baron married twice - firstly in 1893 to Lidiana Crezencia, known on the American stage as Mlle Miska; she died in 1928. In January 1929, he took as his second wife Edith Brightman. On 1 May 1930, at around 7.30pm, she was seen to fall from a 60 ft high cliff at Brighton, her body being found wedged in rocks at the foot of the cliff. The subsequent inquest returned an open verdict.
On the death of the 3rd Baron in 1933, he was succeeded by his son, Lawrence Edward Broomfield Palk. The 4th Baron had, prior to succeeding to the title, been repatriated from Nairobi as a vagrant in 1921; in September 1922, had been sentenced to three months for stealing clothing; in January 1927, had received four months for obtaining money by false pretences; in March 1928, had received a further two months for theft of jewellery and in September 1928 was bound over for two years after being charged with stealing jewellery and clothing.
The 4th Baron died in August 1938, when he was succeeded by his kinsman Edward Arthur Palk. The 5th Baron died 5 months later, when the title became extinct. One could be forgiven for believing that this was the last act in the sorry history of this family, but one final twist emerged in March 1939, when The Times reported that a son had been born to the widow of the 4th Baron. Until that time, it was thought that the 4th Baron had never married, but the alleged widow stated that she had married the 4th Baron in Scotland in June 1938 and that she had been pregnant at the time of his death. However, in November 1940, the alleged mother, together with an accomplice, was charged with conspiracy to make a false statement regarding a birth, causing a false entry in the registry of births and with forgery. The alleged mother, a woman named Lizzie Ireland, had approached a new mother suggesting that she adopt the newborn baby, and had taken the baby away with her. Her accomplice, Isabella Blackett, had then registered the baby's birth as being the son of the late Lord Haldon. The baby was subsequently christened as Lawrence Edward Bloomfield Palk [the same name as its alleged father]. At their subsequent trial, both women were found guilty; Lizzie received three years and Isabella 12 months' imprisonment. It is difficult to understand how they expected to get away with this patently ridiculous claim, given that Lizzie was nearly 61 years old at the date of the alleged birth.
Hardinge Stanley Giffard, 1st Earl of Halsbury
The following biography of Lord Halsbury appeared in the December 1953 issue of the Australian monthly magazine Parade:-
Probably most people who have had cause to consult a lawyer, have gazed with awed astonishment at the row of 39 massive volumes comprising "Halsbury's Laws of England", the "Bible of the Law" throughout the English-speaking world that most lawyers keep handy to their reach. They comprise a tremendous work of many millions of words, codifying all the laws of England evolved by courts and parliament over many centuries, supported by accounts of precedents set in thousands of special judgments - the whole clarified and interpreted with hundreds of thousands of words of annotation and commentary. They could be supposed to represent a lifetime's work for an especially gifted man. In actual fact, the man who undertook the herculean task of planning and supervising their compilation did not begin the task until he was 83; and he was 93 when he completed it, in 1916.
He was Hardinge Stanley Giffard, First Earl of Halsbury, one of England's most remarkable Lord High Chancellors and the first practitioner in criminal law to attain this, the Empire's highest judicial office. He combined a penetrating mind and prodigious memory with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law that made him pre-eminent among the judges of his day. Son of a lawyer who edited a conservative newspaper, the "Standard", Hardinge Giffard never attended school, but under his father's tuition he became exceptionally well versed in French, Latin, Greek and Hebrew. His lessons had to be squeezed in to suit his father's daily programme, and not infrequently began at 4 a.m., even on freezing mornings.
Giffard, Snr., did not believe in pampering his children; and Hardinge was taught to swim by the simple expedient of being tossed overboard when the family was out boating at Margate. He was initiated to fighting early when his Dublin-born father decked him out in a bright green suit, and so caused him to have occasion to defend himself from other lads who jeered at him as "the grasshopper".
After matriculating at Oxford University in 1842, he rowed in a record-breaking college "eight" and showed that, though he was keenly interested in classical studies, he was no mere bookworm. And, as the author of many practical jokes, he once discomfited a fellow-student, who boasted of never having missed a chapel service, by screwing up the unhappy man's study door.
Abominable handwriting almost cost Giffard his degree. Unable to read his papers, the examiners passed him as a Bachelor of Laws on the strength of his known ability, but as a consequence could award him only fourth-class honours in Classics. The result was a great disappointment to Giffard's father, who took him into partnership in the "Standard". His real interest being in law, after five years he abandoned journalism and was called to the bar in 1850. His career got away to an auspicious start, for he obtained his first brief on the day he became a barrister. During his second year in practice he married the daughter of a leading solicitor who had an extensive Old Bailey practice and who gave the best briefs to his new son-in-law.
One of his early cases took him to Cardiff in 1854. All was proceeding normally when a mentally deranged clergyman named Willoughby suddenly sprang to his feet and objected to Giffard's method of examination. In a wild scene the interjector was dragged from court hurling abuse at both judge and counsel. The incident had a curious and almost tragic sequel a short time afterwards. Giffard was about to enter the Old Bailey on an entirely unrelated case when Willoughby rushed up to him brandishing a pistol. Shouting, "Do you remember Cardiff?" he pointed the the weapon at Giffard's head and fired. Almost unbelievably the demented parson missed at a range of only a few feet, the bullet lodging in the sleeve of his intended victim's gown. Giffard did not escape unscathed, for the flash of exploding powder seared his cheek and left a permanent scar.
In 1864 Giffard appeared for the prosecution in a remarkable case that focused nation-wide attention upon him. Twelve [actually eight] members of the crew of a small ship named the Flowery Land were arraigned on charges of mutiny and of murdering the captain, chief officer and four others in subordinate authority. It was alleged that the victims had been thrown overboard and brutally bashed to death with empty bottles as they struggled helplessly in the water, trying to clamber back aboard the vessel. Giffard secured a conviction, and the murderers figured in an unusual public execution in Newgate Street, all 12 [in reality only 5] being hanged simultaneously on a common gibbet [22 February 1864].
A year later Giffard became a Queen's Counsellor, after having three times refused the honour, on the ground that he would suffer financially by accepting it. His fears proved ill-founded, as he more than doubled his former annual income of £2000 almost at once. Many important briefs came his way, and in 1867 he was leading counsel for Edward John Eyre, famous in the annals of Australian exploration for his 1500-mile trek across the Great Sandy Desert, from Fowler's Bay to Albany. After returning to England, Eyre had been appointed Governor of Jamaica and there became embroiled in a native rebellion soon after taking office. Eyre was persuaded to declare martial law by sadistic European officials secretly anxious for a chance to "put the dirty n-----s in their place". In a savage pogrom that lasted a month, 439 natives were "legally murdered", while 600 others were mercilessly flogged with whips laced with piano wire. More than 1000 native dwellings were burnt indiscriminately, and the nightmare of torture, rape and arson culminated in the execution of one, George William Gordon, a negro member of the House of Assembly, who was wrongly supposed to have incited the rising. Violent protests from missions and benevolent organisations led to Eyre's recall, and on reaching London he was charged with the murder of Gordon. By showing his client had been the unsuspecting tool of unscrupulous colonists, Giffard had the ex-governor acquitted.
On conclusion of the case Giffard attempted to enter Parliament as a Conservative, but failed by 446 votes to defeat the sitting Liberal member for Cardiff. In the same year Giffard conducted the prosecution in a trial that led to the last public hanging in England [on 26 May 1868]. The condemned man, [Michael] Barrett, had been ring-leader of a group of Irish Republicans who daringly mined the walls of Clerkenwell Prison to release some of their comrades. The plan failed, but the shattering explosion killed 12 people and injured more than 100 others.
Practically on the heels of this trial Giffard figured in the celebrated "Tichborne Case". Believed to be the longest and most expensive litigation in the history of English law [up until the time of the article], it ultimately dragged on for seven years and cost £91,000. In it, Giffard was second counsel for Arthur Orton, a fat butcher from Wagga, N.S.W., who claimed to be a Sir Roger Tichborne, heir to great estates, who was believed to have been lost at sea some years before. Finally, evidence was so solidly against Orton in his claim to the Tichborne estates that his leading counsel agreed to a non-suit. The decision angered Giffard, who always said afterwards that they at least would have had a good chance of forcing a re-trial. He took no part in the subsequent proceedings that brought Orton a 14-years' sentence for perjury.
Death ended Giffard's childless first marriage in 1873, and in the following year he married the woman who was to bear him a son and a daughter and eventually to become his widow. About the same time he went within 10 votes of becoming Member for Cardiff. In the face of his two failures to enter Parliament, Prime Minister Disraeli in 1875 wrote to Queen Victoria: "As high legal talent is wanted in the House of Commons, Mr. Disraeli recommends your Majesty to appoint Mr. Hardinge Giffard to the office of your Majesty's Solicitor-General. Mr. Giffard is not at present in Parliament, but Mr. Disraeli can arrange to bring that about. There is no lawyer in the Ministerial benches at present equal to the post."
Though knighted and duly appointed, Giffard had the then unusual distinction of being Solicitor-General without being a member of Parliament. Disraeli found the matter of engineering a seat for him more difficult than he expected, and to overcome the impasse of having a legal adviser who could not assist him in the House, he arranged for Giffard to be offered a judgeship. While Giffard was in process of deciding whether or not to accept the post, friends outside Parliament secured him the offer of the safe Conservative seat of Launceston. He represented Launceston from 1877 to 1885, when he was raised to the peerage.
The appointment of Giffard as Lord High Chancellor and first Baron Halsbury in 1885 surprised the legal profession. No criminal lawyer had previously been elevated to the Woolsack. Except for one period of six months [February to August 1886] and another of three years [1892‑1895], when the Conservative Party was out of power, Giffard continued as Lord Chancellor until his retirement in 1905. During his incumbency he was raised to be Earl of Halsbury and Viscount Tiverton, and gave judgments that had far-reaching effects in establishing the right of workers to compensation, and enabling those accused of capital crimes to give evidence on their own behalf.
On retiring from leadership of the House of Lords in 1905 he began his monumental 11-years' labour of editing the digest of the Laws of England that perpetuates his name. Until well into his 90's he was an active golfer and was able to reply personally to scores of congratulations that reached him in 1920 when he celebrated his 70th anniversary at the bar. He made his last appearance in the House of Lords in the following year, and on December 11, 1921, death claimed him in his 99th year, after a three-days' illness.

While researching material for another note, I stumbled across the following ghost story relating to the 1st Earl of Halsbury. Whilst I am unable to vouch for its truth, it's worth recording here.
Around the turn of the 20th century [the story was written in 1905 and refers to the events as having happened 'a few years ago'], Lord and Lady Halsbury were spending the summer in Scotland at a house which they had rented from a member of the Erskine family. One afternoon when the weather was bad, Lady Halsbury was lying on a couch in the library, while Lord Halsbury was examining the view through the library window. Suddenly Lord Halsbury saw a rather dusty-looking carriage and pair enter the grounds of the house through the distant gate and proceed up the drive towards the house. He called Lady Halsbury to the window to see if she might recognise their visitors, and she, too, saw the approaching carriage. However, before either of them could make out the occupants of the carriage, it had disappeared around the corner of the house. Lord and Lady Halsbury waited for the bell to ring and for the footman to announce the names of the visitors, but there was no ring, nor did any servant arrive to bring news of the visitors. Eventually, Lord Halsbury went to investigate, but he found that no-one had seen the carriage, or had heard its wheels on the gravel of the drive. Much mystified, Lord Halsbury inspected the drive, but it was quite clear that no carriage wheels had passed over the drive, since the gravel was quite undisturbed.
A few days later, Lord and Lady Halsbury hosted a dinner party for some people who lived in the neighbourhood. During dinner, the Halsburys recounted the story of what had happened, and in turn were informed by their guests of a tradition, according to which the arrival of a ghostly, travel-stained and dusty carriage and pair invariably heralded the death of a member of the Erskine family. And sure enough, the next day word reached Lord and Lady Halsbury that the owners of the house which they were renting had just lost their eldest son in tragic circumstances.
The special remainder to the Viscountcy of Hambleden
From the London Gazette of 10 November 1891 (issue 26221, page 5847):-
The Queen has been pleased to direct Letters Patent to be passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, granting the dignity of a Viscountess of the said United Kingdom unto Emily Smith, widow of the Right Honourable William Henry Smith, by the name, style, and title of Viscountess  Hambleden, of Hambleden, in the county of Buckingham; and, at her decease, the dignity, of a Viscount of the said United Kingdom to the heirs male of her body by the said William Henry Smith, by the name, style, and title of Viscount Hambleden, of Hambleden, in the county of Buckingham.
Alexander Hamilton, 10th Duke of Hamilton
The following is extracted from The Emperor of the United States of America and Other Magnificent British Eccentrics by Catherine Caufield (Routledge & Kegan Paul, London 1981)
The 10th Duke of Hamilton, often called the proudest man in Britain, combined in one person three dukes, two marquesses, three earls and eight barons. He was the premier peer in Scotland and could trace his family at least as far the thirteenth century. Above all, he insisted that he was the true heir to the throne of Scotland. This claim was based on his conviction that James VI had been secretly killed as a baby and an imposter substituted. The crown therefore should have descended through the heir-apparent, a Douglas, to the 10th Duke.
Visitors to the Duke's home on Arran profited from his lordship's feudal view of the world. Like a medieval ruler, he threw his regal cloak of protection over those fortunate enough to enter his domain. All guests were given a token which entitled them to lodge, board and travel anywhere on the island at the Duke's expense. Not infrequently visitors took advantage of this arrangement to stay rather longer on Arran than they had originally planned, and, in fact, a number became resident there for the lifetime of the Duke.
He showed a democratic streak, however, in choosing a wife. He married a commoner, Miss Susan Beckford, daughter of William Beckford of Fonthill and one of the great beauties of her day. Though not of royal blood, she was the grand-daughter of a Hamilton, which, apparently, counted for a lot. In any case, as the Duke's obituary in The Times in 1852 pointed out, "he could not expect to find a Princess worthy of his hand."
Hamilton Palace was the family seat, and it was there that the Duke intended to be buried. He outbid the British Museum for a magnificent sarcophagus that had been made for an Egyptian princess. When the sarcophagus, for which Hamilton paid £11,000, arrived at Hamilton Palace it became all too clear that Egyptian princesses were substantially shorter than Scottish Dukes. Attempts to lengthen the sarcophagus were unsuccessful due to the unusually hard nature of the stone from which it was made. The Duke suffered great anxiety over this and often lay down in the sarcophagus to try to assure himself that he would fit.
He decided to build a mausoleum that would be a worthy receptacle for his sarcophagus and serve as the final resting-place for all the Dukes of Hamilton, past and future. Described as "the most costly and magnificent temple for the reception of the dead in the world - always excepting the Pyramids", the Hamilton Mausoleum was a domed structure 120 feet high. The floor was marble inlaid with other rare stones; the doors were replicas of those carved by Ghiberti for the Baptistry in Florence; inside there was an octagonal chapel, numerous statues, the tombs of the first nine Dukes, the great sarcophagus of the 10th Duke and room for future generations. The splendour was not lost on Hamilton. "What a grand sight it will be", he used say, "when twelve Dukes of Hamilton rise together here at the Resurrection."
Like the Pharaohs of Egypt, he chose to be embalmed and his last journey was to purchase the embalming spices. On his death bed fears that the sarcophagus would be too small returned and his last words were "Double me up! Double me up!" Hamilton's fears were justified; his feet had to be cut off and placed in the sarcophagus separately. Perhaps it is best that he was spared the last blow to his pride; the later discovery that the sarcophagus which housed his remains had held the body, not of a princess, but of the court jester.
The claim made to the Dukedom of Hamilton in 1897‑1899
When the 12th Duke of Hamilton died in 1895, the title passed to his fourth cousin, Alfred Douglas Douglas‑Hamilton, who became the 13th Duke. In the normal course of events, the titles would have passed to the 12th Duke's younger brother, Charles George Archibald Douglas‑Hamilton, 7th Earl of Selkirk, but he had pre‑deceased his older brother in May 1886.
In late 1898, a man by the name of Charles Gunn, who was at the time under indictment for fraud in Johannesburg, claimed to be Lord Charles Douglas‑Hamilton, and to therefore be the rightful heir to the titles and estates. The following reports from various newspapers outline the history of this claim.
The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post, 5 January 1899:-
The further information which has just arrived from Johannesburg by mail of the claim of a man passing under the name of Charles Gunn to the Dukedom of Hamilton does not make the matter any the less curious. It was as long ago as August, 1897, at Pretoria, that Gunn first put on record his claim to the dukedom - two years after the death of the twelfth duke. The claim, which was not then made public, was put forth in the form of a sworn statement as follows:-
"I, the undersigned, Charles Archibald Hamilton, born May 18th, 1847, hereby declare that I am the second son of William Alexander Archibald, 11th Duke of Hamilton, and Princess Mary of Baden, and only brother of William Alexander Louis Stephen, the late duke. That I left England after fighting a duel, and that, for various reasons of my own, in 1886 my death was formally announced, and a sham funeral gone through at my request. Acting under instructions from me, my men, Charles Stuart, living in the Hunt House, Cadzow, and Archibald Robertson, of Bothwell Haugh, filled up the coffin to represent the proper weight. A similar testimony to this was placed in the coffin, which was sent down to Hamilton Palace, and placed in the family mausoleum. The coffin can be opened and examined at any time in proof of this statement. I make this declaration in case of death or any accident occurring to me previous to my reaching England, to enable my son to claim the title. I was married under the name of Gunn, of Gunn, to Rosie Theresa Fuchs, widow of the late --- Rathfelder, and have two children by the marriage living - one daughter and one son. Marriage and baptismal certificate attached. (Signed), Carl Hamilton, otherwise Gunn, of Gunn. As witness, H. Glaeser. Sworn before me, August 19, 1897, at Pretoria, by the above-named Gunn, of Gunn, Edward Cohen."
There is nothing in this statement inconsistent with the facts to be found in Burke's peerage. Charles George Archibald Hamilton certainly was born on May 18th, 1847; and certainly was the second son of William Alexander Anthony Archibald, eleventh Duke of Hamilton, and Princess Mary of Baden. Certainly, too, he was the only brother of William Alexander Louis Stephen, who became the twelfth duke, and died in May, 1895. Cadzow and Bothwell are two villages in Lanarkshire, near Hamilton; and Hamilton Palace is the Lanarkshire seat of the dukedom. It was in 1886 that the death of Charles George Archibald, the then duke's brother, was announced.
So that the claimant, Gunn, is either personally familiar with the minute details about the house of Hamilton, or else he "crammed" from the useful Burke. One would have been more likely to adopt the latter theory had he stuck more slavishly to the records Burke gives; had he, for instance, set forth his name as Charles George Archibald, the second son of William Alexander Anthony Archibald, etc. [My emphasis]. And Bothwell and Cadzow do not find mention in Burke or Debrett. Gunn's statement is in substantial agreement with the reference books, with circumstantial variety, which the lawyers say is the strongest class of evidence.
It will be remembered that Sir James Harris, the British Consul at Nice, has assured our correspondent there that Lord Charles Hamilton died in Nice in 1886, after arriving in the last stages of consumption. Mr. E. Prat, the local undertaker, has also stated that the corpse of Lord Charles was put in the coffin, which was screwed down in his presence. The death certificate, which can be inspected at Somerset House, confirms this date and place of death; but this certificate is witnessed, not by a doctor at all, but only by the aforesaid E. Prat, and it bears no statement of the cause of death.
Meanwhile, the claimant to the dukedom is under remand at Johannesburg, the charge of fraud which is preferred against him arising out of this very claim in a curious manner.
It appears that one Charles Kirkpatrick was courting Mrs. Gunn's daughter, and he lent Mrs. Gunn various sums. Later on he met Mr. Gunn, who said he was going home to claim his estate as thirteenth Duke of Hamilton. Then it was that Gunn gave Kirkpatrick the document which had been sworn at Pretoria, as set forth above. Gunn said he wanted money to go home to prosecute his claim, and Kirkpatrick advanced him some, without, as he states, ever trying to find out whether Gunn's claim was genuine or bogus. Gunn did not sail, and did not explain to Kirkpatrick why he did not, beyond stating that he had lost (presumably in speculation) £120 or £130 of the amount advanced. Kirkpatrick thereupon had Gunn arrested on a charge of fraud, and that charge is still pending.
The Times, 10 June 1899:-
Our Vienna correspondent telegraphs that efforts are being made by the Vienna police authorities to throw light upon the real motives of an imposter named Charles Gunn, who is alleged to have been trying to pass himself off in Vienna as the late Lord Charles George Archibald Hamilton, a brother of Countess Mary Festetics (daughter of the late Duke of Hamilton), who resides in Vienna. The investigations have thus far resulted in the discovery of a document which would seem to point to the possibility of his being concerned in a conspiracy similar to that of the notorious Tichborne claimant. This is a newspaper cutting found in Gunn's possession, which purports to be a copy of an affidavit sworn by him at Pretoria on August 9, 1897. [The report then goes on to detail the wording of the affidavit, which has already been outlined above.]
If Gunn was in reality an embryo claimant the admissions he has made in Vienna have practically destroyed his power of mischief. He confesses that he assumed the name while living in Cape Colony, but says it was solely for the purpose of greater consideration and without any ulterior motive. He is, he says, a native of Grahamstown, in Cape Colony. He made the acquaintance of Lord Charles George Archibald Hamilton in India, where both were officers in the Army. He himself sold his commission in 1867, and after passing some years in England and Scotland returned to the Cape in 1871. There he devoted himself to diamond mining with such success that he was ultimately in a position to acquire mines on his own account. While at the Cape he made the acquaintance of his companion, or accomplice, John Sanders, under his assumed name of "Lord Hamilton". He states that it was Sanders who induced him to come to Europe, and indeed bore the expenses of the journey. Sanders disappeared immediately before the arrest of Gunn, and the police are disposed to regard him as the real instigator and moving spirit in whatever scheme the two worthies were engaged in. Gunn, who is described as a tall man of powerful physique, does not give the impression either of good breeding or of intelligence.
In a lengthy report which appeared in the London Daily Mail in July 1899, and later reprinted in the Christchurch, New Zealand Star on 28 August 1899, the Daily Mail confronted Gunn with Lord Charles Hamilton's former valet, Marcus Waters, who was introduced to Gunn. "How do you do, Waters?" said Mr. Gunn. "You don't look any older." "That's as it may be, sir," replied Mr. Waters, "but I never saw you before."
I have been unable to find any further mention of Gunn or his claim after this date.
Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt
The following account of the death of the Earl is taken from the Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser of 19 September 1777:-
Extract from a letter from Oxford, Sept. 16 - "I am sorry to acquaint you with a most melancholy accident which happened yesterday at Newnham [now spelled Nuneham] about five miles from this city [i.e. Oxford] the seat of the Right Hon. Lord Harcourt. - His Lordship (Earl Harcourt) went out for a walk in his park, as he frequently did about noon; not returning at his usual time to dress before dinner, to which time he was always remarkably punctual, the family were uneasy: near an hour being elapsed beyond the time of his Lordship's general return, the family became more alarmed, and sent out every way in expectation of meeting him, but he could not be found. More persons were then employed, fearing some accident had happened to his Lordship. After about two hours strict search, his Lordship was discovered to have fallen into a well, and appeared to be quite dead: he was immediately carried to his own house, about a mile from the spot where the accident happened, and the medical gentlemen from this city hurried over as fast as possible; but, alas! in vain, for no assistance could prevail, as the accident was supposed to have happened three hours before his Lordship was found. This unhappy catastrophe is supposed to have happened as follows: His Lordship in his walk near home was generally accompanied by a favourite dog only; the dog, in running about, accidentally fell into this old well, which was quite overgrown with sedge, so as not to be discovered; his Lordship, with his usual humanity, hearing the cries of his favourite little animal, came to its relief, and in stooping to get out the dog, his Lordship fell into the well head foremost, where he stuck quite fast, in which manner he was found. The place was about eight feet deep, and about three feet of water in it. This melancholy event has spread universal concern all over the country, as his Lordship was universally respected by all ranks of people."