PEERAGES
Last updated 15/08/2017 (1 Feb 2024)
Date Rank Order Name Born Died Age
MONTEAGLE
23 Nov 1514 B 1 Edward Stanley
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Monteagle 23 Nov 1514
KG 1514
6 Apr 1523
6 Apr 1523 2 Thomas Stanley 25 May 1507 25 Aug 1560 53
25 Aug 1560 3 William Stanley 1528 10 Nov 1581 53
10 Nov 1581 4 Elizabeth Parker 12 Jun 1585
12 Jun 1585 5 William Parker
He subsequently succeeded, on 1 Apr 1618, as 13th Lord Morley
c 1575 1 Jul 1622
1 Jul 1622 6 Henry Parker, 14th Lord Morley c 1600 10 May 1655
10 May 1655
to    
15 Jul 1697
7 Thomas Parker, 15th Lord Morley
On his death the peerages fell into abeyance
c 1636 15 Jul 1697

10 Sep 1760 B[I] 1 John Browne
Created Baron Monteagle 10 Sep 1760, Viscount Westport 24 Aug 1768 and Earl of Altamont 4 Dec 1771
See "Altamont"
1709 4 Jul 1776
MONTEAGLE OF BRANDON
5 Sep 1839 B 1 Thomas Spring Rice
Created Baron Monteagle of Brandon 5 Sep 1839
MP for Limerick 1820‑1832 and Cambridge 1832‑1839; Secretary of State for Colonies 1834; Chancellor of the Exchequer 1835‑1839; PC [I] 1831; PC 1834
8 Feb 1790 7 Feb 1866 75
7 Feb 1866 2 Thomas Spring Rice
KP 1885
31 May 1849 24 Dec 1926 77
24 Dec 1926 3 Thomas Aubrey Rice 8 Nov 1883 11 Oct 1934 50
11 Oct 1934 4 Francis Spring Rice 1 Oct 1852 22 Dec 1937 85
22 Dec 1937 5 Charles Spring Rice 28 Jan 1887 9 Dec 1946 59
9 Dec 1946 6 Gerald Spring Rice 5 Jul 1926 17 Nov 2013 87
17 Nov 2013 7 Charles James Spring Rice 24 Feb 1953
MONTEAGLE OF WESTPORT
20 Feb 1806 B 1 John Denis Browne, 1st Marquess of Sligo
Created Baron Monteagle of Westport 20 Feb 1806
See "Sligo"
11 Jun 1756 2 Jan 1809 52
MONTFORT
23 Jun 1295 B 1 John de Montfort
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Montfort 23 Jun 1295
11 May 1296
11 May 1296 2 John de Montfort 1291 24 Jun 1314 22
24 Jun 1314
to    
1367
3 Peter de Montfort
On his death the peerage either became extinct or fell into abeyance
1367
MONTFORT OF HORSEHEATH
9 May 1741 B 1 Henry Bromley
Created Baron Montfort of Horseheath 9 May 1741
MP for Cambridgeshire 1727‑1741; Lord Lieutenant Cambridge 1729‑1742
For further information on this peer, see the note at the foot of this page
20 Aug 1705 1 Jan 1755 49
1 Jan 1755 2 Thomas Bromley
MP for Cambridge 1754‑1755
Jan 1733 24 Oct 1799 66
24 Oct 1799
to    
30 Apr 1851
3 Henry Bromley
Peerage extinct on his death
14 May 1773 30 Apr 1851 77
MONTGOMERIE
c 1445 B[S] 1 Alexander Montgomerie
Created Lord Montgomerie c 1445
by 1413 c 1470
c 1470 2 Hugh Montgomerie
He was created Earl of Eglinton in 1508 with which title this peerage then merged
1460 Jun 1545 84
MONTGOMERY
4 May 1605 E 1 Philip Herbert
Created Baron Herbert of Shurland and Earl of Montgomery 4 May 1605
See "Pembroke" with which title this peerage remains united
c 1584 23 Jan 1650

3 May 1622 V[I] 1 Hugh Montgomery
Created Viscount Montgomery 3 May 1622
c 1560 15 May 1636
15 May 1636 2 Hugh Montgomery 1642
1642 3 Hugh Montgomery
He was created Earl of Mount Alexander in 1661 with which title this peerage then merged
c 1625 15 Sep 1663

24 Mar 1687 V 1 William Herbert
Created Earl of Powis 4 Apr 1674 and Viscount Montgomery and Marquess of Powis 24 Mar 1687
See "Powis"
c 1629 2 Jun 1696
MONTGOMERY OF ALAMEIN
31 Jan 1946 V 1 Sir Bernard Law Montgomery
Created Viscount Montgomery of Alamein 31 Jan 1946
Field Marshal 1944; KG 1946
17 Nov 1887 24 Mar 1976 88
24 Mar 1976 2 David Bernard Montgomery
[Elected hereditary peer 2005‑2015]
18 Aug 1928 8 Jan 2020 91
8 Jan 2020 3 Henry David Montgomery 2 Apr 1954
MONTHERMER
4 Mar 1309 B 1 Ralph de Monthermer
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Monthermer 4 Mar 1309
5 Apr 1325
5 Apr 1325 2 Thomas de Monthermer 24 Jun 1340
24 Jun 1340 3 Margaret de Montacute 25 Feb 1390
25 Feb 1390 4 John de Montacute
He succeeded to the Earldom of Salisbury in 1397 with which title this peerage then merged
For further information on claims to this peerage made in 1874 and 1928, see the note at the foot of the page containing details of the peerage of Montacute
7 Jan 1400

23 Apr 1327
to    
c 1340
B 1 Edward de Monthermer
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Monthermer 23 Apr 1327
Peerage extinct on his death
c 1340

9 Apr 1689
14 Apr 1705
E
M
1
1
Ralph Montagu, 3rd Baron Montagu
Created Viscount Monthermer and Earl of Montagu 9 Apr 1689, and Marquess of Monthermer and Duke of Montagu 14 Apr 1705
See "Montagu"
29 Dec 1638 9 Mar 1709 70

5 Nov 1766
to    
23 May 1790
M 1 George Montagu, 4th Earl of Cardigan
Created Marquess of Monthermer and Duke of Montagu 5 Nov 1766 and Baron Montagu 21 Aug 1786
See "Montagu"
26 Jul 1712 23 May 1790 77
MONTROSE
18 May 1488
to    
Dec 1495
D[S] 1 David Lindsay, 5th Earl of Crawford
Created Duke of Montrose 18 May 1488
Peerage extinct on his death
1440 Dec 1495 55

3 Mar 1505 E[S] 1 William Graham, 4th Lord Graham
Created Earl of Montrose 3 Mar 1505
c 1464 9 Sep 1513
9 Sep 1513 2 William Graham 24 May 1571
24 May 1571 3 John Graham
High Treasurer of Scotland 1584; High Chancellor of Scotland 1599‑1604
1548 9 Nov 1608 60
9 Nov 1608 4 John Graham 1573 24 Nov 1626 53
24 Nov 1626
6 May 1644
 
M[S]
5
1
James Graham
Created Lord Graham and Mugdock, Earl of Kincardine and Marquess of Montrose 6 May 1644
KG 1650
For information on this peer's heart, see the note at the foot of this page
c Oct 1612 21 May 1650 37
21 May 1650 2 James Graham 1633 Feb 1669 35
Feb 1669 3 James Graham 20 Oct 1657 25 Apr 1684 26
25 Apr 1684
24 Apr 1707
 
D[S]
4
1
James Graham
Created Lord Aberruthven, Viscount of Dundaff, Earl of Kincardine, Marquess of Graham and Buchanan and Duke of Montrose 24 Apr 1707
PC 1708
1682 7 Jan 1742 59
7 Jan 1742 2 William Graham
He had previously [1731] succeeded as 2nd Earl Graham
27 Aug 1712 23 Sep 1790 78
23 Sep 1790 3 James Graham
MP for Richmond (Yorks) 1780‑1784 and Great Bedwyn 1784‑1790; President of the Board of Trade 1804‑1806; Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdon 1790‑1793, Stirling 1794‑1836 and Dumbartonshire 1813‑1836; PC 1789; KT 1793; KG 1812
8 Feb 1755 30 Dec 1836 81
30 Dec 1836 4 James Graham
MP for Cambridge 1825‑1832; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1858‑1859; Postmaster General 1866‑1868; Lord Lieutenant Stirling 1843‑1874; PC 1821; KT 1845
16 Jul 1799 30 Dec 1874 75
30 Dec 1874 5 Douglas Beresford Malise Ronald Graham
Lord Lieutenant Stirling 1885‑1925; KT 1879
7 Nov 1852 10 Dec 1925 73
10 Dec 1925 6 James Graham
Lord Lieutenant Buteshire 1920‑1953; KT 1947
1 May 1878 20 Jan 1954 75
20 Jan 1954 7 James Angus Graham
For further information on this peer, see the note at the foot of this page
2 May 1907 10 Feb 1992 84
10 Feb 1992 8 James Graham
[Elected hereditary peer 1999-]
6 Apr 1935
MONYMAILL
8 Apr 1690 B[S] 1 George Melville, 4th Lord Melville
Created Lord Raith, Monymaill and Balwearie, Viscount of Kirkcaldy and Earl of Melville 8 Apr 1690
See "Melville"
1636 20 May 1707 70
MONYPENNY
c 1460 B[S] 1 William Monypenny
Created Lord Monypenny c 1460
c 1411 c 1485
c 1485
to    
c 1528
2 Alexander Monypenny
Peerage extinct on his death
c 1528
MOONIE
22 Jun 2005 B[L] Lewis George Moonie
Created Baron Moonie for life 22 Jun 2005
MP for Kirkcaldy 1987‑2005
25 Feb 1947
MOORE
30 Jan 1954
B 1 Henry Charles Ponsonby Moore, 10th Earl of Drogheda
Created Baron Moore [UK] 30 Jan 1954
See "Drogheda"
21 Apr 1884 22 Nov 1957 73
MOORE OF DROGHEDA
7 Feb 1622 V[I] 1 Sir Gerald Moore
Created Baron Moore of Mellefont and Viscount Moore of Drogheda 7 Feb 1622
See "Drogheda"
9 Nov 1627
MOORE OF ETCHINGHAM
17 Sep 2020 B[L] Charles Hilary Moore
Created Baron Moore of Etchingham for life 17 Sep 2022
31 Oct 1956
MOORE OF LOWER MARSH
3 Jul 1992
to    
20 May 2019
B[L] John Edward Michael Marsh
Created Baron Moore of Lower Marsh for life 3 Jul 1992
MP for Croydon Central 1974‑1992; Economic Secretary to the Treasury 1983; Financial Secretary to the Treasury 1983‑1986; Secretary of State for Transport 1986‑1987; Secretary of State for Social Services 1987‑1988; Secretary of State for Social Security 1988‑1989; PC 1986
Peerage extinct on his death
26 Nov 1937 20 May 2019 81
MOORE OF MELLEFONT
7 Feb 1622 B[I] 1 Sir Gerald Moore
Created Baron Moore of Mellefont and Viscount Moore of Drogheda 7 Feb 1622
See "Drogheda"
9 Nov 1627
MOORE OF MOORE PLACE
17 Jan 1801 B 1 Charles Moore, 1st Marquess of Drogheda
Created Baron Moore of Moore Place 17 Jan 1801
See "Drogheda"
29 Jun 1730 22 Dec 1822 92
MOORE OF TULLAMORE
22 Oct 1715 B[I] 1 John Moore
Created Baron Moore of Tullamoore 22 Oct 1715
MP [I] for Philipstown 1703‑1713 and King's County 1713‑1715; PC [I] 1715
by 1676 8 Sep 1725
8 Sep 1725
to    
17 Feb 1764
2 Charles Moore
Created Earl of Charleville 16 Sep 1758
PC [I] 1746
Peerage extinct on his death
24 Jan 1712 17 Feb 1764 52
MOORE OF WOLVERCOTE
22 Jul 1986
to    
7 Apr 2009
B[L] Sir Philip Brian Cecil Moore
Created Baron Moore of Wolvercote for life 22 Jul 1986
PC 1977
Peerage extinct on his death
6 Apr 1921 7 Apr 2009 88
MORAN
8 Mar 1943 B 1 Sir Charles McMoran Wilson
Created Baron Moran 8 Mar 1943
10 Nov 1882 12 Apr 1977 94
12 Apr 1977 2 Richard John McMoran Wilson [Elected hereditary peer 1999‑2014] 22 Sep 1924 14 Feb 2014 89
14 Feb 2014 3 James McMoran Wilson 6 Aug 1952
MORAY
c 1115 E[S] 1 Beth
Witness to Charter of Scone as Earl of Moray c 1115

c 1120 E[S] 1 Angus
Created Earl of Moray c 1120

c 1314 E[S] 1 Thomas Randolph
Created Earl of Moray c 1314
20 Jul 1332
20 Jul 1332 2 Thomas Randolph 12 Aug 1332
12 Aug 1332
to    
17 Oct 1346
3 John Randolph
Peerage extinct on his death
17 Oct 1346

5 Apr 1359
to    
13 Mar 1361
E[S] 1 Henry Plantagenet, Duke of Lancaster
Created Earl of Moray 5 Apr 1359
On his death the peerage is presumed to have reverted to the Crown
c 1300 13 Mar 1361

9 Mar 1372 E[S] 1 John Dunbar
Created Earl of Moray 9 Mar 1372
c 1391
c 1391 2 Thomas Dunbar c 1420
c 1420 3 Thomas Dunbar c 1425
c 1425 4 James Dunbar 10 Aug 1429
10 Aug 1429
to    
1 May 1455
5 Elizabeth Douglas
She married Archibald Douglas who became Earl of Moray
He was attainted and the peerage forfeited

1501
to    
12 Jun 1544
E[S] 1 James Stewart
Created Earl of Moray 1501
Illegitimate son of James IV of Scotland
Peerage extinct on his death
12 Jun 1544

30 Jan 1562 E[S] 1 James Stewart
Created Lord Abernethy & Strathearn and Earl of Moray 30 Jan 1562
Illegitimate son of James V of Scotland
21 Jan 1570
21 Jan 1570 2 Elizabeth Stewart
She married James Stewart who became Earl of Moray in her right
18 Nov 1591
James Stewart
For information on the death of this peer, see the note at the foot of this page
7 Feb 1592
7 Feb 1592 3 James Stewart c 1582 6 Aug 1638
6 Aug 1638 4 James Stewart 4 Mar 1653
4 Mar 1653 5 Alexander Stuart
PC 1684; KT 1687
8 May 1634 1 Nov 1701 67
1 Nov 1701 6 Sir Charles Stuart, 1st baronet
KT 1731
c 1660 7 Oct 1735
7 Oct 1735 7 Francis Stuart 4 Sep 1674 11 Dec 1739 65
11 Dec 1739 8 James Stuart
KT 1741
13 May 1708 5 Jul 1767 59
5 Jul 1767 9 Francis Stuart
Created Baron Stuart of Castle Stuart 4 Jun 1796
Lord Lieutenant Elgin 1794‑1810
11 Jan 1737 28 Aug 1810 73
28 Aug 1810 10 Francis Stuart
Lord Lieutenant Elgin 1810‑1848; KT 1827
2 Feb 1771 12 Jan 1848 76
12 Jan 1848 11 Francis Stuart 7 Nov 1795 6 May 1859 63
6 May 1859 12 John Stuart
MP for Newport (IOW) 1825‑1826
25 Jan 1797 8 Nov 1867 70
8 Nov 1867 13 Archibald George Stuart 3 Mar 1810 12 Feb 1872 61
12 Feb 1872 14 George Stuart
He succeeded as 18th Lord Gray in 1878
14 Aug 1816 16 Mar 1895 78
16 Mar 1895 15 Edmund Archibald Stuart 5 Nov 1840 11 Jun 1901 60
11 Jun 1901 16 Francis James Stuart 24 Nov 1842 20 Nov 1909 66
20 Nov 1909 17 Morton Gray Stuart 16 Apr 1855 19 Apr 1930 75
19 Apr 1930 18 Francis Douglas Stuart
Lord Lieutenant Elgin 1935‑1943
10 Jul 1892 9 Jul 1943 50
9 Jul 1943 19 Archibald John Morton Stuart 14 Nov 1894 27 Mar 1974 79
27 Mar 1974 20 Douglas John Moray Stuart 13 Feb 1928 23 Sep 2011 83
23 Sep 2011 21 John Douglas Stuart 29 Aug 1966
MORDAUNT
4 May 1529 B 1 John Mordaunt
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Mordaunt 4 May 1529
18 Aug 1562
18 Aug 1562 2 John Mordaunt 1508 1571 63
1571 3 Lewis Mordaunt 21 Sep 1538 16 Jun 1601 62
16 Jun 1601 4 Henry Mordaunt c 1567 13 Feb 1609
13 Feb 1609 5 John Mordaunt
Created Earl of Peterborough 9 Mar 1628
18 Jan 1599 18 Jun 1644 45
18 Jun 1644 6 Henry Mordaunt, 2nd Earl of Peterborough 16 Nov 1621 19 Jun 1697 75
19 Jun 1697 7 Mary Howard, Duchess of Norfolk c 1659 16 Nov 1705
16 Nov 1705 8 Charles Mordaunt, 3rd Earl of Peterborough 1658 25 Oct 1735 77
25 Oct 1735 9 Charles Mordaunt, 4th Earl of Peterborough 1706 1 Aug 1779 73
1 Aug 1779 10 Charles Henry Mordaunt, 5th Earl of Peterborough 10 May 1758 16 Jun 1814 56
16 Jun 1814 11 Mary Anastasia Grace Mordaunt 5 Jun 1738 Jun 1819 81
Jun 1819 12 Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon 18 Jun 1743 17 Jun 1827 83
17 Jun 1827
to    
28 May 1836
13 George Gordon, 5th Duke of Gordon
On his death the peerage fell into abeyance
2 Feb 1770 28 May 1836 66
MORDAUNT OF AVALON
10 Jul 1659 V 1 John Mordaunt
Created Baron Mordaunt of Ryegate and Viscount Mordaunt of Avalon 10 Jul 1659
Lord Lieutenant Surrey 1660‑1675
18 Jun 1626 5 Jun 1675 48
5 Jun 1675 2 Charles Mordaunt
He succeeded to the Earldom of Peterborough in 1697 with which title this peerage then merged until its extinction in 1814
MORDAUNT OF RYEGATE
10 Jul 1659 B 1 John Mordaunt
Created Baron Mordaunt of Ryegate and Viscount Mordaunt of Avalon 10 Jul 1659
See "Mordaunt of Avalon"
18 Jun 1626 5 Jun 1675 48
MORDINGTON
14 Nov 1641 B[S] 1 William Douglas
Created Lord Mordington 14 Nov 1641
c 1591 11 Feb 1656
11 Feb 1656 2 William Douglas 27 Sep 1626 c 1690
c 1690 3 James Douglas 1651 c 1706
c 1706 4 George Douglas 13 May 1741
13 May 1741
to    
22 Jul 1791
5 Mary Weaver
On her death the peerage became dormant
22 Jul 1791
MORETON
28 Jan 1837 B 1 Thomas Reynolds-Moreton, 4th Baron Ducie
Created Baron Moreton and Earl of Ducie 28 Jan 1837
See "Ducie"
31 Aug 1776 22 Jun 1840 63
MORGAN
12 Jun 2000 B[L] Kenneth Owen Morgan
Created Baron Morgan for life 12 Jun 2000
16 May 1934
MORGAN OF DREFELIN
11 Jun 2004 B[L] Delyth Jane Morgan
Created Baroness Morgan of Drefelin for life 11 Jun 2004
30 Aug 1961
MORGAN OF ELY
24 Jan 2011 B[L] Mair Eluned Morgan
Created Baroness Morgan of Ely for life 24 Jan 2011
MEP for Mid & West Wales 1994‑1999 and Wales 1999‑2009
16 Feb 1967
MORGAN OF HUYTON
20 Jun 2001 B[L] Sally Morgan
Created Baroness Morgan of Huyton for life 20 Jun 2001
28 Jun 1959
MORLEY
29 Dec 1299 B 1 William de Morley
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Morley 29 Dec 1299
c 1302
c 1302 2 Robert de Morley 23 Mar 1360
23 Mar 1360 3 William de Morley 24 Jun 1319 30 Apr 1379 59
30 Apr 1379 4 Thomas de Morley
KG c 1411
c 1354 24 Sep 1416
24 Sep 1416 5 Thomas de Morley c 1393 6 Dec 1435
6 Dec 1435 6 Robert de Morley 20 Nov 1418 25 Sep 1443 24
25 Sep 1443 7 Alianore
She married Sir William Lovel who was summoned as Lord Morley in her right. He died Jul 1476
10 Oct 1442 20 Aug 1476 33
20 Aug 1476 8 Henry Lovel 1466 13 Jun 1489 22
13 Jun 1489 9 Alice Parker c 1467 23 Dec 1518
23 Dec 1518 10 Henry Parker c 1486 27 Nov 1556
27 Nov 1556 11 Henry Parker 1531 22 Oct 1577 46
22 Oct 1577 12 Edward Parker c 1550 1 Apr 1618
1 Apr 1618 13 William Parker, 5th Lord Monteagle c 1575 1 Jul 1622
1 Jul 1622 14 Henry Parker, 6th Lord Monteagle c 1600 10 May 1655
10 May 1655
to    
15 Jul 1697
15 Thomas Parker, 7th Lord Monteagle
On his death the peerages fell into abeyance
For further information on this peer, see the note at the foot of this page. Also, for information regarding a subsequent claim to this peerage, see a further note at the foot of this page
c 1636 15 Jul 1697

29 Nov 1815 E 1 John Parker, 2nd Baron Boringdon
Created Viscount Boringdon and Earl of Morley 29 Nov 1815
3 May 1772 14 Mar 1840 67
14 Mar 1840 2 Edmund Parker 10 Jun 1810 28 Aug 1864 54
28 Aug 1864 3 Albert Edmund Parker
First Commissioner of Works 1886; PC 1886
11 Jun 1843 26 Feb 1905 61
26 Feb 1905 4 Edmund Robert Parker
For further information on this peer, see the note at the foot of this page
19 Apr 1877 10 Oct 1951 74
10 Oct 1951 5 Montagu Brownlow Parker 13 Oct 1878 28 Apr 1962 83
28 Apr 1962 6 John St. Aubyn Parker
Lord Lieutenant Devonshire 1982‑1998
29 May 1923 20 Sep 2015 92
20 Sep 2015 7 Mark Lionel Parker 22 Aug 1956
MORLEY OF BLACKBURN
2 May 1908
to    
23 Sep 1923
V 1 John Morley
Created Viscount Morley of Blackburn 2 May 1908
MP for Newcastle upon Tyne 1883‑1895 and Montrose 1896‑1908; Chief Secretary for Ireland 1886 and 1892‑1895; Secretary of State for India 1905‑1910; Lord President of the Council 1910‑1914; PC 1886; PC [I] 1886; OM 1902
Peerage extinct on his death
24 Dec 1838 23 Sep 1923 84
MORNINGTON
9 Jul 1746 B[I] 1 Richard Wesley
Created Baron Mornington 9 Jul 1746
MP [I] for Trim 1729‑1747
c 1690 31 Jan 1758
31 Jan 1758
2 Oct 1760
 
E[I]
2
1
Garret Wesley
Created Viscount Wellesley and Earl of Mornington 2 Oct 1760
MP [I] for Trim 1757‑1758; Lord Lieutenant Meath 1759; PC [I] 1776
19 Jul 1735 22 May 1781 45
22 May 1781 2 Richard Wesley (Wellesley from 1789)
Created Baron Wellesley 20 Oct 1797 and Marquess Wellesley 2 Dec 1799
MP [I] for Trim 1780‑1781; MP for Beer Alston 1784‑1786, Saltash 1786‑1787, Windsor 1787‑1796 and Old Sarum 1796‑1797; Governor General of Bengal 1797‑1805; Foreign Secretary 1809‑1812; Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1821‑1828 and 1833‑1834; PC [I] 1784; PC 1793; KP 1783; KG 1810
20 Jun 1760 26 Sep 1842 82
26 Sep 1842 3 William Wellesley-Pole
Created Baron Maryborough 17 Jul 1821
MP [I] for Trim 1783‑1790; MP for East Looe 1790‑1794 and Queens County 1801‑1821; Chief Secretary for Ireland 1809‑1812; Master of the Mint 1815‑1823; Postmaster General 1834‑1835; PC 1809; PC [I] 1809
20 May 1763 22 Feb 1845 81
22 Feb 1845 4 William Pole-Tylney-Long-Wellesley
MP for St. Ives 1812‑1818 and 1830‑1831, Wiltshire 1818‑1820 and Essex 1831‑1832
22 May 1788 1 Jul 1857 69
1 Jul 1857 5 William Richard Arthur Pole-Tylney-Long-Wellesley 7 Oct 1813 25 Jul 1863 49
25 Jul 1863 6 Arthur Richard Wellesley
He had previously succeeded to the Dukedom of Wellington in 1852 with which title this peerage then merged and so remains
3 Feb 1807 13 Aug 1884 77
MORRIS
15 Jan 1918 B 1 Sir Edward Patrick Morris
Created Baron Morris 15 Jan 1918
Premier of Newfoundland 1909‑1918; PC 1911
8 May 1858 24 Oct 1935 77
24 Oct 1935 2 Michael William Morris 12 Apr 1903 11 Mar 1975 71
11 Mar 1975 3 Michael David Morris 9 Dec 1937 5 May 2011 73
5 May 2011 4 Thomas Anthony Salmon Morris 2 Jul 1982
MORRIS OF ABERAVON
3 Jul 2001
to    
5 Jun 2023
B[L] Sir John Morris
Created Baron Morris of Aberavon for life 3 Jul 2001
MP for Aberavon 1959‑2001; Minister of Defence (Equipment) 1968‑1970; Secretary of State for Wales 1974‑1979; Attorney General 1997‑1999; Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed 2002‑2006; PC 1970; KG 2003
Peerage extinct on his death
5 Nov 1931 5 Jun 2023 91
MORRIS OF BOLTON
9 Jun 2004 B[L] Patricia Morris
Created Baroness Morris of Bolton for life 9 Jun 2004
16 Jan 1953
MORRIS OF BORTH-Y-GEST
7 Jan 1960
to    
9 Jun 1979
B[L] Sir John William Morris
Created Baron Morris of Borth-y-Gest for life 7 Jan 1960
Lord Justice of Appeal 1951-1960. Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1960‑1975; PC  1951; CH 1975
Peerage extinct on his death
11 Sep 1896 9 Jun 1979 82
MORRIS OF CASTLE MORRIS
9 May 1990
to    
30 Apr 2001
B[L] Brian Robert Morris
Created Baron Morris of Castle Morris for life 9 May 1990
Peerage extinct on his death
4 Dec 1930 30 Apr 2001 70
MORRIS OF GRASMERE
17 Jan 1967
to    
30 May 1990
B[L] Sir Charles Richard Morris
Created Baron Morris of Grasmere for life 17 Jan 1967
Peerage extinct on his death
25 Jan 1898 30 May 1990 92
MORRIS OF HANDSWORTH
7 Jun 2006 B[L] Sir William Manuel Morris
Created Baron Morris of Handsworth for life 7 Jun 2006
19 Oct 1938
MORRIS OF KENWOOD
11 Jul 1950 B 1 Harry Morris
Created Baron Morris of Kenwood 11 Jul 1950
MP for Sheffield Central 1945‑1950 and Neepsend 1950
7 Oct 1893 1 Jul 1954 60
1 Jul 1954 2 Philip Geoffrey Morris 18 Jun 1928 2 Dec 2004 76
2 Dec 2004 3 Jonathan David Morris 5 Aug 1968
MORRIS OF MANCHESTER
6 Oct 1997
to    
12 Aug 2012
B[L] Alfred Morris
Created Baron Morris of Manchester for life 6 Oct 1997
MP for Wythenshawe 1964‑1997; PC 1979
Peerage extinct on his death
23 Mar 1928 12 Aug 2012 84
MORRIS OF SPIDDAL
5 Dec 1889
to    
8 Sep 1901
B[L] Michael Morris
Created Baron Morris of Spiddal for life 5 Dec 1889 and Baron Killanin 15 Jun 1900
MP for Galway 1865‑1867; Solicitor General of Ireland 1866; Attorney General of Ireland 1866‑1867; Chief Justice of Ireland 1887‑1889; Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1889‑1901; PC [I] 1866; PC 1889
Peerage extinct on his death
14 Nov 1826 8 Sep 1901 74
MORRIS OF YARDLEY
14 Jun 2005 B[L] Estelle Morris
Created Baroness Morris of Yardley for life 14 Jun 2005
MP for Yardley 1992‑2005; Minister of State, Education & Employment 1998‑2001; Secretary of State for Education & Skills 2001‑2002; Minister for the Arts 2003‑2005; PC 1999
17 Jun 1952
MORRISON
15 Nov 1945 B 1 Robert Craigmyle Morrison
Created Baron Morrison 15 Nov 1945
MP for Tottenham North 1922‑1931 and 1935‑1945; PC 1949
29 Oct 1881 25 Dec 1953 72
25 Dec 1953
to    
29 Oct 1997
2 Dennis Glossop Morrison
Peerage extinct on his death
21 Jun 1914 29 Oct 1997 83
MORRISON OF LAMBETH
2 Nov 1959
to    
6 Mar 1965
B[L] Herbert Stanley Morrison
Created Baron Morrison of Lambeth for life 2 Nov 1959
MP for Hackney South 1923‑1924, 1929‑1931 and 1935‑1945, Lewisham East 1945‑1950 and Lewisham South 1950‑1959; Minister of Transport 1929‑1931; Minister of Supply 1940; Home Secretary 1940‑1945; Lord President of the Council 1945‑1951; Foreign Secretary 1951; PC 1931; CH 1951
Peerage extinct on his death
3 Jan 1888 6 Mar 1965 77
MORROW
7 Jun 2006 B[L] Maurice Morrow
Created Baron Morrow for life 7 Jun 2006
27 Sep 1948
MORSE
26 Mar 2021 B[L] Sir Amyas Charles Edward Morse
Created Baron Morse for life 26 Mar 2021
28 Jun 1949
MORTIMER
23 Jun 1295 B 1 Edmund de Mortimer
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Mortimer 23 Jun 1295
17 Jul 1304
17 Jul 1304
to    
29 Nov 1330
2 Roger de Mortimer, later [1328] 1st Earl of March
He was attainted and the peerages forfeited
29 Apr 1286 29 Nov 1330 44

20 Nov 1331 B 1 Edmund de Mortimer
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Mortimer 20 Nov 1331
c 1306 17 Dec 1331
17 Dec 1331 2 Roger de Mortimer
He became Earl of March in 1354 upon the reversal of his grandfather's attainder (see above) with which title this peerage then merged
11 Nov 1328 26 Feb 1360 31
MORTIMER
26 Aug 1296
to    
after 1296
B 1 Simon de Mortimer
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Mortimer 26 Aug 1296
Nothing further is known of this peerage
after 1296
MORTIMER DE CHIRCKE
6 Feb 1299 B 1 Roger de Mortimer
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Mortimer de Chircke 6 Feb 1299
3 Aug 1326
3 Aug 1326 2 Roger de Mortimer c 1333
c 1333
to    
after 1333
3 John de Mortimer
Nothing further is known of this peerage
after 1333
MORTIMER (of Richards Castle)
6 Feb 1299
to    
20 Jul 1304
B 1 Hugh de Mortimer
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Mortimer 6 Feb 1299
On his death the peerage fell into abeyance
20 Jul 1304

23 May 1711 E 1 Robert Harley
Created Baron Harley of Wigmore and Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer 23 May 1711
See "Oxford"
5 Dec 1661 21 May 1724 62
MORTON
14 Mar 1458 E[S] 1 James Douglas, 3rd Lord Dalkeith
Created Earl of Morton 14 Mar 1458
1493
1493 2 John Douglas c 1513
c 1513 3 James Douglas 1553
1553
to    
2 Jun 1581
4 James Douglas
Lord Chancellor of Scotland 1562‑1567; Regent of Scotland 1572‑1578
He was attainted and the peerage forfeited
2 Jun 1581

5 Jun 1581
to    
29 Jan 1586
E[S] 1 John Maxwell, 7th Lord Maxwell
Created Earl of Morton 5 Jun 1581
The attainder of the 4th earl (see above) was reversed in 1586 when the peerage reverted to -
1552 7 Dec 1593 41

29 Jan 1586 5 Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus 1556 4 Aug 1588 32
4 Aug 1588 6 William Douglas 24 Sep 1606
24 Sep 1606 7 William Douglas
High Treasurer of Scotland 1630‑1635; KG 1633
1582 7 Aug 1648 66
7 Aug 1648 8 Robert Douglas by 1616 12 Nov 1649
12 Nov 1649 9 William Douglas 1 Nov 1681
1 Nov 1681 10 James Douglas 25 Aug 1686
25 Aug 1686 11 James Douglas c 1652 10 Dec 1715
10 Dec 1715 12 Robert Douglas
MP for Northern Burghs 1709‑1710
by 1662 22 Jan 1730
22 Jan 1730 13 George Douglas
MP for Lanark Burghs 1708‑1713 and 1715‑1722 and Orkney & Shetland 1713‑1715 and 1722‑1730
1662 4 Jan 1738 75
4 Jan 1738 14 James Douglas
KT 1738
c 1703 12 Oct 1768
12 Oct 1768 15 Sholto Charles Douglas Apr 1732 25 Sep 1774 42
25 Sep 1774 16 George Douglas
Created Baron Douglas of Lochleven 11 Aug 1791
Lord Lieutenant Fife 1808‑1824 and Midlothian 1824‑1827; KT 1797
3 Apr 1761 17 Jul 1827 66
17 Jul 1827 17 George Sholto Douglas 23 Dec 1789 31 Mar 1858 68
31 Mar 1858 18 Sholto John Douglas 13 Apr 1818 24 Dec 1884 66
24 Dec 1884 19 Sholto George Watson Douglas 5 Nov 1844 8 Oct 1935 90
8 Oct 1935 20 Sholto Charles John Hay Douglas 12 Apr 1907 13 Feb 1976 68
13 Feb 1976 21 John Charles Sholto Douglas
Lord Lieutenant West Lothian 1985‑2001
19 Mar 1927 5 Mar 2016 88
5 Mar 2016 22 John Stewart Sholto Douglas 17 Jan 1952
MORTON OF HENRYTON
18 Apr 1947
to    
18 Jul 1973
B[L] Sir Fergus Dunlop Morton
Created Baron Morton of Henryton for life 18 Apr 1947
Lord Justice of Appeal 1944‑1947; Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1947‑1959; PC 1944
Peerage extinct on his death
17 Oct 1887 18 Jul 1973 85
MORTON OF SHUNA
30 May 1985
to    
26 Apr 1995
B[L] Hugh Drennan Baird Morton
Created Baron Morton of Shuna for life 30 May 1985
Peerage extinct on his death
10 Apr 1930 26 Apr 1995 65
MORVILL
6 Nov 1319
to    
after 1319
B 1 Nicholas de Morvill
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Morvill 6 Nov 1319
Nothing further is known of this peerage
MOSER
23 Jun 2001
to    
4 Sep 2015
B[L] Sir Claus Adolf Moser
Created Baron Moser for life 23 Jun 2001
Peerage extinct on his death
24 Nov 1922 4 Sep 2015 92
MOSTYN
10 Sep 1831 B 1 Sir Edward Pryce Lloyd, 2nd baronet
Created Baron Mostyn 10 Sep 1831
MP for Flint Boroughs 1806‑1807 and 1812‑1831 and Beaumaris 1807‑1812
17 Sep 1768 3 Apr 1854 85
3 Apr 1854 2 Edward Mostyn Lloyd‑Mostyn
MP for Flintshire 1831‑1837, 1841‑1842 and 1847‑1854 and Lichfield 1846‑1847; Lord Lieutenant Merioneth 1840‑1884
13 Jan 1795 17 Mar 1884 89
17 Mar 1884 3 Llewelyn Nevill Vaughan Lloyd‑Mostyn 7 Apr 1856 11 Apr 1929 73
11 Apr 1929 4 Edward Llewellyn Roger Lloyd‑Mostyn 16 Mar 1885 2 May 1965 80
2 May 1965 5 Roger Edward Lloyd Lloyd‑Mostyn 17 Apr 1920 6 Jun 2000 80
6 Jun 2000 6 Llewellyn Roger Lloyd Lloyd‑Mostyn 26 Sep 1948 22 Mar 2011 62
22 Mar 2011 7 Gregory Philip Roger Lloyd‑Mostyn 31 Dec 1984
MOTT
19 Jun 2023 B[L] Darren James Mott
Created Baron Mott for life 19 Jun 2023
15 Jan 1973
MOTTISTONE
21 Jun 1933 B 1 John Edward Bernard Seely
Created Baron Mottistone 21 Jun 1933
MP for Isle of Wight 1900‑1906 and 1923‑1924, Abercromby 1906‑1910 and Ilkeston 1910‑1922; Secretary of State for War 1912‑1914; Lord Lieutenant Hampshire 1918‑1947; PC 1909
31 May 1868 7 Nov 1947 79
7 Nov 1947 2 Henry John Alexander Seely 1 May 1899 18 Jan 1963 63
18 Jan 1963 3 Arthur Patrick William Seely 18 Aug 1905 4 Dec 1966 61
4 Dec 1966 4 David Peter Seely
Lord Lieutenant Isle of Wight 1986‑1995
16 Dec 1920 24 Nov 2011 90
24 Nov 2011 5 Peter John Philip Seely 29 Oct 1949 23 Jan 2013 63
23 Jan 2013 6 Christopher David Peter Seely 1 Oct 1974
 

Henry Bromley, 1st Baron Montfort of Horseheath
The following story appeared in the Sydney Star of 17 March 1910 under the heading of "Whimsical Wagers":-
There is probably no more remarkable record of wagers in existence than the Betting Book of White's Club in London. It contains the bets and wagers of nearly two hundred years - bets and wagers of a choice variety, born of the singular whims and caprices of several generations of members of this famous old club. In the second half of the eighteenth century the passion of making wagers reached its height …
In the palmy days of White's men would stake their guineas lavishly on any chance that might occur to them, no matter how trivial it might seem. Never-failing subjects for wagers were the duration of a person's life, the increase of a lady's family, and so forth.
Lord Montfort may be taken as a type of reckless gamester of the period. In his day the gaming spirit at White's was at its height. In the few pages of the early Betting Book that are preserved sixty wagers of his are recorded, aggregating £5500; and births, marriages and deaths were the events upon which nearly the whole of this sum depended. Sporting matters did not, evidently, tempt his lordship to such recklessness.
In November of 1754 he made a wager which, alone of all the wagers in the book, is doubly flavoured with tragedy. "Lord Montfort wagers Sir John Bland 100 guineas that Mr. Nash outlives Mr. Cibber." So runs the register, Lord Montfort making a similar bet with another member. The subjects of this wager - Beau Nash, the "King of Bath", and Colley Cibber, the actor and poet - were very old at this time [Beau Nash was 80 and Colley Cibber was 83]. Below the entry in the Betting Book is the significant note, written in another hand: "Both Lord Montfort and Sir John Bland put an end to their lives before the bet was decided".
The first of these tragedies was the death of Lord Montfort, who committed suicide on New Year's Day, 1755, having at last reached the end of his fortune. He had spent a vast amount of money on his house, and had lived very extravagantly, and the final blow was dealt him by the deaths on the same day, of the [2nd]  Earl of Albemarle [who died 22 December 1754] and [the 1st] Lord Gage [who died on 21 December 1754] who, presumably, paid him annuities. After this, he became more reckless than ever, even going so far as to stake his life on the answer he should receive from the Duke of Newcastle in reply to his application for a Government appointment. He surprised the dilatory duke by the eagerness with which he pressed for an answer to his request for the Governorship of Virginia or the Mastership of the Royal Hounds. At last the answer came - it was unfavourable. Immediately Lord Montfort aroused the suspicions of his friends by inquiring the easiest method of self-destruction, but he succeeded in quieting them. He spent his last evening at White's. It was the last day of 1754. He ordered supper at the club, and played whist till 1 o'clock, seeing in the New Year for the last time. When Lord Robert Bertie, who was one of the party, drank a happy New Year to him, Lord Montfort was observed to pass his hand over his eyes in a strange manner. The next morning Lord Montfort sent for a lawyer and witnesses, and made his will. "Would a man's will hold good even if he shot himself?" he asked the lawyer, casually. "Certainly, your lordship," was the answer. Thereupon he requested the lawyer to wait a minute, stepped into the next room, and shot himself.
The article provides no information on the death of Sir John Bland, but information on his death may be found at the foot of the page which contains details of the Bland baronetcy.
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
Montrose was one of the giants of Scottish history due to his role in the 'Wars of the Three Kingdoms' in the 17th century. The English Civil War is the best known of these wars, but an equally savage civil war was fought in Scotland during this period. Although initially a Covenanter, Montrose later switched his loyalties to the Royalist cause.
It is not the purpose of this note to provide a biography of Montrose. Readers who wish to know more of his life are referred to his article in Wikipedia.
Suffice it to say that, after being betrayed to his enemies, Montrose was hanged in Edinburgh on 21 May 1650. As part of the sentence, the body was left hanging for three hours after which it was cut down and dismembered, the various limbs being distributed among the chief towns in Scotland. The trunk was buried beside the public gallows on the Boroughmuir, the usual place of execution at that time. The head was placed on a spike on the west face of the Tolbooth, where it remained for eleven years until it was taken down to make room for the head of Montrose's bitter enemy, the Marquess of Argyll.
After the Restoration, on 4 January 1661, the Scottish Parliament voted for "an honourable reparation of that horrid and monstrous barbarity in the person of the great Marquis of Montrose". As a result, the trunk was exhumed from the Boroughmuir, and the limbs gathered from the towns to which they had been sent. The remains, wrapped in fine linen in a magnificent coffin, were finally buried with much ceremony on 11 May 1661.
Montrose had bequeathed his heart to his niece by marriage, Lady Napier. On the night after the execution, Lady Napier sent her servants to the Boroughmuir, where they dug up Montrose's trunk and removed the heart. Once Lady Napier had received the heart, she had it embalmed, and placed in a small egg-shaped case of steel, made from the blade of Montrose's sword. This case was, in turn, enclosed in a gold filigree box, which had belonged to her husband's kinsman, John Napier of Merchistoun, the inventor of logarithms. The filigree box had originally been given to the Napier family by the Doge of Venice.
Lady Napier sent the box to Montrose's son, the second Marquess, who duly restored the heart to the body when Montrose was buried for the second time in 1661. The casket, however, now became the subject of a curious romance. After a time, the casket passed out of the possession of the family, possibly due to theft, until one day, many years later, a friend of Lord Napier of Merchistoun saw it either in a curiosity shop in The Hague, or in the collection of a Dutchman - the stories differ on this point - and obtained it for him.
On his death, Lord Napier bequeathed the casket to his daughter Hester, wife of Alexander Johnston of Cairnsalloch, an officer of the East India Company. While sailing to India, the ship carrying Mr. and Mrs. Johnston became involved in a battle with a French squadron off the Cape Verde Islands. During the battle, the filigree casket was struck by a shot and shattered, but the case containing the heart survived intact.
According to the version of the story upon which this note is based, once arrived in India, Mrs. Johnston caused a goldsmith to make a box to replace that which had been destroyed, and this in turn was placed in a silver urn, on the outside of which was engraved, in two native dialects, a short account of Montrose's life and death. The urn soon came to be regarded by the native Indians as somewhat of a talisman, with the almost inevitable result that it was stolen, and remained missing for a lengthy period. Ultimately, evidence was forthcoming that tended to show that the casket was in the possession of an Indian ruler in the neighbourhood of Madura.
Years went by until a day when Mrs. Johnston's son, while out shooting, was able to save the life of a young boy by killing a tiger that was about to spring out at the boy. As it happened, the boy was the son of the ruler who had possession of the casket. The chief, in true Oriental fashion, offered to give young Johnston any gift he asked for, and Johnston availed himself of the opportunity to beg for the restoration of the casket, which was freely granted.
The casket was brought home to Europe by Mr. and Mrs. Johnston in 1792, and, as they travelled overland through France, they were arrested by the revolutionary government at Boulogne. Mrs. Johnston handed the casket to an Englishwoman who lived in that city, and asked her to care for it until arrangements could be made for its safe passage to England. Unfortunately, the Englishwoman died shortly afterwards and all trace of the casket was then lost, and has remained lost ever since.
James Angus Graham, 7th Duke of Montrose
The Dukes of Montrose have been marked by a degree of eccentricity for several centuries. The 3rd Duke was credited with obtaining permission for Highlanders to wear the kilt again after the 1745 Rebellion. The wife of the 4th Duke publicly booed Queen Victoria for listening to gossip about her husband. The 6th Duke is generally credited with inventing the aircraft carrier.
The 7th Duke was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford and was employed by Imperial Chemical Industries, but his financial circumstances soon forced him to move to Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe) where he eventually set himself up as a successful farmer on 3,000 acres of land.
When World War II broke out, he enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, becoming commander of the Ludlow, an American lend-lease warship which served on convoy duty in the Atlantic. He insisted that the crew speak Gaelic and kept a jackdaw which sat on his shoulder when summoned.
After the war, he returned to Southern Rhodesia, where he was disappointed to find that the country's politics were changing. At the 1953 general election, he stood as a candidate, campaigning for the retention of white domination in the country. When he succeeded to the Dukedom in 1954, he preferred to stay in Africa. In 1958, he was elected to the parliament of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, serving over the years as Minister for Agriculture, Minister for External Affairs and finally Minister of Defence. Montrose was one of the signatories to the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965.
Montrose brought to the Rhodesian government appropriately vigorous views on race. Given that he had attended a Nuremberg Rally in Nazi Germany in the 1930s, this is probably not surprising. He once described Africans as being 'bright and promising little fellows up to the age of puberty. He then becomes hopelessly inadequate and it is well known that this is due to his almost total obsession with sex'. He also argued that the ruins of Zimbabwe were far too sophisticated to have been produced by Africans.
It was often said that Montrose was not particularly intelligent. When he became Minister for Agriculture, it was noted that he was considerably slower on the uptake than most of the Africans about whom he was so contemptuous. When he was involved in negotiations with the UK Wilson government following the declaration of independence, a joke circulated that it took Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith an hour to explain the British offer to his colleagues, who then spent twelve hours trying to explain it to Montrose.
When it became obvious that Southern Rhodesia would be ruled by black Africans once it achieved independence, Montrose moved to South Africa, before returning to Scotland in 1988.
James Stewart, 2nd Earl of Moray (creation of 1562)
In February 1549, George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly, was granted the Earldom of Moray which had reverted to the Scottish Crown on the death of James Stewart, illegitimate son of James IV of Scotland. Notwithstanding such grant, in January 1562, Mary Queen of Scots, bestowed the Earldom of Moray on her illegitimate brother, also James Stewart, illegitimate son of James V of Scotland. This action led Huntly to revolt against the Queen, and he was killed at Corrichie on 28 October 1562. One of the leaders of the force which defeated his followers was the newly-created Earl of Moray. From that day the houses of Huntly and Moray were bitter enemies, until 30 years later, the 6th Earl of Huntly gained his revenge.
The following (edited) passage is taken from The History of Scotland by Patrick Fraser Tytler [1791‑1849], an eminent Scottish historian:-
Meanwhile a tragedy occurred, which, even in that age, familiar with scenes of feudal atrocity, occasioned unusual horror. The reader may perhaps remember the utter destruction brought by the Regent Moray upon the great Earl of Huntly; his execution, and that of one of his sons; the forfeiture of his immense estates, and the almost entire overthrow of his house. It was now thirty years since that miserable event: the favour of the king [James VI, later James I of England] had restored the family of Gordon to its estates and its honours, and Huntly's ambition might have been satisfied; but the deep principle of feudal vengeance demanded blood for blood; and there was not a retainer in the house of Huntly who did not acknowledge the sacred necessity of revenge.
The then Earl of Moray, a Stewart, and representative of the famous regent … had princely possessions in the north, and for some years deadly feud had raged between him and Huntly; but Lord Ochiltree, a Stewart, a firm friend of Moray's, was at this time exerting himself to bring about an agreement between the two barons; and had so far succeeded, that Moray, with a slender retinue, left his northern fastnesses, and came to his mother's castle of Dunibersel, a short distance from the Queensferry.
Huntly, his enemy, was then at court in constant attendance upon the king, and Ochiltree, who had communicated with him, and informed him of Moray's wish for a reconciliation, took horse and rode to Queensferry, intending to pass to Dunibersel and arrange an amicable meeting between the rival earls. To his surprise, he found that a royal order had been sent, interdicting any boats from plying that day between Fife and the opposite coast. But little suspicion was occasioned … and [he] was satisfied to abandon his journey to Dunibersel.
This proved the destruction of his poor friend. That very day, the 7th of February [1592], the king hunted; and Huntly, giving out that he meant to accompany the royal cavalcade, assembled his followers to the number of forty horse. Suddenly he pretended that certain news had reached him … and passing the ferry, beset the house of Dunibersel, and summoned Moray to surrender. This was refused; and in spite of the great disparity in numbers, the Stewarts resisted till nightfall, when Huntly, collecting the corn-stacks, or ricks, piled them up against the walls, commanded the house to be set on fire, and compelled its unhappy inmates to make a desperate sally that they might escape being burnt alive.
In this outbreak the Sheriff of Moray was slain; but the young earl, aided by his great stature and strength, rushed forward all burned and blackened, with his long and beautiful tresses on fire and streaming behind him, threw himself with irresistible fury on his assailants … and escaped by speed of foot to the seashore. Here, unfortunately, his hair and the silken plume of his helmet blazed through the darkness; and his fell pursuers, tracing him by the trail of light, ran him into a cave, where they cruelly murdered him. His mortal wound, it was said, was given by Gordon of Buckie, who, with the ferocity of the times, seeing Huntly drawing back, cursed him as afraid to go so far as his followers, and called upon him to stab his fallen enemy with his dagger. Huntly, thus threatened, struck the dying man in the face with his weapon, who, with a bitter smile, upbraided him "with having spoilt a better face than his own".
This killing is remembered in the Scottish ballad The Bonnie Earl O'Moray which has enjoyed new-found popularity as the origin of the word "mondegreen" meaning misheard song lyrics - for example in Creedence Clearwater Revival's song Bad Moon Rising in which a line is often misheard as being "there's a bathroom on the right". The stanza in question is
Ye highlands and ye lowlands,
Oh where have you been?
They have slain the Earl O'Moray
And laid him on the green.
The last two lines were often heard as referring to the killing of the Earl of Moray and Lady Mondegreen.
Thomas Parker, 15th Lord Morley and 7th Lord Monteagle
Lord Morley appears to been lucky to escape greater punishment after killing a Mr. Hastings in a street fight. The following edited report is taken from A critical review of the state trials [London 1735]:-
The Trial of Thomas Lord Morley, for Murder, in Westminster-Hall, before Edward Earl of Clarendon, Lord Chancellor of England, Lord High Steward John Lord Roberts [Robartes], Keeper of the Privy-Seal, Edward Earl of Manchester, Lord Chamberlain; Henry Lord Arlington, Principal Secretary of State; the Earls of Oxford, Bedford, Suffolk, Dorset, and twenty other Peers, the 30th of April, 1666. 18 Car. II
The Editors of this Trial have neither given us the Indictment, or Evidence, or the Defence the Prisoner made; but it seems to have been a common Indictment, for the Murder of Mr. Hastings: That they tell us only that one Witness deposed, there was a former Grudge, and that another swore when the Lord Morley, the Prisoner, had run Mr. Hastings through the Head, his Lordship said, God damme, I promised thee this, and now I have given it thee. And that the Quarrel began at the Fleece-Tavern, about an half Crown the Lord Morley said he had laid down.
The following is extracted from the speech made by the Solicitor-General [Sir Heneage Finch]:-
There appears to be little Provocation in this Case, that the poor Gentleman that was murdered offered any Man five Pounds to tell him what the Quarrel was. His Lordship, indeed, says in his Defence, he hopes his Peers will consider, that there was no other Provocation than the half Crown. I am sorry for it: I am sure the Laws of England allow no Man to take away another's Life, for half a Crown, without being guilty of Murder. Mr. Hastings hears my Lord quarrel about half a Crown, and says, I wonder a Person of Honour should make such ado about an half Crown; and then throws down four half Crowns upon the Table, to make Satisfaction: Presently Swords are drawn: Mr. Bromidge draws first, and hectors for my Lord. Then they are put up again; there is one Interval, and Time for Recollection. My Lord proceeds to quarrel with Mr. Hastings, and calls his Sins to Remembrance, and knowing that Mr. Hastings had been guilty of killing a Man not long before, tells him, We come not here to stab Folks. Mr. Hastings, piqued to see himself so openly reproached, answered, he was a Gentleman, and as good a Gentleman as my Lord. I beseech your Lordships to observe how Mr. Hastings was treated: He was four Times drawn upon, twice by Bromidge in the House, then in the Street; and a fourth Time under the Arch in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Mr. Hastings says, I have no Quarrel to you, Captain: If there be any, it must be disputed between me and my Lord. Some Witnesses indeed, have been produced by my Lord Morley, (not upon Oath) who say, that Mr. Hastings pressed my Lord to fight, and saw him draw and attack, with the Three on the other Side. Street deposed, that Mr. Hastings resolved to fight my Lord; and another deposed, that my Lord said, he would not fight; but this is not at all probable. It is plain, Mr. Hastings said, he would give any Man five Pounds, that would tell him what the Quarrel was: And why should he, that knew of no Quarrel, desire the Blood of my Lord Morley? Compare this with the Witnesses that swear for the King; all three of them expressly say, they saw the Fight, and the Beginning of it, though it cannot properly be called a Fight. It was a direct Assassination; for three of the Witnesses swore, there were two upon Hastings all the while. Mr. Hastings being thus pressed, steps back, to get a little Ground; then my Lord takes him at the Advantage, shortens his Sword, and runs him into the Head; for which, as there was no Provocation, Malice was by Law implied, and it was Murder in his Lordship.
The Solicitor-General having finished his Speech, the Lord Steward directed the Lords Triers to withdraw, and consider of the Evidence; but did not sum it up.
The Lords and the Prisoner being withdrawn, Wine and Biskets were brought in for the Lord Steward, and the great Men present; and the Lords Triers having staid out about three Hours, returned into Court, and took their Places; and, being called over, the Lord High Steward demanded of my Lord Frechevile, (the lowest of the Peers) If my Lord Morley was Guilty or not Guilty? To which his Lordship answered (laying his Hand on his Breast) Not guilty of Murder; but guilty of Manslaughter.
In the same Manner the Lord Steward putting the like Question to the rest, severally, in their Order, they all returned the same Answer, except the Lord Wharton, and Lord Ashley, who answered, Guilty of Murder.
Then the Lord Morley, the Prisoner, being brought in, the Lord Steward acquainted him, that his Peers had found him Guilty of Manslaughter, and demanded what he had to say for himself: To which his Lordship answered, He desired the Benefit of his Clergy, and the Benefit of the Statute; and the Lord Steward replied, He must have the benefit of his Clergy; he conceived the Statute was clear in that Point; and asking the Opinion of the Judges, they all bowed, as a Mark of their Assent. Then the Lord Steward told the Prisoner, he was discharged, paying his Fees. After which the Court was dismissed, and the Lord Steward broke his Staff.
The author then comments that Since the Editor hath omitted the Charge, the Evidence, and Defence, it is impossible to make any just Remarks on this Trial. Indeed, if we are to relie on the Observations made by the Solicitor-General, the Malice was pretty notorious: For it seems this Lord and Mr. Hastings, had fought a Duel ten Years before, and his Lordship was then wounded by him. Several other Quarrels had happened between them afterwards, and his Lordship had threatened the Deceased: And, as I apprehend the Case, this was a Duel of Four of a Side, who agreed to go from the Tavern where the Quarrel began, and fight in the Fields. And the Solicitor informs us, that the Witnesses deposed, That my Lord and another fell upon Hastings at once; and his Lordship shortened his Sword, and run the Deceased through the Head, saying, God damn me, I have promised it you, and now you have it; which, one would think, sufficiently discovered the Malice of his Heart; and, had he been tried by a common Jury, would have gone a great Way to have convicted the Prisoner of Murder. But whether there might not be something in that Suggestion of the Solicitor's, That Peers, being a superior Class of Men, are apt to imagine that nothing less than the Blood of the Offender can atone for an Affront given them by a private Gentleman, may require some Consideration.
Claim to the Barony of Morley, created 1299
It is generally accepted in the standard works on the peerage that the barony of Morley, created by writ of summons in 1299, fell into abeyance on the death of the 15th baron in 1697.
In the late 1890s, a man named James Thorne Roe [1844-1918] emerged to claim this title. In the usual course of such events, his claim was initially referred to the Attorney General of the day [Sir Richard Webster, later Viscount Alverstone] who reported so strongly against the claim that it was never referred to the House of Lords Committee for Privileges.
In December 1901, before the Court of Claims which had convened to hear applications relating to the forthcoming coronation of King Edward VII, Roe unsuccessfully attempted to claim that he had the right to attend the coronation as the bearer of the Royal Standard of England and to exercise the office of Marshal of Ireland.
At the formal opening of Parliament in January 1908, Roe provided himself with the ermine-trimmed robes worn by peers on formal occasions. Just before the royal procession arrived, he entered the House of Lords, having passed the police and ushers unchallenged and prepared to sit with the other peers already present. However, the sharp-eyed Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod failed to recognise him and summoned the Garter King of Arms, who requested the man's name and asked him to prove his credentials. Roe replied that he was the Lord de Morley and produced a copy of the original Writ of Summons issued by Edward I in 1299. Garter King of Arms, knowing that the Barony of de Morley had been in abeyance since 1697, ordered Roe to leave the House. Roe protested volubly and was thereupon conducted out of the House by the Garter King of Arms and his assistants in full view of the assembled peers.
Roe insisted that he was descended from Sir John Parker, the eldest of the three sons of Henry Parker, who died as 10th Baron Morley in 1556. It appears, however, that Sir John was born out of wedlock and was therefore illegitimate, thus destroying Roe's claims.
Notwithstanding the fact that he was unable to prove his claim to the peerage, some standard reference works gave credence to his claims. For example, the annual publication Who's Who included a lengthy entry for him for some years and, as a result, he appears in the Who Was Who volume covering the years 1916‑1928.
Edmund Robert Parker, 4th Earl of Morley
Before he succeeded to the earldom in 1905, this peer was known by the courtesy title of Viscount Boringdon. In October 1903, he was travelling by sea in the south Pacific on board the steamer Ovalau [Ovalau is the name of one of the Fiji islands] when he was lucky to escape with his life. The following account of the loss of the Ovalau appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on 3 November 1903:-
[The passengers] stated emphatically that the experience was awful, and added that they … had not yet fully recovered from the shock. All the passengers, they stated, were more or less terrified at the time owing to the imminent danger in which all on board found themselves, although the captain [Todd] reassured them. It was not known exactly how the fire started. The first intimation received that an outbreak had occurred was by one of the crew hurrying aft to one of the officers and crying "Fire!" On going to the fore part of the vessel one of the passengers states that he noticed smoke issuing from the forehold.
The crew were already at work and a line of hose was got out with all haste for the purpose of pouring water on the smouldering mass. The outbreak, however, increased rapidly, despite all efforts to check it. The hatches were then replaced, but soon the heat became intense. There was a large quantity of copra in this hold, and being remarkably inflammable on account of the coconut oil it contains, the fire gained a tenacious hold, and despite all the efforts of the crew and the passengers, all of whom lent assistance, the fire continued to increase in size. It raged all night, and great volumes of black smoke found its way out of the hold and down aft and made it almost impossible to breathe on the steamer. Soon the deck became intensely hot, the pitch began to soften, and then suddenly the whole deck around the hatchway burst into flame. All this time the vessel was ploughing toward Lord Howe Island [in the Tasman Sea, about 600 km east of the Australian mainland], and all on board became terribly anxious lest the fire should completely envelop the vessel before she could arrive at the island and allow the passengers to effect a landing. Part of the crew were therefore told off by Captain Todd, who had been working strenuously the whole time, to get all the boats in readiness for immediate removal. All the other hands on board were combating the fire, which was making progress aft.
This was the awful state of affairs as the steamer hove in sight off the island [i.e. Lord Howe Island]. Great tongues of flame and dense clouds of black smoke from the oily cargo rose high above the masts of the ship. As the island was reached Captain Todd came to the conclusion that it was useless to fight the fire any longer, as it had by this time possession of the greater part of the ship, and those on board were thoroughly exhausted. He therefore ordered all the passengers to take to the boats. The firemen in the hold had stuck heroically to their task of keeping steam on the Ovalau, to enable her to make the island. This had been done, despite the awful heat and smoke which filled the engine-room, almost suffocating them. By great perseverance and pluck they had managed to keep the vessel going. When it was decided to abandon the ship the crew were still on the steamer, and it is surmised that the fire must have reached the boiler, as suddenly there was a large explosion, and burning pieces of wood, scraps of iron, and debris generally were whirled past them. Some of these pieces struck the men. When everybody was removed from the steamer she presented an awful picture. The flames spread from stem to stern, and raged furiously amongst the woodwork. She was literally a roaring furnace, and masses of flame continually fell from the deck into the water, whilst smoke rolled away for miles astern. When the fire was at its height the vessel seemed to gradually settle down. Suddenly there was a terrific hissing, as the red-hot plates of the hull came into contact with the water. Clouds of white steam rose all around her, and with a fearful noise and repeated explosions the whole ship suddenly disappeared beneath the water. The sea was soon strewn with thousands of pieces of charred wood and debris, which was plainly visible from the shore.
The crew and passengers were picked up at Lord Howe Island and subsequently transferred to Sydney. Included in the report is an interview with Lord Boringdon, which states:-
Viscount Boringdon, who is returning from an excursion to the Solomon Islands when seen by a reporter of the "Herald" on board the Captain Cook this morning, said that soon after the outbreak the passengers of the Ovalau were informed that there was a fire on board, but owing to the presence of mind of Captain Todd and the officers nobody apprehended any danger whatever, and there was not the slightest alarm. Of course, Lord Boringdon continued, I do not know anything about the origin of the fire, but we were all glad to get ashore safely, and I am glad to say that no one was injured, although we were extremely sorry that the good ship foundered. The scene of the burning Ovalau from the shore after we had landed was magnificent, but we all felt grieved at her destruction.