PEERAGES
Last updated 06/04/2018 (7 Mar 2024)
Date Rank Order Name Born Died Age
BACH
27 Jul 1998 B[L] William Stephen Goulden Bach
Created Baron Bach for life 27 Jul 1998
25 Dec 1946
BACON
14 Oct 1970
to    
24 Mar 1993
B[L] Alice Martha Bacon
Created Baroness Bacon for life 14 Oct 1970
MP for Leeds North East 1945‑1955 and Leeds South East 1955‑1970; Minister of State, Home Office 1964‑1967; PC 1966
Peerage extinct on her death
10 Sep 1909 24 Mar 1993 83
BADELEY
21 Jun 1949
to    
27 Sep 1951
B 1 Sir Henry John Fanshawe Badeley
Created Baron Badeley 21 Jun 1949
Peerage extinct on his death
27 Jun 1874 27 Sep 1951 77
BADENOCH
3 Nov 1684 B[S] 1 George Gordon, 4th Marquess of Huntly
Created Lord Badenoch, Lochaber, Strathavon, Balmore, Auchindoun, Garthie and Kincardine, Viscount of Inverness, Earl of Huntly and Enzie, Marquess of Huntly and Duke of Gordon 3 Nov 1684
See "Gordon" - extinct 1836
c 1643 7 Dec 1716
BADEN-POWELL
17 Sep 1929 B 1 Sir Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden‑Powell, 1st baronet
Created Baron Baden-Powell 17 Sep 1929
OM 1937
22 Feb 1857 8 Jan 1941 83
8 Jan 1941 2 (Arthur Robert) Peter Baden-Powell 30 Oct 1913 8 Dec 1962 49
8 Dec 1962 3 Robert Crause Baden-Powell 15 Oct 1936 28 Dec 2019 83
28 Dec 2019 4 (David) Michael Baden-Powell 11 Dec 1940 3 Jul 2023 82
3 Jul 2023 5 David Robert Baden-Powell 6 Jan 1971
BADLESMERE
26 Oct 1309
to    
1322
B 1 Bartholomew de Badlesmere
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Badlesmere 26 Oct 1309
He was attainted and executed when his peerage was forfeited
1275 1322 47
1328
to    
May 1338
2 Giles de Badlesmere
He obtained a reversal of the attainder. On his death the peerage became extinct
18 Oct 1314 May 1338 23
BAGOT
17 Oct 1780 B 1 Sir William Bagot, 6th baronet
Created Baron Bagot 17 Oct 1780
MP for Staffordshire 1754‑1780
28 Feb 1728 22 Oct 1798 70
22 Oct 1798 2 William Bagot 11 Sep 1773 12 Feb 1856 82
12 Feb 1856 3 William Bagot
MP for Denbighshire 1835‑1852
27 Mar 1811 19 Jan 1887 75
19 Jan 1887 4 William Bagot 19 Jan 1857 23 Dec 1932 75
23 Dec 1932 5 Gerald William Bagot 13 May 1866 5 Apr 1946 79
5 Apr 1946 6 Caryl Ernest Bagot 9 Mar 1877 5 Aug 1961 84
5 Aug 1961 7 Harry Eric Bagot 4 Feb 1894 20 Jun 1973 79
20 Jun 1973 8 Reginald Walter Bagot 24 Aug 1897 2 Oct 1979 82
2 Oct 1979 9 Heneage Charles Bagot 11 Jun 1914 19 Jan 2001 86
19 Jan 2001 10 Charles Hugh Shaun Bagot 23 Feb 1944
BAGRI
14 Feb 1997
to    
26 Apr 2017
B[L] Raj Kumar Bagri
Created Baron Bagri for life 14 Feb 1997
Peerage extinct on his death
24 Aug 1930 26 Apr 2017 86
BAILEY OF PADDINGTON
10 Jul 2023 B[L] Shaun Sharif Bailey
Created Baron Bailey of Paddington for life 10 Jul 2023
30 May 1971
BAILLIEU
13 Feb 1953 B 1 Sir Clive Latham Baillieu
Created Baron Baillieu 13 Feb 1953
24 Sep 1889 18 Jun 1967 77
18 Jun 1967 2 William Latham Baillieu 10 Dec 1915 18 Apr 1973 57
18 Apr 1973 3 James William Latham Baillieu 16 Nov 1950
BAKER
1 Feb 1977
to    
9 Sep 1985
B[L] Sir John Fleetwood Baker
Created Baron Baker for life 1 Feb 1977
Peerage extinct on his death
19 Mar 1901 9 Sep 1985 84
BAKER OF DORKING
16 Jun 1997 B[L] Kenneth Wilfred Baker
Created Baron Baker of Dorking for life 16 Jun 1997
MP for Acton 1968‑1970, St Marylebone 1970‑1983 and Mole Valley 1983‑1997; Secretary of State for the Environment 1985‑1986; Secretary of State for Education and Science 1986‑1989; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1989‑1990; Home Secretary 1990‑1992; PC 1984; CH 1992
3 Nov 1934
BAKEWELL
21 Jan 2011 B[L] Dame Joan Dawson Bakewell
Created Baroness Bakewell for life 21 Jan 2011
16 Apr 1933
BAKEWELL OF HARDINGTON MANDEVILLE
9 Sep 2013 B[L] Catherine Mary Bakewell
Created Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville for life 9 Sep 2013
7 Mar 1949
BALCARRES
27 Jun 1633 B[S] 1 David Lindsay
Created Lord Lindsay of Balcarres 27 Jun 1633
c 1586 Mar 1641
Mar 1641
9 Jan 1651
 
E[S]
2
1
Alexander Lindsay
Created Lord Lindsay & Balniel and Earl of Balcarres 9 Jan 1651
6 Jul 1618 30 Aug 1659 41
30 Aug 1659 2 Charles Lindsay 1650 15 Oct 1662 12
15 Oct 1662 3 Colin Lindsay 1652 1722 70
1722 4 Alexander Lindsay 25 Jul 1736
25 Jul 1736 5 James Lindsay 14 Nov 1691 20 Feb 1768 76
20 Feb 1768 6 Alexander Lindsay
He succeeded to the Earldom of Crawford in 1808 since when the peerages have been merged
18 Jan 1752 27 Mar 1825 73
BALDWIN OF BEWDLEY
8 Jun 1937 E 1 Stanley Baldwin
Created Viscount Corvedale and Earl Baldwin of Bewdley 8 Jun 1937
MP for Bewdley 1908‑1937; President of the Board of Trade 1921‑1922; Chancellor of the Exchequer 1922‑1923; Prime Minister 1923‑1924, 1924‑1929 and 1935‑1937; Lord President of the Council 1931‑1935; Lord Privy Seal 1932‑1933; PC 1920; KG 1937
3 Aug 1867 14 Dec 1947 80
14 Dec 1947 2 Oliver Ridsdale Baldwin
MP for Dudley 1929‑1931 and Paisley 1945‑1947
1 Mar 1899 10 Aug 1958 59
10 Aug 1958 3 Arthur Windham Baldwin 22 Mar 1904 5 Jul 1976 72
5 Jul 1976 4 Edward Alfred Alexander Baldwin
[Elected hereditary peer 1999‑2018]
3 Jan 1938 16 Jun 2021 83
16 Jun 2021 5 Benedict Alexander Stanley Baldwin 28 Dec 1973
BALERNO
9 Jul 1963
to    
28 Jul 1984
B[L] Sir Alick Drummond Buchanan-Smith
Created Baron Balerno for life 9 Jul 1963
Peerage extinct on his death
9 Oct 1898 28 Jul 1984 85
BALFE
19 Sep 2013 B[L] Richard Andrew Balfe
Created Baron Balfe for life 19 Sep 2013
MEP for London South Inner 1979‑1999 and London 1999‑2004
14 May 1944
BALFOUR
8 Nov 1619 B[I] 1 Sir James Balfour
Created Lord Balfour 8 Nov 1619
18 Oct 1634
18 Oct 1634 2 James Balfour 26 Feb 1636
26 Feb 1636
to    
1636?
3 Alexander Balfour
Peerage extinct on his death
1636?

5 May 1922 E 1 Arthur James Balfour
Created Viscount Traprain and Earl of Balfour 5 May 1922
For details of the special remainders included in the creation of these peerages, see the note at the foot of this page
MP for Hertford 1874‑1885, Manchester East 1885‑1906 and London 1906‑1922; President of the Local Government Board 1885‑1886; Secretary of State for Scotland 1886‑1887; Chief Secretary for Ireland 1887‑1891; First Lord of the Treasury 1891‑1892 and 1895‑1905; Prime Minister 1902‑1905; Lord Privy Seal 1902‑1903; First Lord of the Admiralty 1915‑1916; Foreign Secretary 1916‑1919; Lord President of the Council 1919‑1922 and 1925‑1929; PC 1885; PC [I] 1887; OM 1916; KG 1922
25 Jul 1848 19 Mar 1930 81
19 Mar 1930 2 Gerald William Balfour
MP for Leeds Central 1885‑1906; Chief Secretary for Ireland 1895‑1900; President of the Board of Trade 1900‑1905; PC [I] 1895; PC 1900
9 Apr 1853 14 Jan 1945 91
14 Jan 1945 3 Robert Arthur Lytton Balfour 31 Dec 1902 27 Nov 1968 65
27 Nov 1968 4 Gerald Arthur James Balfour 23 Dec 1925 27 Jun 2003 77
27 Jun 2003 5 Roderick Francis Arthur Balfour 9 Dec 1948
BALFOUR OF BURLEIGH
16 Jul 1607 B[S] 1 Sir Michael Balfour
Created Lord Balfour of Burleigh 16 Jul 1607
15 Mar 1619
15 Mar 1619 2 Margaret Balfour Jun 1639
Jun 1639 3 John Balfour 1697
1697 4 Robert Balfour Jul 1713
Jul 1713
to    
1715
5 Robert Balfour
For further information on this peer, see the note at the foot of this page.
He was attainted and the peerage forfeited in 1715
20 Mar 1757
19 Mar 1869 6 Alexander Hugh Bruce
He obtained a reversal of the attainder 19 Mar 1869
Secretary of State for Scotland 1895‑1903; PC 1892; KT 1901
13 Jan 1849 6 Jul 1921 72
6 Jul 1921 7 George John Gordon Bruce 18 Oct 1883 4 Jun 1967 83
4 Jun 1967 8 Robert Bruce 6 Jan 1927 18 Sep 2019 92
18 Sep 2019 9 Victoria Bruce-Winkler 7 May 1973
BALFOUR OF INCHRYE
5 Jul 1945 B 1 Harold Harington Balfour
Created Baron Balfour of Inchrye 5 Jul 1945
MP for Isle of Thanet 1929‑1945; PC 1941
1 Nov 1897 21 Sep 1988 90
21 Sep 1988
to    
14 Apr 2013
2 Ian Balfour
Peerage extinct on his death
21 Dec 1924 14 Apr 2013 88
BALGONIE
11 Oct 1641 B[S] 1 Alexander Leslie
Created Lord Balgonie and Earl of Leven 11 Oct 1641
See "Leven"
c 1580 4 Apr 1661
BALINHARD
7 Dec 1869 B 1 James Carnegie, 9th Earl of Southesk
Created Baron Balinhard 7 Dec 1869
See "Southesk"
16 Nov 1827 21 Feb 1905 77
BALLANTRAE
10 Jul 1972
to    
28 Nov 1980
B[L] Sir Bernard Edward Fergusson
Created Baron Ballantrae for life 10 Jul 1972
Governor General of New Zealand 1962‑1967; KT 1974
Peerage extinct on his death
6 May 1911 28 Nov 1980 69
BALLINBRIEICH
29 May 1680
to    
27 Jul 1681
M[S] 1 John Leslie, 7th Earl of Rothes
Created Lord Auchmotie and Caskieberry, Viscount of Lugtoun, Earl of Leslie, Marquess of Ballinbrieich and Duke of Rothes 29 May 1680
Peerage extinct on his death
1630 27 Jul 1681 51
BALLIOL
26 Sep 1300
to    
by Jun 1311
B 1 Alexander de Balliol
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Balliol 26 Sep 1300
Attainted by Edward II and peerage forfeited
by Jun 1311

10 Mar 1349
to    
c 1367
B 1 Edward de Balliol
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Balliol 10 Mar 1349
Peerage extinct on his death
c 1283 c 1367
BALLYANE
8 Feb 1554
to    
1555
B[I] 1 Cahir McArt Kavanagh
Created Baron of Ballyane 8 Feb 1554
Peerage extinct on his death
1555

17 May 1558
to    
after 1558
B[I] 1 Dermot McCahir Kavanagh
Created Baron of Ballyane 17 May 1558
Peerage extinct on his death
after 1558
BALLYEDMOND
18 Jun 2004
to    
13 Mar 2014
B[L] Edward Enda Haughey
Created Baron Ballyedmond for life 18 Jun 2004
Peerage extinct on his death
5 Jan 1944 13 Mar 2014 70
BALLYMOTE
1 Aug 1628 B[I] 1 John Taaffe
Created Baron Ballymote and Viscount Taaffe 1 Aug 1628
See "Taaffe"
Jan 1642
BALMERINOCH
11 Jul 1606 B[S] 1 Sir James Elphinstone
Created Lord Balmerinoch 11 Jul 1606
21 Jun 1612
21 Jun 1612 2 John Elphinstone 28 Feb 1649
28 Feb 1649 3 John Elphinstone
He succeeded as 2nd Lord Coupar in 1669
18 Feb 1623 10 Jun 1704 72
10 Jun 1704 4 John Elphinstone 26 Dec 1652 13 May 1736 83
13 May 1736 5 John Elphinstone 24 Nov 1675 5 Jan 1746 70
5 Jan 1746
to    
18 Aug 1746
6 Arthur Elphinstone
He was attainted and executed 1746 when the peerages were forfeited
For further information on this peer, see the note at the foot of the page containing details of the peerage of Kilmarnock
1688 18 Aug 1746 58
BALMORE
3 Nov 1684 B[S] 1 George Gordon, 4th Marquess of Huntly
Created Lord Badenoch, Lochaber, Strathavon, Balmore, Auchindoun, Garthie and Kincardine, Viscount of Inverness, Earl of Huntly and Enzie, Marquess of Huntly and Duke of Gordon 3 Nov 1684
See "Gordon" - extinct 1836
c 1643 7 Dec 1716
BALNIEL
24 Jan 1975
to    
18 Mar 2023
B[L] Robert Alexander Lindsay
Created Baron Balniel for life 24 Jan 1975
MP for Hertford 1955‑1974 and Welwyn & Hatfield 1974; Minister of State for Defence 1970‑1972; Minister of State Foreign Office 1972‑1974
He succeeded to the Earldom of Crawford 1975
Peerage extinct on his death
5 Mar 1927 18 Mar 2023 96
BALOGH
20 Jun 1968
to    
20 Jan 1985
B[L] Thomas Balogh
Created Baron Balogh for life 20 Jun 1968
Peerage extinct on his death
2 Nov 1905 20 Jan 1985 79
BALQUHIDDER (or BALWIDDER)
17 Feb 1676 V[S] 1 John Murray, 2nd Earl of Atholl
Created Lord Murray, Balvany and Gask, Viscount of Balquhidder, Earl of Tullibardine and Marquess of Atholl 17 Feb 1676
See "Atholl"
c 1635 7 May 1703

30 Jun 1703 V[S] 1 John Murray, 2nd Marquess of Atholl
Created Lord Murray, Viscount Glenalmond and Earl of Tullibardine for life 27 Jul 1696 and Lord Murray, Balvenie and Gask, Viscount of Balwhidder, Glenalmond and Glenlyon, Earl of Strathtay & Strathardle, Marquess of Tullibardine and Duke of Atholl 30 Jun 1703
See "Atholl"
24 Feb 1659 14 Nov 1724 65
BALTIMORE
16 Feb 1625 B[I] 1 George Calvert
Created Baron Baltimore 16 Feb 1625
MP for Bossiney 1609, Yorkshire 1620 and Oxford University 1624; Secretary of State 1619‑1625; PC 1619
c 1578 15 Apr 1632
15 Apr 1632 2 Cecil Calvert 2 Mar 1606 7 Dec 1675 69
7 Dec 1675 3 Charles Calvert 27 Aug 1637 21 Feb 1715 77
21 Feb 1715 4 Benedict Leonard Calvert
MP for Harwich 1714‑1715
21 Mar 1679 16 Apr 1715 36
16 Apr 1715 5 Charles Calvert
MP for St Germans 1734‑1741 and Surrey 1741‑1747
29 Sep 1699 24 Apr 1751 51
24 Apr 1751
to    
4 Sep 1771
6 Frederick Calvert
Peerage extinct on his death
For further information on this peer, see the note at the foot of this page.
6 Feb 1732 4 Sep 1771 39
BALTINGLASS
29 Jun 1541 V[I] 1 Sir Thomas Eustace
Created Baron Kilcullen Sep 1535 and Viscount Baltinglass 29 Jun 1541
c 1480 31 Jul 1549
31 Jul 1549 2 Rowland Eustace 1505 31 Mar 1578 72
31 Mar 1578
to    
25 Nov 1585
3 James Eustace
Peerage extinct on his death
25 Nov 1585

27 Jun 1627 V[I] 1 Thomas Roper
Created Baron of Bantry and Viscount Baltinglass 27 Jun 1627
15 Feb 1637
15 Feb 1637 2 Thomas Roper c 1670
c 1670
to    
Aug 1672
3 Cary Roper
Peerage extinct on his death
Aug 1672

20 Jun 1685
to    
early 1691
V[I] 1 Richard Talbot
Created Baron of Talbotstown, Viscount Baltinglass and Earl of Tyrconnel 20 Jun 1685
Viceroy of Ireland 1685‑1689
He was attainted and the peerages forfeited
1630 14 Aug 1691 61
BALVAIRD
17 Nov 1641 B[S] 1 Sir Andrew Murray
Created Lord Balvaird 17 Nov 1641
24 Sep 1644
24 Nov 1644 2 David Murray
He succeeded to the Viscountcy of Stormont in 1658 into which title this peerage then merged. The Barony remains a subsidiary title of the Earldom of Mansfield
24 Jul 1668
BALVANY
17 Feb 1676 B[S] 1 John Murray, 2nd Earl of Atholl
Created Lord Murray, Balvany and Gask, Viscount of Balquhidder, Earl of Tullibardine and Marquess of Atholl 17 Feb 1676
See "Atholl"
c 1635 7 May 1703
BALVENIE
30 Jun 1703 B[S] 1 John Murray, 2nd Marquess of Atholl
Created Lord Murray, Viscount Glenalmond and Earl of Tullibardine for life 27 Jul 1696 and Lord Murray, Balvenie and Gask, Viscount of Balwhidder, Glenalmond and Glenlyon, Earl of Strathtay & Strathardle, Marquess of Tullibardine and Duke of Atholl 30 Jun 1703
See "Atholl"
24 Feb 1660 14 Nov 1724 64
BALWEARIE
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
BAMFORD
3 Oct 2013 B[L] Sir Anthony Paul Bamford
Created Baron Bamford for life 3 Oct 2013
23 Oct 1945
BANBURY
18 Aug 1626 E 1 William Knollys
Created Baron Knollys 13 May 1603, Viscount Wallingford 7 Nov 1616 and Earl of Banbury 18 Aug 1626
KG 1615
On his death the peerage was considered to be extinct, although there were legitimate heirs
For further information on subsequent attempts to claim these peerages, see the note at the foot of this page.
c 1547 25 May 1632
BANBURY OF SOUTHAM
21 Jan 1924 B 1 Sir Frederick George Banbury, 1st baronet
Created Baron Banbury of Southam 21 Jan 1924
MP for Peckham 1892‑1906 and London 1906‑1924; PC 1916
2 Dec 1850 13 Aug 1936 85
13 Aug 1936 2 Charles William Banbury 18 May 1915 29 Apr 1981 65
29 Apr 1981 3 Charles William Banbury 29 Jul 1953
BANCROFT
10 Feb 1982
to    
19 Nov 1996
B[L] Sir Ian Powell Bancroft
Created Baron Bancroft for life 10 Feb 1982
Peerage extinct on his death
23 Dec 1922 19 Nov 1996 73
BANDON
30 Nov 1793
6 Oct 1795
6 Aug 1800
B[I]
V[I]
E[I]
1
1
1
Francis Bernard
Created Baron Bandon 30 Nov 1793, Viscount Bandon 6 Oct 1795 and Viscount Bernard and Earl of Bandon 6 Aug 1800
MP [I] for Ennis 1778‑1783 and Bandon Bridge 1783‑1790
26 Nov 1755 26 Nov 1830 75
26 Nov 1830 2 James Bernard
MP for Youghal 1806‑1807 and 1818‑1820 and co. Cork 1807‑1818; Lord Lieutenant Cork 1842‑1856
14 Jun 1785 31 Oct 1856 71
31 Oct 1856 3 Francis Bernard
MP for Bandon 1831 and 1847‑1856; Lord Lieutenant Cork 1874‑1877
3 Jan 1810 17 Feb 1877 67
17 Feb 1877 4 James Francis Bernard
Lord Lieutenant Cork 1877‑1922; KP 1900
12 Sep 1850 18 May 1924 73
18 May 1924
to    
8 Feb 1979
5 Percy Ronald Gardner Bernard
Peerage extinct on his death
30 Aug 1904 8 Feb 1979 74
BANDONBRIDGE
28 Feb 1628 B[I] 1 Lewis Boyle
Created Baron of Bandonbridge and Viscount Boyle of Kinalmeaky 28 Feb 1628
See "Boyle of Kinalmeaky"
28 May 1619 2 Sep 1642 23
BANFF
31 Aug 1642 B[S] 1 Sir George Ogilvy, 1st baronet
Created Lord of Banff 31 Aug 1642
11 Aug 1663
11 Aug 1663 2 George Ogilvy Mar 1668
Mar 1668 3 George Ogilvy 9 Sep 1649 Nov 1713 64
Nov 1713 4 George Ogilvy 4 Aug 1670 1718 47
1718 5 John George Ogilvy 18 Feb 1717 29 Jul 1738 21
29 Jul 1738 6 Alexander Ogilvy 12 Jul 1718 Nov 1746 28
Nov 1746 7 Alexander Ogilvy 1 Sep 1771
1 Sep 1771
to    
4 Jun 1803
8 William Ogilvy
Peerage either extinct or dormant on his death
4 Jun 1803
BANGOR
3 Mar 1691
to    
16 Jul 1719
E[I] 1 Meinhardt Schomberg
Created Baron Tara, Earl of Bangor and Duke of Leinster 3 Mar 1691
He succeeded to the Dukedom of Schomberg in 1693
Peerage extinct on his death
16 Jul 1719

30 May 1770
13 Jan 1781
B[I]
V[I]
1
1
Bernard Ward
Created Baron Bangor 30 May 1770 and Viscount Bangor 13 Jan 1781
MP [I] for Down County 1745‑1770
Aug 1719 20 May 1781 61
20 May 1781 2 Nicholas Ward
MP [I] for Bangor 1771‑1776
5 Dec 1750 11 Sep 1827 76
11 Sep 1827 3 Edward Southwell Ward Mar 1790 1 Aug 1837 47
1 Aug 1837 4 Edward Ward 23 Feb 1827 14 Sep 1881 54
14 Sep 1881 5 Henry William Crosbie Ward 26 Jul 1828 23 Feb 1911 82
23 Feb 1911 6 Maxwell Richard Crosbie Ward
PC [NI] 1931
4 May 1868 17 Nov 1950 82
17 Nov 1950 7 Edward Henry Harold Ward 5 Nov 1905 8 May 1993 87
8 May 1993 8 William Maxwell David Ward 9 Aug 1948
BANKS
7 Jan 1975
to    
15 Jun 1997
B[L] Desmond Anderson Harvie Banks
Created Baron Banks for life 7 Jan 1975
Peerage extinct on his death
23 Oct 1918 15 Jun 1997 78
BANNER
6 Mar 2024 B[L] Charles Edward Raymond Banner
Created Baron Banner for life 6 Mar 2024
3 Jun 1980
BANNERMAN OF KILDONAN
5 Dec 1967
to    
10 May 1969
B[L] John MacDonald Bannerman
Created Baron Bannerman of Kildonan for life 5 Dec 1967
Peerage extinct on his death
1 Sep 1901 10 May 1969 67
BANNSIDE
18 Jun 2010
to    
12 Sep 2014
B[L] Ian Richard Kyle Paisley
Created Baron Bannside for life 18 Jun 2010
MP for Antrim North 1970‑2010; MEP for Northern Ireland 1979‑2004; PC 2005
Peerage extinct on his death
6 Apr 1926 12 Sep 2014 88
BANTRY
27 Jun 1627 B[I] 1 Thomas Roper
Created Baron of Bantry and Viscount Baltinglass 27 Jun 1627
See "Baltinglass"
15 Feb 1637

22 Jan 1816 E[I] 1 Richard White
Created Baron Bantry 24 Mar 1797, Viscount Bantry 29 Dec 1800 and Viscount Berehaven and Earl of Bantry 22 Jan 1816
6 Aug 1767 2 May 1851 83
2 May 1851 2 Richard White 16 Nov 1800 16 Jul 1868 67
16 Jul 1868 3 William Henry Hare Hedges-White 10 Nov 1801 15 Jan 1884 82
15 Jan 1884
to    
30 Nov 1891
4 William Henry Hare Hedges-White
Peerages extinct on his death
2 Jul 1854 30 Nov 1891 37
BANYARD
23 May 1313
to    
1331
B 1 Robert de Banyard
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Banyard 23 May 1313
Peerage extinct on his death
1331
BARBER
6 Jan 1975
to    
16 Dec 2005
B[L] Anthony Perrinott Lysberg Barber
Created Baron Barber for life 6 Jan 1975
MP for Doncaster 1951‑1964 and Altrincham and Sale 1965‑1974; Financial Secretary to the Treasury 1962‑1963; Minister of Health 1963‑1964; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1970; Chancellor of the Exchequer 1970‑1974; PC 1963
Peerage extinct on his death
4 Jul 1920 16 Dec 2005 85
BARBER OF TEWKESBURY
12 Aug 1992
to    
21 Nov 2017
B[L] Sir Derek Coates Barber
Created Baron Barber of Tewkesbury for life 12 Aug 1992
Peerage extinct on his death
17 Jun 1918 21 Nov 2017 99
BARD OF DROMBOY
18 Jul 1645
to    
20 Jun 1656
B[I] 1 Sir Henry Bard, 1st baronet
Created Baron Bard of Dromboy and Viscount Bellomont 18 Jul 1645
Peerage extinct on his death
c 1616 20 Jun 1656
BARDOLPH
6 Feb 1299 B 1 Sir Hugh Bardolph
Summoned to Parliament as Lord Bardolph 6 Feb 1299
29 Sep 1259 Sep 1304 44
Sep 1304 2 Thomas Bardolph 4 Oct 1282 15 Dec 1328 46
15 Dec 1328 3 John Bardolph 13 Jan 1311 5 Aug 1363 52
5 Aug 1363 4 William Bardolph 21 Oct 1349 29 Jan 1386 36
29 Jan 1386
to    
1406
5 Thomas Bardolph
He was attainted and the peerage forfeited in 1406
22 Dec 1369 19 Feb 1408 38

13 Nov 1437?
to    
6 Jun 1441
B 1 Sir William Phelipp
Created Baron Bardolph 13 Nov 1437?
KG c 1419
Peerage extinct on his death
1383 6 Jun 1441 57
BARFLEUR
7 May 1697
to    
26 Nov 1727
V 1 Edward Russell
Created Baron of Shingay, Viscount Barfleur and Earl of Orford 7 May 1697
See "Orford"
1653 26 Nov 1727 74
BARGENY
22 Oct 1639 B[S] 1 Sir John Hamilton
Created Lord Bargeny 22 Oct 1639
Apr 1658
Apr 1658 2 John Hamilton 25 May 1693
25 May 1693 3 William Hamilton c 1712
c 1712
to    
28 Mar 1736
4 James Hamilton
Peerage extinct on his death
29 Nov 1710 28 Mar 1736 25
BARHAM
1 May 1805 B 1 Sir Charles Middleton, 1st baronet
Created Baron Barham 1 May 1805
For details of the special remainder included in the creation of this peerage, see the note at the foot of this page
MP for Rochester 1784‑1790; First Lord of the Admiralty 1805; PC 1805
14 Oct 1726 17 Jun 1813 86
17 Jun 1813 2 Diana Noel 18 Sep 1762 12 Apr 1823 60
12 Apr 1823 3 Charles Noel
He was created Earl of Gainsborough 1841, into which title this peerage then merged
2 Oct 1781 10 Jun 1866 84
BARING
10 Jun 1876 V 1 Thomas George Baring, 2nd Baron Northbrook
Created Viscount Baring and Earl of Northbrook 10 Jun 1876
See "Northbrook"
22 Jan 1826 15 Nov 1904 78
BARKER
31 Jul 1999 B[L] Elizabeth Jean Barker
Created Baroness Barker for life 31 Jul 1999
31 Jan 1961
BARKER OF BATTLE
12 Oct 2015 B[L] Gregory Leonard George Barker
Created Baron Barker of Battle for life 12 Oct 2015
MP for Bexhill & Battle 2001‑2015; PC 2012
8 Mar 1966
BARNARD
25 Jul 1698 B 1 Sir Christopher Vane
Created Baron Barnard 25 Jul 1698
MP for co. Durham 1675‑1679 and Boroughbridge 1689‑1690; PC 1688
21 May 1653 28 Oct 1723 70
28 Oct 1723 2 Gilbert Vane 17 Apr 1678 27 Apr 1753 75
27 Apr 1753
3 Apr 1754
 
V
3
1
Henry Vane
Created Viscount Barnard and Earl of Darlington 3 Apr 1754
c 1705 6 Mar 1758
6 Mar 1758 4
2
Henry Vane, 2nd Earl of Darlington 1726 8 Sep 1792 66
8 Sep 1792 5
3
William Henry Vane
Created Duke of Cleveland 29 Jan 1833
27 Jul 1766 29 Jan 1842 75
29 Jan 1842 6
4
Henry Vane, 2nd Duke of Cleveland 6 Aug 1788 18 Jan 1864 75
18 Jan 1864 7
5
William John Frederick Vane, 3rd Duke of Cleveland 3 Apr 1792 6 Sep 1864 72
6 Sep 1864
to    
21 Aug 1891
8
6
Harry George Powlett, 4th Duke of Cleveland
On his death the Viscountcy became extinct but the Barony passed to -
19 Apr 1803 21 Aug 1891 88
21 Aug 1891 9 Henry de Vere Vane
For further information on his successful claim to this peerage, see the note at the foot of this page
10 May 1854 28 Dec 1918 64
28 Dec 1918 10 Christopher William Vane
Lord Lieutenant Durham 1958‑1964
28 Oct 1888 19 Oct 1964 75
19 Oct 1964 11 Harry John Neville Vane
Lord Lieutenant Durham 1970‑1988
21 Sep 1923 3 Apr 2016 92
3 Apr 2016 12 Henry Francis Cecil Vane 11 Mar 1959
BARNBY
26 Jan 1922 B 1 Francis Willey
Created Baron Barnby 26 Jan 1922
27 Feb 1841 16 Feb 1929 87
16 Feb 1929
to    
30 Apr 1982
2 Francis Vernon Willey
MP for Bradford South 1918‑1922
Peerage extinct on his death
29 Sep 1884 30 Apr 1982 97
BARNETSON
14 Jul 1975
to    
12 Mar 1981
B[L] Sir William Denholm Barnetson
Created Baron Barnetson for life 14 Jul 1975
Peerage extinct on his death
21 Mar 1917 12 Mar 1981 63
BARNETT
30 Sep 1983
to    
1 Nov 2014
B[L] Joel Barnett
Created Baron Barnett for life 30 Sep 1983
MP for Heywood and Royton 1964‑1983; Chief Secretary to the Treasury 1974‑1979; PC 1975
Peerage extinct on his death
14 Oct 1923 1 Nov 2014 91
BARNEWALL
29 Jun 1646 V[I] 1 Nicholas Barnewall
Created Baron Turvey and Viscount Barnewall 29 Jun 1646
1592 20 Aug 1663 71
20 Aug 1663 2 Henry Barnewall 1 Jun 1688
1 Jun 1688 3 Nicholas Barnewall 15 Apr 1668 14 Jun 1725 57
14 Jun 1725 4 Henry Benedict Barnewall 1 Feb 1708 11 Mar 1774 66
11 Mar 1774
to    
5 Apr 1800
5 George Barnewall
Peerage became dormant on his death
12 Aug 1758 5 Apr 1800 41
1814
to    
15 Nov 1834
6 Matthew Barnewall
His claim to the peerage was allowed 1814
Peerage extinct on his death

For further information on this peer and his claim to the peerage, see the note at the foot of this page
15 Nov 1834
BARRAN
21 Jun 2018 B[L] Diana Francesca Caroline Clare Barran
Created Baroness Barran for life 21 Jun 2018
10 Feb 1959
BARRELLS
16 May 1763
to    
30 Mar 1772
V[I] 1 Robert Knight
Created Baron Luxborough 8 Aug 1745, Viscount Barrells and Earl of Catherlough 16 May 1763
See "Catherlough"
17 Dec 1702 30 Mar 1772 69
BARRETT OF NEWBURGH
17 Oct 1627
to    
2 Jan 1645
B[S] 1 Sir Edward Barrett
Created Lord Barrett of Newburgh 17 Oct 1627
Chancellor of the Exchequer 1628. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster; PC
Peerage extinct on his death
21 Jun 1581 2 Jan 1645 63
BARRETTS COUNTY
2 Apr 1625 B[I] 1 Sir Dominick Sarsfield, 1st baronet
Created Baron of Barretts County and Viscount Kingsale 2 Apr 1625
See "Sarsfield of Kilmallock"
c 1570 Dec 1636
BARRINGTON
1 Jul 1720 V[I] 1 John Barrington
Created Viscount Barrington 1 Jul 1720
MP for Berwick upon Tweed 1715‑1723
1678 14 Dec 1734 56
14 Dec 1734 2 William Wildman Barrington
MP for Berwick upon Tweed 1740 and Plymouth 1754‑1778; Secretary at War 1755; Chancellor of the Exchequer 1761‑1762; Secretary at War 1765‑1778; PC 1755
15 Jan 1717 1 Feb 1793 76
1 Feb 1793 3 William Barrington 13 Jul 1801
13 Jul 1801 4 Richard James Barrington Jan 1814
Jan 1814 5 George Barrington 16 Jul 1761 4 Mar 1829 67
4 Mar 1829 6 William Keppel Barrington
MP for Berkshire 1837‑1857
1 Oct 1793 9 Feb 1867 73
9 Feb 1867 7 George William Barrington
Created Baron Shute 17 Apr 1880
MP for Eye 1866‑1880; PC 1874
For further information on this peer, see the note at the foot of this page
14 Feb 1824 7 Nov 1886 62
7 Nov 1886 8 Percy Barrington 22 Apr 1825 29 Apr 1901 76
29 Apr 1901 9 Walter Bulkeley Barrington 20 Apr 1848 12 Sep 1933 85
12 Sep 1933 10 William Reginald Shute Barrington 23 Jul 1873 4 Oct 1960 87
4 Oct 1960
to    
6 Apr 1990
11 Patrick William Daines Barrington
Peerage extinct on his death
29 Oct 1918 6 Apr 1990 71
BARROGILL
1 May 1866 B 1 James Sinclair, 14th Earl of Caithness
Created Baron Barrogill 1 May 1866
16 Dec 1821 28 Mar 1881 59
28 Mar 1881
to    
25 May 1889
2 George Philips Alexander Sinclair, 15th Earl of Caithness
Peerage extinct on his death
30 Nov 1858 25 May 1889 30
BARRY
c 1461 V[I] 1 William Barry
Created Viscount Barry c 1461
c 1480
c 1480 2 John Barry 1485
1485 3 Thomas Barry c 1488
c 1488 4 William Barry 1499
1499 5 John Barry c 1520
c 1520 6 James Fitz-John Barry 20 Mar 1537
20 Mar 1537 7 James Fitz-Richard Barry-Roe 10 Apr 1581
10 Apr 1581 8 David Barry 10 Apr 1617
10 Apr 1617 9 David Barry
Created Earl of Barrymore 28 Feb 1628
See below for continuation
1604 29 Sep 1642 38
BARRY OF SANTRY
18 Feb 1661 B[I] 1 Sir James Barry
Created Baron Barry of Santry 18 Feb 1661
1603 9 Feb 1672 68
9 Feb 1672 2 Richard Barry 1637 Oct 1694 57
Oct 1694 3 Henry Barry
PC [I] 1714
1680 27 Jan 1734 53
27 Jan 1734
to    
18 Mar 1751
4 Henry Barry
Peerage extinct on his death
For further information on this peer, see the note at the foot of this page
3 Sep 1710 18 Mar 1751 40
BARRYMORE
28 Feb 1628 E[I] 1 David Barry, 9th Viscount Barry
Created Earl of Barrymore 28 Feb 1628
1604 29 Sep 1642 38
29 Sep 1642 2 Richard Barry 4 Nov 1630 Nov 1694 64
Nov 1694 3 Laurence Barry 17 Apr 1699
17 Apr 1699 4 James Barry
MP for Stockbridge 1710‑1713 and 1714‑1715 and Wigan 1715‑1727 and 1734‑1747; PC [I] 1714
1667 5 Jan 1748 80
5 Jan 1748 5 James Barry 25 Apr 1717 19 Dec 1751 34
19 Dec 1751 6 Richard Barry Oct 1745 1 Aug 1773 27
1 Aug 1773 7 Richard Barry
MP for Heytesbury 1791‑1793
For further information on this peer, see the note at the foot of this page
14 Aug 1769 6 Mar 1793 23
6 Mar 1793
to    
20 Dec 1823
8 Henry Barry
Peerage extinct on his death
21 Oct 1770 20 Dec 1823 53

18 Jul 1902
to    
22 Feb 1925
B 1 Arthur Hugh Smith-Barry
Created Baron Barrymore 18 Jul 1902
MP for Co. Cork 1867‑1874 and Huntingdon 1886‑1900; PC [I] 1896
Peerage extinct on his death
17 Jan 1843 22 Feb 1925 82
BARWELL
7 Oct 2019 B[L] Gavin Laurence Barwell
Created Baron Barwell for life 7 Oct 2019
MP for Croydon Central 2010‑2019; Minister for Housing & Planning and London 2016‑2017; PC 2017
23 Jan 1972
BASING
7 Jul 1887 B 1 George Sclater-Booth
Created Baron Basing 7 Jul 1887
MP for Hampshire North 1857‑1885 and Basingstoke 1885‑1887; President of the Local Government Board 1874‑1880; PC 1874
19 May 1826 22 Oct 1894 68
22 Oct 1894 2 George Limbrey Sclater-Booth 1 Jan 1860 8 Apr 1919 59
8 Apr 1919 3 John Limbrey Robert Sclater-Booth 3 Dec 1890 2 Oct 1969 78
2 Oct 1969 4 George Lutley Sclater-Booth 7 Dec 1903 18 Sep 1983 79
18 Sep 1983 5 Neil Lutley Sclater-Booth 16 Jan 1939 24 Nov 2007 68
24 Nov 2007 6 Stuart Anthony Whitfield Sclater-Booth 18 Dec 1969
BASNETT
31 Mar 1987
to    
25 Jan 1989
B[L] David Basnett
Created Baron Basnett for life 31 Mar 1987
Peerage extinct on his death
9 Feb 1924 25 Jan 1989 64
BASSAM OF BRIGHTON
3 Nov 1997 B[L] John Steven Bassam
Created Baron Bassam of Brighton for life 3 Nov 1997. PC 2009
11 Jun 1953
BASSET DE DRAYTON
24 Dec 1264 B 1 Ralph Basset
Summoned to Parliament as Baron Basset de Drayton 24 Dec 1264
4 Aug 1265
4 Aug 1265 2 Ralph Basset 31 Dec 1299
31 Dec 1299 3 Ralph Basset 25 Feb 1344
25 Feb 1344
to    
10 May 1390
4 Ralph Basset
KG c 1368
Peerage became dormant or fell into abeyance on his death
1335 10 May 1390 54
 

The special remainder to the Viscountcy of Traprain and the Earldom of Balfour
From the London Gazette of 5 May 1922 (issue 32691, page 3512):-
The King has been pleased, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date the 5th instant, to confer the dignities of Viscount and Earl of the said United Kingdom upon the Right Honourable Sir Arthur James Balfour, K.G., O.M., Lord President of the Council, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the names, styles and titles of Viscount Traprain, of Whittinghame, in the County of Haddington, and Earl of Balfour; with remainder in default of such issue to the Right Honourable Gerald William Balfour (a brother of the said Sir Arthur James Balfour) and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten; with remainder to Francis Cecil Campbell Balfour, Esquire, Companion of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, who has received the Decoration of the Military Cross (a nephew of the said Sir Arthur James Balfour), and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten and to be begotten; with remainder to Oswald Herbert Campbell Balfour, Esquire (another nephew of the said Sir Arthur James Balfour), and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten and to be begotten.
Robert Balfour, 5th Lord Balfour of Burleigh
When Balfour was a young man, he fell in love with a girl of lower social rank. Unfortunately her name does not appear to be recorded anywhere that I could discover. When his father, the 4th Lord, learned of his infatuation, he sent his son to the Continent to travel in the hope that such travel would cause a cooling of his passion.
Before he set off on his travels, Balfour forced the young girl to promise that she would not marry anyone during his absence. In turn, he swore a solemn oath that, if she did marry in his absence, he would kill her husband as soon as he returned. However, the girl soon forgot about Balfour and, in his absence, she married a man named Henry Stenhouse, who was a school-master at Inverkeithing.
In April 1707, when Balfour returned from his travels, he inquired after the girl and, learning that she was now married, he rode immediately to Stenhouse's school. When Stenhouse answered Balfour's summons to the door of the school, Balfour shot him in the shoulder. Stenhouse died from the effects of the wound twelve days later.
Balfour was tried for murder in the High Court of Justiciary on 4 August 1709. His counsel argued that there was no malice aforethought, that the wound had not been made in a mortal place but in the shoulder, which clearly showed that Balfour's intention was to frighten Stenhouse rather than to kill him, and that it was not the wound that caused his death, but other causes entirely. The jury, however, rejected these arguments and he was sentenced on 29 November 1709 to be beheaded on 6 January 1710.
A few days before the date of his execution, his sister, Margaret, to whom he apparently bore a striking resemblance, visited him in prison. In his cell, brother and sister exchanged their clothing, and Balfour walked out a free man. For a similar occurrence, see the note under the Earldom of Nithsdale.
Balfour hid out for some time in the neighbourhood of Burleigh Castle, where a hollow ash tree was traditionally believed to be his hiding place. When his father died in 1713, Balfour became 5th Lord Balfour of Burleigh. He was involved in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, for which he was attainted and his title and estates forfeited.
Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore
On the death of his father in 1751, Baltimore inherited the 'proprietary governorship' of Maryland. Proprietary governors were individuals authorized to govern proprietary colonies. Under this system, individuals or companies were granted commercial charters by the King of England to establish colonies. The proprietors then selected the governors and other officials. This system was used to establish several colonies, including Maryland.
Baltimore never set foot in Maryland during his lifetime. Instead, he preferred to travel and, as a result of the inability of his nominees as governor to contact him, Maryland was, for the most part governed without any input from its owner.
When he was travelling in Turkey, he assembled a small troupe of professional women, assisted by two procuresses, Mrs Harvey and Madame Griffenburg. Unfortunately for Baltimore, he was ordered to leave the country, because he was accused of keeping a private harem. When he arrived in Vienna accompanied by two Negro eunuchs and eight of his harem, the chief of police made the mistake of asking Baltimore which of the women was his wife. Baltimore replied that it was not his custom to discuss his personal arrangements with foreigners and offered to settle the matter with a fist fight - the chief of police backed down.
Back in London in 1768, Baltimore became attracted to Miss Sarah Woodcock, a young lady who worked in a milliner's shop. He arranged to have her kidnapped and brought to his house. Here she withstood his advances for a week before being forced into his bed, 'her handkerchief wet with tears as if she had dipped it in water.' When brought to trial for this abduction, Baltimore conducted his own defence and persuaded the jury to believe that Miss Woodcock had not made serious efforts to escape, and, as a result, he was acquitted.
Baltimore left a number of illegitimate children, including Henry Harford, to whom he willed his ownership of Maryland. The people of Maryland seem to have welcomed their new proprietor, even naming the present-day Harford County after him. Shortly after, however, the American Revolution broke out and the new State of Maryland seized all of Harford's property in 1781.
Harford attempted to recover his property after the Revolution but was unsuccessful. Even after his death in 1834, his descendants continued in their efforts to regain ownership. The last attempt was made in 1899 by a descendant named Morris.
For a very lengthy summary of the 1899 attempt, see the following link
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?friend=nytimes&court=us&vol=174&invol=196
The Banbury Peerage Claims
The following account of the claim is taken from an anonymously written book titled Celebrated Claimants Ancient and Modern published by Chatto and Windus, London, 1873.
Since the reign of Edward III the family of Knollys has been distinguished in the annals of the kingdom. In those days Sir Robert Knollys [pronounced 'Noles'], one of the companions of the Black Prince, not only proved himself a gallant soldier, but fought to such good purpose that he enriched himself with spoils, and was elevated to the distinction of the Blue Ribbon of the Garter. [This does not appear to be correct - the first Knollys to receive the Garter was Sir Francis Knollys in 1593.] His heirs continued to enjoy the royal favour throughout successive reigns; and Sir Francis Knollys, one of his descendants, who likewise was a garter-knight in the earlier part [in reality, the latter part] of the sixteenth century, espoused Catherine Cary, a grand-daughter of the Earl of Wiltshire, and a grand-niece of Queen Anne Boleyn. Two sons were born of this marriage, and were named Henry and William respectively. Henry died before his father, and William, who was born in 1547, succeeded to the family honours in 1596. He had worn them for seven years, when King James created him Baron Knollys of Grays, in Oxfordshire, in 1603. Sixteen [sic - thirteen] years afterwards, King James further showed his royal favour towards him by creating him Baron Wallingford, and King Charles made him Earl of Banbury in 1626. He was married twice during his long life - first to Dorothy, widow of Lord Chandos, and daughter of Lord Bray, but by her he had no children; and secondly, and in the same year that his first wife died [1605], to Lady Elizabeth Howard, the eldest daughter of the Earl of Suffolk. The couple were not well-assorted, the earl verging on three-score years, while the lady had not seen her twentieth summer on the day of her nuptials. Still their married life was happy, and her youth gladdened the old man's heart, as is proved by his settlement upon her, in 1629, of Caversham, in Berkshire, and by his constituting her his sole executrix. In the settlement, moreover, he makes mention of "the love and affection which he beareth unto the said Lady Elizabeth his wife, having always been a good and loving wife;" and in the will he calls her his "dearly-beloved wife Elizabeth, Countess of Banbury." Lord Banbury died on the 25th of May, 1632, having at least reached the age of eighty-five.
No inquiry was made immediately after his death as to the lands of which he died seised; but about eleven months afterwards, a commission was issued to the feodor and deputy-escheator of Oxfordshire, pursuant to which an inquisition was taken on the 11th of April 1633, at Burford, when the jury found that Elizabeth, his wife, survived him; that the earl had died without heirs-male of his body, and that his heirs were certain persons who were specified. Notwithstanding this decision there appears to have been little doubt that about the 10th of April 1627, the the countess had been delivered of a son, who was baptized as Edward, and that on the 3rd of January 1631, she had given birth to another son, who received the name of Nicholas. Both of these children were living when the inquisition was made. The first was born when the Earl of Banbury was in his eightieth year, and his wife between forty and forty-one years of age, and the second came into the world almost when his father was about to leave it, and when the countess was between forty and forty-five. Within five weeks after the death of the earl, her ladyship married Lord Vaux of Harrowden, who had been on terms of intimate friendship with the family during the deceased nobleman's lifetime, and it was plainly said that the children of Lady Banbury were the issue of Lord Vaux, and not of the earl.
On the 9th of February 1640-41, a bill was filed in Chancery by Edward, the eldest son, described as "Edward, Earl of Banbury, an infant," by William, Earl of Salisbury, his guardian, and brother-in-law of the Countess of Banbury. Witnesses were examined in the cause; but after a century and a-half their evidence was rejected in 1809 by the House of Lords. There was, however, a more rapid and satisfactory means of procedure. A writ was issued in 1641, directing the escheator of Berkshire "to inquire after the death of William, Earl of Banbury;" and the consequence was that a jury, which held an inquisition at Abingdon, found, with other matters, "that Edward, now Earl of Banbury, is, and at the time of the earl's decease was, his son and next heir". The young man, therefore, assumed the title, and set out on a foreign tour. He was killed during the next year near Calais, while he was yet a minor. His brother Nicholas, then about fifteen years of age, at once assumed the title. In the same year Lord Vaux settled Harrowden and his other estates upon him. His mother, the Countess of Banbury, died on the 17th of April 1658, at the age of seventy-three, and Lord Vaux departed this life on the 8th of September 1661, aged seventy-four. Meantime Nicholas had taken his seat in the House of Lords, and occupied it without question for a couple of years. The Convention Parliament having been dissolved however, he was not summoned to that which followed it, and in order to prove his right to the peerage petitioned the Crown for his writ. This petition was heard by the Committee for Privileges, which ultimately decided that "Nicholas, Earl of Banbury, is a legitimate person".
At his death he left one son, Charles, who assumed the title of Earl of Banbury, and who petitioned the House of Lords to take his case into consideration. After thirty years' delay, occasioned by the disturbed state of the times, the so-called Lord Banbury having accidentally killed his brother-in-law in a duel, was indicted as "Charles Knollys, Esq.," to answer for the crime on the 7th of November 1692. He appealed to the House of Lords, and demanded a trial by his peers: it was therefore necessary to re-open the whole case. After a patient investigation, his petition to the House of Lords was dismissed, and it was resolved that he had no right to the earldom of Banbury. He was consequently removed to Newgate.
When he was placed before the judges, and was called upon to plead, he admitted that he was the person indicted, but pleaded a misnomer in abatement -- or, in other words, that he was the Earl of Banbury. The pleas occupied, subsequently, more than a year, during which time the prisoner was admitted to bail. At last the House of Lords interfered, and called upon the Attorney-General to produce "an account in writing of the proceedings in the Court of King's Bench against the person who claims the title of the Earl of Banbury". The Attorney-General acted up to his instructions, and Lord Chief-Justice Holt was heard by the Lords on the subject. Parliament, however, was prorogued soon afterwards, and no decision was arrived at in the matter. Meantime, the Court of King's Bench proceeded to act as if no interference had been made, and quashed the indictment on the ground that the prisoner was erroneously styled "Charles Knollys" instead of "The Earl of Banbury".
When the Lords reassembled on the 27th of November 1694 they were very wroth, but, after an angry debate, the affair was adjourned, and nothing more was heard of the Banbury Peerage until the beginning of 1698, when Charles Knollys again petitioned the king, and the petition was once more referred to the House of Lords. Lord Chief-Justice Holt was summoned before the committee, and in answer to inquiries as to the motives which had actuated the judges of the King's Bench replied, "I acknowledge the thing; there was such a plea and such a replication. I gave my judgment according to my conscience. We are trusted with the law. We are to be protected, not arraigned, and are not to give reasons for our judgment; therefore I desire to be excused giving any." Mr. Justice Eyre maintained the same dignified tone, and at length the House of Lords abandoned its fruitless struggle with the common-law Judges. The petition of Lord Banbury was subsequently laid before the Privy Council, when the sudden death of Queen Anne once more put an end to the proceedings.
When the Hanoverian princes came to the throne, Lord Banbury again tempted fate by a new petition to the Crown. Sir Philip Yorke, the then Attorney-General, investigated the whole of the past proceedings from 1600 up to his time, and made a full report to the king, but no definite decision was given. In 1740, the claimant Charles, so-called Earl of Banbury, died in France. During his lifetime he had never ceased to bear the title; he had presented five petitions to the Crown, demanding the acknowledgment of his rights, and neither he nor any of his family, during the eighty years which had elapsed from the first preferment of the claim, had ever relinquished an iota of their pretensions.
At his death Charles, the third assumed Earl of Banbury, left a son called Charles, who adopted the title, and, dying in 1771, bequeathed it to his son William, who bore it until his decease in 1776. He was, in turn, succeeded by his brother Thomas, at whose death, in 1793, it devolved upon his eldest son, William Knollys, then called Viscount Wallingford, who immediately assumed the title of Earl of Banbury, and in 1806 presented a formal petition to the Crown -- a petition which was in due course referred to the Attorney-General, and was by his advice transferred to the House of Lords.
Until 1806, when the claim was renewed, the pretenders to the Banbury honours had not only styled themselves earls in all legal documents, but they had been so described in the proceedings which had taken place, and in the commissions which they had held; and while their wives had been styled Countesses of Banbury, their children had borne those collateral titles which would have been given by courtesy to the sons and daughters of the Earls of Banbury. But, although there had thus been an uninterrupted usage of the title for upwards of 180 years, when William Knollys succeeded his father a new system was practised. His father, the deceased earl, had held a commission in the third regiment of foot, and during his father's lifetime he had been styled in his own major-general's commission, "William Knollys, commonly called Viscount Wallingford". But on his father's decease, and the consequent descent of his father's claims, the title of earl was refused to him, and therefore it was that he presented his petition.
The case remained in the House of Lords for nearly six years. On the 30th of May, 1808, it was brought on for hearing before the Committee for Privileges, when Sir Samuel Romilly, Mr. Gaselee, and Mr. Hargrave, appeared for the petitioner, and the Crown was represented by the Attorney-General and a junior counsel. A great mass of documentary and genealogical evidence was produced; but after a most painstaking investigation, Lords Erskine, Ellenborough, Eldon, and Redesdale came to the conclusion that Nicholas Vaux, the petitioner [in the 1660s], had not made out his claim to the Earldom of Banbury, and the House of Lords, on the 11th of March, 1813, endorsed their decision.
The special remainder to the Barony of Barham
From the London Gazette of 23 April 1805 (issue 15800, page 553):-
The King has been pleased to grant the Dignity of a Baron of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to Sir Charles Middleton, Baronet, Admiral of the White Squadron of His Majesty's Fleet, and the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten, by the Name, Style, and Title of Baron Barham, of Barham-Court and Teston, in the County of Kent; and in Default of Issue Male, the Dignity of a Baroness to Diana Noel, Wife of Gerard Noel Noel, of Exton-Park, in the County of Rutland, Esq; only Daughter of the said Sir Charles Middleton, Bart, and the Dignity of a Baron to the Heirs Male of her Body lawfully begotten.
Henry de Vere Vane, 9th Baron Barnard and his claim to the peerage in 1892
When Harry George Powlett, 4th Duke of Cleveland, died in 1891, all of his titles died with him, with the exception of the barony of Barnard which had been created in 1698. The late Duke's will contained a clause which stated that Raby Castle, together with an income of around £30,000 a year, would be bequeathed "to any person living who shall within a period of five years from my death establish his title to the barony of Barnard". Failing this, Raby Castle and the annual income would pass to the late Duke's kinsman, Captain Francis Forester, who had already been left the great majority of the Duke's estate. No mention was made in the will of a Mr Henry de Vere Vane, who was reported as being a clerk in the department of Charity Commissioners.
Nevertheless, Henry de Vere Vane claimed to be the nearest male heir of the body of Morgan Vane, second son of the second Baron Barnard, and that as such he was, following the death of the Duke of Cleveland, the nearest male heir of Christopher, 1st Baron Barnard, and, as a result, entitled to the barony of Barnard, together with the bequest contained in the 4th Duke's will. Not surprisingly, his claim was contested by Captain Forester.
The claim to the barony of Barnard was heard by the House of Lords Committee for Privileges in May 1892. The following outline of the arguments for and against the claim are taken from the Darlington Northern Echo of 25 May 1892:-
In opening the case, Sir Horace Davey [for Henry de Vere Vane] said it was easy, in the circumstances, to see that Captain Forester had a large indirect interest in opposing the claim of Mr. Vane as, if the claim was not sustained, the Raby estates, which were of considerable value, would go to him and his issue. Counsel then traced the history of the Vane family. The second son of Morgan Vane was articled in August, 1805, to a solicitor at Brigg in Lincolnshire, and it was here that the case for Captain Forester sought to break down that of the claimant. The solicitor, In whose house John Henry Vane lived, had two unmarried daughters, one of whom was named Elizabeth or Eliza, and was a year or two older than John Henry. Circumstances arose which rendered it necessary for Mr. Nicholson [the solicitor] to insist on a marriage between John Henry and his daughter Elizabeth, and they were married by license on the 15th June, 1808, from the house of Elizabeth's married sister, Susannah. From that time the two lived together at Mr Nicholson's house, and on the 29th November, 1808, Henry Morgan Vane, their eldest son [and the father of the current claimant], was born. Evidence would be given to show Henry Morgan Vane always kept the 29th November as his birthday, and that his uncle, the Rev Robert Morgan Vane, kept a book of matters relating to the family, in which it was stated that Henry Morgan Vane was born on the 29th November, 1808 …. It was quite clear from the evidence that he was always brought up and recognised by every branch of the family as the elder legitimate son of John Henry Vane; and there had never been any doubt in the family that he was in fact born in November, 1808 …. Another matter adverted to in Captain Forester's statement was that as there was no evidence of consent to the marriage on the part of the parent or guardian the marriage was null and void in virtue of the Act of George II passed in 1754; but there was no evidence to the contrary, and that it was the understood practice of the courts of this country to make very presumption in favour of a marriage and the legitimacy of the offspring; and it would be by no means a violent presumption to ask their lordships that as the parties lived together as man and wife and enjoyed the reputation amongst their family and strangers as man and wife that the marriage was valid.
 [On the other hand] Captain Forester objects to the proposition … that John Henry Vane married on the 15th June, 1808, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Nicholson, of Brigg, as his first and only wife, and that Sir Henry Morgan Vane, born 29th November, 1808, was their eldest son. Capt. Forester submits that there is not sufficient evidence to show that the said marriage was a good and valid marriage, or that the issue of the parties to the said alleged marriage was legitimate. The said marriage is alleged to have been solemnised by license at the time when the said John Henry Vane was still a minor, and after the death of his father [both true]. There is no evidence, he says, that either Catherine Dore or John Dore, who are alleged to have consented thereto, was the guardian lawfully appointed of the said John Henry Vane …. By reason of the Act 26 George II, c.33, s.11, the said alleged marriage, if solemnised without the consents thereby required, was at the date thereof absolutely null and void to all intents and purposes whatsoever ….
In its judgment the Committee for Privileges stated that it felt that there was no real question as to the claim, and expressed its surprise that the matter had been carried so far. The Committee stated that is was clear that the marriage had taken place in June, and that Henry Morgan Vane had been born in November. As a result, Henry de Vere Vane had made out his claim to the barony of Barnard.
Matthew Barnewall, 6th Viscount Barnewall
The following appeared in The Vicissitudes of Families (volume 2) by Sir Bernard Burke, published by Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer, London 1869. The article always names the peerage as "Viscount Kingsland", but the correct style is "Viscount Barnewall of Kingsland".
The Barnewalls possessed in early times vast estates in the counties of Meath and Dublin, and were among the greatest of the Anglo-Norman settlers. Their present [i.e. 1862] chief, Sir Reginald Barnewall, 8th [10th?] baronet, of Crickstown Castle, is the head of the senior line of this ancient house. The junior branches of Trimleston and Turvey were both ennobled - the former in 1461, when Sir Robert Barnewall (second son of Sir Christopher Barnewall, of Crickstown, Chief Justice of Ireland) was created Baron Trimleston; and the latter in 1646, when Nicholas Barnewall of Turvey was made Viscount Kingsland. His lordship's wife was the daughter and co-heiress of Henry, Earl of Kildare, and widow of Rory O'Donnell, Earl of Tyrconnel; and the descendants of this marriage continued to be a family of high connection and importance among the peers of Ireland until the severance of land from title left the last heir dependant on the bounty of the Crown for his subsistence. The letter which I annex, from the late Mr R Hitchcock, Master of the Exchequer in Ireland, tells graphically the Kingsland story:-
Dublin, 20 Sept. 1862
"My dear Sir Bernard,
"When the late Lord Kingsland established his claim to the peerage I was a mere boy; but as my father was the solicitor, to whose enterprise, talent and pecuniary support he was indebted for his success, he was very much at our house during the progress of the proceedings and his extraordinary story became as familiar to the family as 'household words'. I am therefore enabled from recollection, although half a century has elapsed since the time of which I speak, to give you an outline of his antecedents.
"He was born in some obscure part of Dublin, and 'educated' in the vicinity of Castle Market, where it was said he made his 'first appearance in public' in the 'onerous' part of a basket boy, his success in which character led to his promotion in the course of time to the more elevated position of under-waiter at a tavern in Dawson Street. It subsequently appeared, that although in so lowly a sphere, he entertained a dreamy notion, derived from family tradition, that, as he bore the name of the Kingsland family, he might, by some turn of the wheel of fortune, become entitled to its honour and estates.
"The Lord Kingsland of that time was a lunatic, residing in an asylum in France, and was under the guardianship of his relative, Lord Trimleston. A false rumour of that Lord's death reached Matthew Barnewall while he was officiating at the tavern in Dawson Street, and acting upon the traditionary notion of heirship, under the advice of his then companions and friends, Matthew mustered a strong force of the employees of the taverns and the market, which had been the school of his early training, and with that formidable army, proceeded forthwith to Turvey, the family mansion, of which he took instant possession. There he cut down timber, lighted bonfires, and for some short time indulged in the exercise of rude hospitality to the companions who had escorted him, and the rabble which he collected in the neighbourhood.
"His rejoicings were, however, but short-lived. Lord Trimleston, the guardian of the lunatic Peer, applied to the Court of Chancery, and poor Matthew was committed to Newgate under an attachment for contempt. While in the prison he was advised to apply to my father for his legal advice and assistance, through which he was after some time set at liberty. At that period he was quite unable to trace his pedigree, and being utterly illiterate - unable even to write his name - he could give but little assistance to his legal adviser in testing the justice of the claim which he still insisted upon to the right of succession to the Kingsland peerage.
"My father, however, being a man of sanguine temperament as well as superior talents, saw that there was something in what the poor fellow said, and took up the case with such ardour that he soon discovered a clue, which led him step by step through the difficulties which lay in the way of tracing a pedigree amidst so much ignorance, until at length there was but one missing link in the chain; and this was, after much research, supplied by the evidence of one Lucinda Ambridge, a woman upwards of one hundred years old.
"In the meantime the lunatic Peer actually died; and when Matthew's pedigree was completed, and the proofs forthcoming, the claim was brought before the House of Lords, and after due investigation by the Committee for Privileges, admitted.
"During the process of tracing the pedigree, and pending the decision of the House of Lords, the expectant Peer was clothed and supported by my father, and was frequently at our house. He was at first very modest, and could scarcely be enticed beyond the mat at the hall door, and when brought into a room he sat, as such men do, on the least possible edge of a chair. By degrees, however, he grew in confidence, and being a good-humoured man, his conversation was very amusing.
"It would not be easy to do justice in description to his exultation and pride on being acknowledged by the House of Lords. But his elevation was accompanied by a sad drawback. The property which should have gone with the title, consisting, I believe, chiefly of church advowsons [the right to recommend a member of the Anglican clergy for a vacant benefice], had lapsed to the Crown, owing to some want of conformity to the established church on the part of some of the ancestors, and could not be recovered. A pension of five hundred pounds a year was granted to the new Lord Viscount Kingsland and Baron of Turvey, but alas! my father was never paid anything for his outlay and professional labour. All he ever got was the éclat, and the satisfaction of having achieved so great a triumph.
"Lord Kingsland was married in early life to a woman in his then class, who died before his elevation to the Peerage, leaving only one child, a son, who lived to be the Hon Mr Barnewall, and heir-apparent to the Peerage, but died within a few years after his father had established his claim. After some time, Lord Kingsland married a Miss Bradshaw, an English lady, but died without issue, and consequently the title is extinct, although it is said, and probably with truth that an heir could be found amongst the poorest classes in Dublin."
George William Barrington, 7th Viscount Barrington
The Viscountcy of Barrington is an Irish peerage and the holder thereof was not therefore guaranteed a place in the House of Lords, since only those peers elected as representative peers could take their seats. However, in 1880, the 7th Viscount was created Baron Shute in the peerage of the United Kingdom, thus allowing him to sit in the House of Lords. In the Wellington, New Zealand Evening Post of 24 June 1899, an article states that:-
Mr Lucy reminds readers of the May Strand that when the late Lord Barrington was made a peer of the United Kingdom people asked why. Members of the House of Commons, ransacking their memories for suggestions of reason, recalled how one night, whilst Dizzy [Benjamin Disraeli, later Earl of Beaconsfield and Prime Minister at the time] was still with us in the Commons, he, awakening from profound reverie, could not find his eye-glass. He wanted to stick it in his right eye and take his accustomed survey of the House. With a haste and perturbation foreign to his impassive manner, he rooted about in the recesses of his waistcoat, tugged at his shirt collar, peered on the ground at his feet, had given it up for a bad job, when Lord Barrington, who was sitting near him, quietly put his hand between the Premier's shoulders and brought round the errant glass. Dizzy, though not demonstrative, adds Mr Lucy, never forgot a friend or a favour. So it came about five years later, when the reins of power were slipping out of his fingers, he held them for a moment longer to give Lord Barrington a seat in the House of Lords and a place on the roll of the English peerage. At least, that was what was said at the time in the private conversation of Lord Barrington's friends.
Henry Barry, 4th Baron Barry of Santry
On 9 August 1738, Barry had been drinking for some time at a public house in Palmerstown (now a suburb of Dublin) when he became involved in a argument with a man named Humphreys. Barry twice tried to draw his sword, but, failing to do so, he rushed out of the room into a passage where he met with one of his servants, a footman named Laughlin Murphy. Barry swore that he would kill the first man who spoke - Murphy ignored this warning and, upon speaking, was run through by Barry's sword. He lingered for more than six weeks, before he finally died of his wound on 25 September 1738.
Barry was charged with Murphy's murder and was tried by his peers on 27 April 1739. According to the London Evening Post of 5 May 1739:-
… on Friday the 27th of April came on the Tryal of the Right Hon Henry Barry, Lord Baron of Santry, for the Murder of Laughlin Murphy in August last at Palmerstown Fair. About six in the morning a Regiment of Foot was drawn up before the Parliament House, and about seven the Battle-Axes attended, and lin'd the Avenues to the House. Between seven and eight the Lord Santry, accompanied by Sir Compton Domvile, and the two Sheriffs, went to the Parliament House (the Ax being carried by Mr. Smith, Keeper of Newgate). At ten, the Right Hon the Lord Chancellor, Lord High Steward, attended by the Judges, went in State from his House at St Stephen's Green to the Parliament House; when his Grace alighted, he was preceded to the House of Lords by six Gentlemen Ushers, the King at Arms, and the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, and received the Compliments of the Lords; from thence he went in Procession to the House of Commons, the Place appointed for the Tryal, which began about Eleven o'Clock, and continued until about six in the Evening, when the Lords, 23 in Number, unanimously brought in their Verdict Guilty; after which Sentence was given that his Lordship should be executed on the 23rd of June next. After Sentence was pronounced his Lordship was ordered into close Confinement, and accordingly was guarded by a Company of Soldiers to Newgate.
… the Right Hon the Earl of Meath, the Right Hon The Earl of Howth, the Right Hon the Lady Dowager Santry, the Right Hon the Lord Castle Durough, Sir Compton Domvile, Bart and several other Persons of Distinction, has embark'd for England to Petition in behalf of Lord Santry.
Several of the Lords who sate on the Trial of the Right Hon the Lord Santry, have sign'd a Memorial, and presented the same to their Excellencies the Lords Justices at the Castle, in Behalf of the said Lord, desiring it may be transmitted to his Majesty, in order to obtain a Pardon for his Lordship.
Barry was pardoned some months later. Some sources state that the pardon was due to the intercession of Barry's fellow noblemen, in particular the Duke of Devonshire, then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Another story, of far greater appeal to my tastes, is that Barry's pardon was achieved through blackmail. The Sir Compton Domvile mentioned in the newspaper report above was Barry's uncle. The channel which carried Dublin's water supplies happened to run through Sir Compton's estate, and he threatened to cut off the city's water supply if the sentence against his nephew was carried out.
Richard Barry, 7th Earl of Barrymore
The 7th Earl of Barrymore came from a noble and illustrious Irish family. All his brothers and sisters were equally wild and notorious. As he was called 'Hellgate,' wits nicknamed his sister Caroline 'Billingsgate', on account of her choice swearing.
When the 7th Earl was only 4 years old, his father died. He inherited the title, together with 140,000 acres. His mother died when he was 11. After that he knew no authority but his indulgent grandmother, Lady Harrington. She died when he was 14, and the young Earl was henceforth on his own.
He arrived at Eton College as a student in 1783, aged 14, but due to his habit of sneaking off to Newmarket races where he placed 1000-guinea bets, he was kicked out of Eton at the age of 17. While at Eton, he had spent little time in lessons. Instead, he was too busy switching the signs of various inns around the district and breaking windows with a horse whip. Another favourite pastime was to bribe coachmen to let him take the reins. Terrified passengers were then treated to a dangerous ride at breakneck speed through ditches and across paddocks.
Barrymore duly acquired a team of racehorses and elaborate stables at Newmarket. Often riding his own horses, in one week he collected £30,000 when he won four different match-races on his horse Highlander against Sir John Lade, the Marquess of Queensberry, the Duke of Bedford and Charles James Fox. He lost most of his winnings in a circus set up in competition to the famous Astley's Circus. He then poured out more money on the erection of a town house in Piccadilly. He also acquired a mansion at the village of Wargrave on Thames.
At Wargrave he built an elaborate private theatre to stage his own amateur shows. The building, which was known as the best-equipped small playhouse in England, cost £60,000. Barrymore himself was an accomplished actor and his shows rivalled the best in London. Admission was free and he paid professional actors stiff fees to take supporting roles. After the completion of each performance, exotic food and drink were served to all attendees. The Wargrave theatre was so successful that he soon bought another in London where, every week, an average of three shows played to packed houses, at a cost to Barrymore of about £75,000 a year.
Barrymore had a mania for betting. He collected £5,000 from the Duke of Bedford when he fulfilled a dare of walking up and down the main street of Wargrave in his shirt and nothing else. The Duke of York lost a similar sum to him in a contest as to who could wade furthest out to sea at Brighton. For £20,000 in bets with a crowd of noble spectators, Barrymore in 1790 raced on foot a certain Captain Parkhurst on a horse. The course was 30 yards straight, then around a tree, then 30 yards back. Barrymore won easily. A shrewd member of his circle was a fat butcher named Bullock who offered to race Barrymore over 100 yards for £25,000 - provided he was given a start and allowed to choose the course. Barrymore agreed and lost the bet, since Bullock chose as the course Black Lion Lane in Brighton, one of the narrowest streets in Britain - in places no more than 40 inches wide. Although Barrymore easily caught him, he was unable to get past the rotund butcher.
Barrymore was introduced by the Duke of Bedford to the Prince of Wales. Both were spoiled and extravagant roues, devoted only to their own pleasures. Naturally, they soon became the best of friends, while trying to outdo each other in practical jokes. Barrymore was more inventive in this quest, but his ideas often backfired and landed him in trouble. One of his schemes was to put a footman into a coffin with orders to play dead. The coffin was placed on the doorstep of a random house and Barrymore would ring the bell. A maidservant answered the door and, on hearing her screaming, the master of the house came running with a gun and fired at the coffin, wounding the footman in the head. Although he recovered, it cost Barrymore £10,000 to smooth the matter over.
Barrymore's influence over the Prince of Wales was continually attacked by newspapers and in the House of Commons. It was not that, however, which finally caused a rift between them, but another Barrymore prank. Disguised as a woman, he talked his way into the bedroom of the Prince's mistress, Mrs Fitzherbert, but the Prince didn't see the joke and Barrymore returned home in disgrace.
After gaining complete control of his inheritance when he reached 21, Barrymore decided that he needed a wife. He chose Charlotte Goulding, daughter of a sedan chair operator. Notwithstanding that Charlotte and her parents were more than happy for her to become Countess of Barrymore, he insisted on playing a game that she was the most sought after heiress in England. The couple had to go through the motions of eloping, then they dashed by a relay of coaches to Gretna Green, where the wedding ceremony was performed.
By this time, Barrymore's spending was outstripping his income, so by judicious bribery, he entered Parliament as member of Heytesbury. Once in Parliament he could not be arrested for debt. His finances had become so bad that he had to sell his London house, his horses and even his beloved theatres. Eventually he hit upon the novel idea of working to make some money. After a spell as a chef in an inn, he joined the army.
In March 1793, he was on duty with his regiment at Rye. He was ordered to take a detachment of men and escort a batch of French prisoners-of-war to Dover. The troops marched, while Barrymore brought up the rear in his open carriage. On the seat beside him was a loaded rifle, with which he hoped to shoot some wild-fowl on the way. A sudden jolt of the vehicle knocked the rifle onto the floor, where it went off, shooting Barrymore through the eye. He died 40 minutes later at a nearby inn, aged only 23.
 

 
 
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