PEERAGES
Last updated 15/03/2018 (25 Feb 2024)
Date	Rank	Order	Name	Born	Died	Age
D'ABERNON
2 Jul 1914 20 Feb 1926 to     1 Nov 1941	B V	1 1	Sir Edgar Vincent Created Baron D'Abernon 2 Jul 1914 and Viscount D'Abernon 20 Feb 1926 MP for Exeter 1899‑1906; PC 1920 Peerage extinct on his death	19 Aug 1857	1 Nov 1941	84
DACRE ("of the north")
9 Oct 1459 20 Feb 1926 to     29 Mar 1461	B	1	Ralph Dacre Summoned to Parliament as Lord Dacre 9 Oct 1459 Peerage extinct on his death		29 Mar 1461
15 Nov 1482	B	1	Humphrey Dacre Summoned to Parliament as Lord Dacre 15 Nov 1482		30 May 1485
30 May 1485		2	Thomas Dacre KG 1518	25 Nov 1467	24 Oct 1525	57
24 Oct 1525		3	William Dacre, 9th Lord Greystock	29 Apr 1500	12 Nov 1563	63
12 Nov 1563		4	Thomas Dacre	c 1526	1 Jul 1566
1 Jul 1566 to     17 May 1569		5	George Dacre On his death the peerage fell into abeyance	1561	17 May 1569	7
DACRE ("of the south")
13 May 1321	B	1	Ralph Dacre Summoned to Parliament as Lord Dacre 13 May 1321	c 1290	Apr 1339
Apr 1339		2	William Dacre	1319	Jul 1361	42
Jul 1361		3	Ralph Dacre	1321	17 Aug 1375	54
17 Aug 1375		4	Hugh Dacre	1335	24 Dec 1383	48
24 Dec 1383		5	William Dacre	1357	20 Jul 1398	41
20 Jul 1398		6	Thomas Dacre	1386	15 Jan 1458	71
15 Jan 1458		7	Joan Fiennes She married Sir Richard Fiennes who assumed the peerage in her right	1433	1486	53
1486		8	Thomas Fiennes	1474	1533	59
1533 to     29 Jun 1541		9	Thomas Fiennes He was executed for murder in 1541 when the peerage was forfeited For further information on this peer, see the note at the foot of this page	c 1517	29 Jun 1541
1558		10	Gregory Fiennes Restored to the peerage 1558		25 Sep 1594
25 Sep 1594		11	Margaret Lennard	1541	10 Mar 1611	69
10 Mar 1611		12	Henry Lennard	29 May 1570	8 Aug 1616	46
8 Aug 1616		13	Richard Lennard	31 Mar 1596	20 Aug 1630	34
20 Aug 1630		14	Francis Lennard	12 May 1619	12 May 1662	43
12 May 1662 to     30 Oct 1715		15	Thomas Lennard, later [1674] 1st Earl of Sussex On his death the peerage fell into abeyance	c 1653	30 Oct 1715
1741		16	Anne Barrett-Lennard Abeyance terminated in her favour 1741	17 Aug 1684	26 Jun 1755	70
26 Jun 1755		17	Thomas Barrett-Lennard	20 Apr 1717	3 Jan 1786	68
3 Jan 1786		18	Trevor Charles Roper	14 Jun 1745	4 Jul 1794	49
4 Jul 1794		19	Gertrude Brand	25 Aug 1750	3 Oct 1819	69
3 Oct 1819		20	Thomas Brand MP for Helston 1807 and Hertfordshire 1807‑1819	15 Mar 1774	21 Mar 1851	77
21 Mar 1851		21	Henry Otway Trevor	27 Jul 1777	2 Jun 1853	75
2 Jun 1853		22	Thomas Crosbie William Trevor MP for Hertfordshire 1847‑1852; Lord Lieutenant Essex 1865‑1869	5 Dec 1808	26 Feb 1890	81
26 Feb 1890		23	Henry Bouverie William Brand, 1st Viscount Hampden of Glynde	24 Dec 1814	14 Mar 1892	77
14 Mar 1892		24	Henry Robert Brand, 2nd Viscount Hampden of Glynde	2 May 1841	22 Nov 1906	65
22 Nov 1906		25	Thomas Walter Brand, 3rd Viscount Hampden of Glynde	29 Jan 1869	4 Sep 1958	89
4 Sep 1958 to     17 Oct 1965		26	Thomas Henry Brand, 4th Viscount Hampden of Glynde On his death the peerage fell into abeyance	30 Mar 1900	17 Oct 1965	65
1970		27	Rachel Leila Douglas‑Home Abeyance terminated in her favour 1970	24 Oct 1929	25 Dec 2012	83
25 Dec 2012		28	James Thomas Archibald Douglas‑Home	16 May 1952	8 May 2014	61
8 May 2014		29	Emily Douglas‑Home	7 Feb 1983
DACRE OF GILLESLAND
30 Apr 1661	B	1	Charles Howard Created Baron Dacre of Gillesland, Viscount Howard of Morpeth and Earl of Carlisle 30 Apr 1661 See "Carlisle"	1629	24 Feb 1685	55
DACRE OF GLANTON
27 Sep 1979 to     26 Jan 2003	B[L]		Hugh Redwald Trevor‑Roper Created Baron Dacre of Glanton for life 27 Sep 1979 Peerage extinct on his death	15 Jan 1914	26 Jan 2003	89
DAER AND SHORTCLEUGH
4 Aug 1646	B[S]	1	Lord William Douglas‑Hamilton Created Lord Daer and Shortcleugh and Earl of Selkirk 4 Aug 1646 See "Selkirk"	24 Dec 1634	18 Apr 1694	59
DAGWORTH
13 Nov 1347	B	1	Sir Thomas de Dagworth Summoned to Parliament as Lord Dagworth 13 Nov 1347		Aug 1350
Aug 1350 to     2 Jan 1402		2	Nicholas Dagworth Peerage extinct on his death		2 Jan 1402
DAHRENDORF
15 Jul 1993 to     17 Jun 2009	B[L]		Sir Ralf Dahrendorf Created Baron Dahrendorf for life 15 Jul 1993 Peerage extinct on his death	1 May 1929	17 Jun 2009	80
DAINTON
14 Feb 1986 to     5 Dec 1997	B[L]		Sir Frederick Sydney Dainton Created Baron Dainton for life 14 Feb 1986 Peerage extinct on his death	11 Nov 1914	5 Dec 1997	83
DALHOUSIE
25 Aug 1618	B[S]	1	George Ramsay Created Lord Ramsay of Dalhousie 25 Aug 1618	after 1570	1629
1629 29 Jun 1633	E[S]	2 1	William Ramsay Created Lord Ramsay of Keringtoun and Earl of Dalhousie 29 Jun 1633		11 Feb 1674
11 Feb 1674		2	George Ramsay		1675
1675		3	William Ramsay		Nov 1682
Nov 1682		4	George Ramsay		1696
1696		5	William Ramsay		Oct 1710
Oct 1710		6	William Ramsay	1661	8 Dec 1739	78
8 Dec 1739		7	Charles Ramsay		29 Jun 1764
29 Jun 1764		8	George Ramsay		15 Nov 1787
15 Nov 1787		9	George Ramsay Created Baron Dalhousie [UK] 11 Aug 1815 Governor of Canada 1819‑1828	23 Oct 1770	21 Mar 1838	67
21 Mar 1838 25 Aug 1849 to     19 Dec 1860	M	10 1	James Andrew Broun‑Ramsay Created Marquess of Dalhousie 25 Aug 1849 MP for Haddingtonshire 1837‑1838; President of the Board of Trade 1845‑1846; Governor General of India 1847‑1856; PC 1843; KT 1848 On his death the Marquessate became extinct whilst the Earldom passed to -	22 Apr 1812	19 Dec 1860	48
19 Dec 1860		11	Fox Maule-Ramsay, 2nd Baron Panmure MP for Perthshire 1835‑1837, Perth 1841‑1852 and Elgin Burghs 1838‑1841. Secretary of State for War 1846‑1852 and 1855‑1858. Lord Lieutenant Angus (Forfar) 1849‑1874. PC 1841, KT 1853	22 Apr 1801	6 Jul 1874	73
6 Jul 1874		12	George Ramsay Created Baron Ramsay of Glenmark 12 Jun 1875	26 Apr 1806	20 Jul 1880	74
20 Jul 1880		13	John William Ramsay MP for Liverpool 1880; KT 1881 For further information on the deaths of this peer and his wife, see the note at the foot of this page	29 Jan 1847	28 Nov 1887	40
28 Nov 1887		14	Arthur George Maule Ramsay	4 Sep 1878	23 Dec 1928	50
23 Dec 1928		15	John Gilbert Ramsay	25 Jul 1904	3 May 1950	45
3 May 1950		16	Simon Ramsay MP for Forfarshire 1945‑1950; Lord Lieutenant Angus (Forfar) 1967‑1989; KT 1971	17 Oct 1914	15 Jul 1999	84
15 Jul 1999		17	James Hubert Ramsay	17 Jan 1948
DALKEITH
c 1430	B[S]	1	Sir James Douglas Created Lord Dalkeith c 1430		c 1440
c 1440		2	James Douglas		c 1456
c 1456		3	James Douglas He was created Earl of Morton in 1458 with which title this peerage then merged		1493
5 Aug 1581	B[S]	1	Esme Stuart Created Lord Darnley, Aubigny and Dalkeith and Earl of Lennox 5 Mar 1580 and Lord Aubigny, Dalkeith, Torboltoun and Aberdour, Earl of Darnley and Duke of Lennox 5 Aug 1581 See "Lennox"	c 1542	26 May 1583
20 Apr 1663 to     1685	E[S]	1	James Scott, Duke of Monmouth Created Lord Scott of Whitchester, Earl of Dalkeith and Duke of Buccleuch 20 Apr 1663 He was attainted and his honours forfeited in 1685	9 Apr 1649	15 Jul 1685	36
DALLING AND BULWER
23 Mar 1871 to     23 May 1872	B	1	William Henry Lytton Earle Bulwer Created Baron Dalling and Bulwer 23 Mar 1871 MP for Wilton 1830‑1831, Coventry 1831‑1835, Marylebone 1835‑1837 and Tamworth 1868‑1871; PC 1845 Peerage extinct on his death	13 Feb 1801	23 May 1872	71
DALMENY AND PRIMROSE
10 Apr 1703	B[S]	1	Archibald Primrose, 1st Viscount Primrose Created Lord Dalmeny and Primrose, Viscount Inverkeithing and Earl of Rosebery 10 Apr 1703 See "Rosebery"	18 Dec 1664	20 Oct 1723	58
DALRYMPLE
8 Apr 1703	V[S]	1	John Dalrymple, 2nd Viscount of Stair Created Lord Newliston, Glenluce & Stranraer, Viscount Dalrymple and Earl of Stair 8 Apr 1703 See "Stair"	1648	8 Jan 1707	58
DALTON
28 Jan 1960 to     13 Feb 1962	B[L]		Edward Hugh John Neale Dalton Created Baron Dalton for life 28 Jan 1960 MP for Peckham 1924‑1929 and Bishop Auckland 1929‑1931 and 1935‑1959; Minister of Economic Warfare 1940‑1942; President of the Board of Trade 1942‑1945; Chancellor of the Exchequer 1945‑1947; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1948‑1950; Minister of Town and Country Planning 1950‑1951; PC 1940 Peerage extinct on his death	26 Aug 1887	13 Feb 1962	74
DALZELL
18 Sep 1628	B[S]	1	Robert Dalzell Created Lord of Dalzell 18 Sep 1628 He was created Earl of Carnwath in 1639 with which title this peerage then merged	c 1560	1639
DALZIEL OF KIRKCALDY
28 Jun 1921 to     15 Jul 1935	B	1	Sir James Henry Dalziel, 1st baronet Created Baron Dalziel of Kirkcaldy 28 Jun 1921 MP for Kirkcaldy 1892‑1921; PC 1912 Peerage extinct on his death	24 Apr 1868	15 Jul 1935	67
DALZIEL OF WOOLER
4 Jul 1927 to     18 Apr 1928	B	1	Sir Davison Alexander Dalziel, 1st baronet Created Baron Dalziel of Wooler 4 Jul 1927 MP for Brixton 1910‑1923 and 1924‑1927 Peerage extinct on his death	17 Oct 1852	18 Apr 1928	75
D'AMORIE
24 Nov 1317 to     14 Mar 1322	B	1	Sir Roger d'Amorie Summoned to Parliament as Lord d'Amorie 24 Nov 1317 He was attainted and the peerage forfeited		14 Mar 1322
3 Dec 1326	B	1	Sir Richard d'Amorie Summoned to Parliament as Lord d'Amorie 3 Dec 1326		21 Aug 1330
21 Aug 1330 to     29 Mar 1375		2	Richard d'Amorie On his death the peerage became either extinct or dormant		29 Mar 1375
DANBY
5 Feb 1626 to     20 Jan 1644	E	1	Henry Danvers Created Baron Danvers 21 Jul 1607 and Earl of Danby 5 Feb 1626 KG 1633 Peerages extinct on his death	28 Jun 1573	20 Jan 1644	70
27 Jun 1674	E	1	Thomas Osborne, 1st Viscount Latimer of Danby Created Earl of Danby 27 Jun 1674, Marquess of Carmarthen 9 Apr 1689 and Duke of Leeds 4 May 1694 See "Leeds"	20 Feb 1632	26 Jul 1712	80
DANESFORT
19 Feb 1924 to     30 Jun 1935	B	1	Sir John George Butcher, 1st baronet Created Baron Danesfort 19 Feb 1924 MP for York 1892‑1906 and 1910‑1923 Peerage extinct on his death	15 Nov 1853	30 Jun 1935	81
DANGAN
11 Apr 1857	V	1	Henry Richard Charles Wellesley, 2nd Baron Cowley Created Viscount Dangan and Earl Cowley 11 Apr 1857 See "Cowley"	17 Jun 1804	15 Jul 1884	80
DANNATT
19 Jan 2011	B[L]		Sir (Francis) Richard Dannatt Created Baron Dannatt for life 19 Jan 2011 Chief of General Staff 2006‑2009	23 Dec 1950
DANVERS
5 Feb 1626 to     20 Jan 1644	B	1	Henry Danvers Created Baron Danvers 21 Jul 1603 and Earl of Danby 5 Feb 1626 KG 1633 Peerages extinct on his death	28 Jun 1573	20 Jan 1644	70
DARCY DE DARCY
17 Oct 1509 to     20 Jun 1538	B	1	Thomas Darcy Summoned to Parliament as Lord Darcy de Darcy 17 Oct 1509 KG 1509 He was attainted and the peerage forfeited		20 Jun 1538
1548		2	George Darcy He was restored to the peerage 1548		28 Aug 1557
28 Aug 1557		3	John Darcy	1529	1587	58
1587 to     5 Jul 1635		4	John Darcy Peerage extinct on his death		5 Jul 1635
DARCY DE KNAYTH
27 Jan 1332	B	1	John Darcy Summoned to Parliament as Lord Darcy 27 Jan 1332		30 May 1347
30 May 1347		2	John Darcy	1317	5 Mar 1356	38
5 Mar 1356		3	John Darcy	1351	26 Aug 1362	11
26 Aug 1362		4	Philip Darcy He succeeded as 3rd Lord Meinill in 1368 with which title this peerage then merged	1341	24 Apr 1399	56
24 Apr 1399		5	John Darcy	1376	9 Dec 1411	35
9 Dec 1411 to     2 Aug 1418		6	Philip Darcy On his death the peerage fell into abeyance	1397	2 Aug 1418	21
16 Aug 1641		7	Conyers Darcy Abeyance terminated in his favour 1641	1570	3 Mar 1654	83
3 Mar 1654		8	Conyers Darcy, 1st Earl of Holdernesse	24 Jan 1599	14 Jun 1689	90
14 Jun 1689		9	Conyers Darcy, 2nd Earl of Holdernesse	c 1620	13 Dec 1692
13 Dec 1692		10	Robert Darcy, 3rd Earl of Holdernesse	24 Nov 1681	20 Jan 1722	40
20 Jan 1722		11	Robert Darcy, 4th Earl of Holdernesse	17 May 1718	16 May 1778	59
16 May 1778		12	Amelia Godolphin	12 Oct 1754	27 Jan 1784	29
27 Jan 1784		13	George William Frederick Osborne, later [1799] 6th Duke of Leeds	21 Jul 1775	10 Jul 1838	62
10 Jul 1838		14	Francis Godolphin Darcy‑Osborne, 7th Duke of Leeds	21 May 1798	4 May 1859	60
4 May 1859 to     24 Aug 1888		15	Sackville George Lane-Fox [also 12th Lord Conyers] On his death the peerage again fell into abeyance	14 Sep 1827	24 Aug 1888	60
29 Sep 1903		16	Violet Ida Evelyn Herbert Abeyance terminated in her favour 1903 For information on the termination of the abeyance, see the note at the foot of the page containing details of the barony of Fauconberg	1 Jun 1865	29 Apr 1929	63
29 Apr 1929		17	Mervyn Horatio Herbert	7 May 1904	23 Mar 1943	38
23 Mar 1943		18	Davina Marcia Ingrams [Elected hereditary peer 1999‑2008]	10 Jul 1938	24 Feb 2008	69
24 Feb 2008		19	Caspar David Ingrams	5 Jan 1962
DARCY DE MEINILL
10 Aug 1641	B	1	Conyers Darcy Created Baron Darcy de Meinill 10 Aug 1641		3 Mar 1654
3 Mar 1654		2	Conyers Darcy He was created Earl of Holdernesse in 1682 with which title this peerage then merged	24 Jan 1599	14 Jun 1689	90
DARCY OF CHICHE
5 Apr 1551	B	1	Thomas Darcy Created Baron Darcy of Chiche 5 Apr 1551 KG 1551	4 Dec 1506	28 Jun 1558	51
28 Jun 1558		2	John Darcy		3 Mar 1581
3 Mar 1581 to     21 Feb 1640		3	Thomas Darcy His son-in-law, Sir Thomas Savage, obtained a reversion of the title on the death of the third Baron. The third Baron was created Earl Rivers 4 Nov 1626. On his death the creation of 1551 became extinct but the creation of 1613 passed to -	c 1565	21 Feb 1640
21 Feb 1640		2	John Savage He succeeded to the Earldom of Rivers with which title this peerage then merged	c 1603	10 Oct 1654
DARCY OF NAVAN
13 Sep 1721	B[I]	1	James Darcy Created Baron Darcy of Navan 13 Sep 1721 The notice in the London Gazette (issue 5977, page 2) gives his name and the name of the title as D'Arcy - The Complete Peerage has it as Darcy MP for Richmond 1698‑1701 and 1702‑1705	21 Aug 1650	19 Jul 1731	80
19 Jul 1731 to     15 Jun 1733		2	James Darcy Peerage extinct on his death	1707	15 Jun 1733	25
DARCY OF NOCTON
29 Dec 1299	B	1	Philip Darcy Summoned to Parliament as Lord Darcy 29 Dec 1299	1258	1332	74
1332		2	Norman Darcy		Apr 1340
Apr 1340 to     c 1350		3	Philip Darcy On his death the peerage fell into abeyance		c 1350
DARESBURY
21 Jun 1927	B	1	Sir Gilbert Greenall, 2nd baronet Created Baron Daresbury 21 Jun 1927 For information on the death of his son and heir, see the note at the foot of this page	30 Mar 1867	24 Oct 1938	71
24 Oct 1938		2	Edward Greenall	12 Oct 1902	15 Feb 1990	87
15 Feb 1990		3	Edward Gilbert Greenall	27 Nov 1928	9 Sep 1996	67
9 Sep 1996		4	Peter Gilbert Greenall	18 Jul 1953
DARLING
12 Jan 1924	B	1	Sir Charles John Darling Created Baron Darling 12 Jan 1924 MP for Deptford 1888‑1897; Judge of the Kings Bench 1897‑1923; PC 1917	6 Dec 1849	29 May 1936	86
29 May 1936		2	Robert Charles Henry Darling	15 May 1919	16 Oct 2003	84
16 Oct 2003		3	Robert Julian Henry Darling	29 Apr 1944
DARLING OF HILLSBOROUGH
3 Jul 1974 to     18 Oct 1985	B[L]		George Darling Created Baron Darling of Hillsborough for life 3 Jul 1974 MP for Hillsborough 1950‑1974; Minister of State, Board of Trade 1964‑1968; PC 1966 Peerage extinct on his death	20 Jul 1905	18 Oct 1985	80
DARLING OF ROULANISH
1 Dec 2015 to     30 Nov 2023	B[L]		Alistair Maclean Darling Created Baron Darling of Roulanish for life 1 Dec 2015 MP for Edinburgh Central 1987‑2005 and Edinburgh South West 2005‑2015; Chief Secretary to the Treasury 1997‑1998; Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 1998‑2002; Secretary of State for Transport 2002‑2006; Secretary of State for Scotland 2003‑2006; Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 2006‑2007; Chancellor of the Exchequer 2007‑2010; PC 1997 Peerage extinct on his death	28 Nov 1953	30 Nov 2023	70
DARLINGTON
20 Jan 1686 to     26 Oct 1717	B[L]		Catherine Sedley Created Baroness Darlington and Countess of Dorchester for life 20 Jan 1686 Mistress of James II Peerage extinct on her death	by 1653	26 Oct 1717
6 Apr 1722 to     20 Apr 1725	E[L]		Charlotte Sophia Kielmansegge, Countess of Leinster Created Baroness of Brentford and Countess of Darlington for life 6 Apr 1722 Mistress of George I All peerages became extinct on her death	c 1673	20 Apr 1725
3 Apr 1754	E	1	Henry Vane, 3rd Baron Barnard Created Viscount Barnard and Earl of Darlington 3 Apr 1754 MP for Launceston 1726‑1727, St. Mawes 1727‑1741, Ripon 1741‑1747 and co. Durham 1747‑1753; Lord Lieutenant Durham 1753‑1758; PC [I] 1742	c 1705	6 Mar 1758
6 Mar 1758		2	Henry Vane MP for Downton 1749‑1753 and co. Durham 1753‑1758; Lord Lieutenant Durham 1758‑1792	1726	8 Sep 1792	66
8 Sep 1792		3	William Harry Vane He was created Duke of Cleveland in 1833 with which title this peerage then merged until its extinction in 1891	27 Jul 1766	29 Jan 1842	75
DARNLEY
1562	B[S]	1	John Stewart Created Lord Darnley 1562 Illegitimate son of James V of Scotland	c 1532	Nov 1563
Nov 1563 to     21 Jul 1593		2	Francis Stewart He was created Earl of Bothwell in 1581 with which title this peerage then merged until forfeited by attainder in 1593	c Nov 1562	c 1604
18 Apr 1572 to     1576	B[S]	1	Charles Stuart Created Lord Darnley and Earl of Lennox 18 Apr 1572 Peerages extinct on his death	1556	1576	20
16 Jun 1578 to     15806	B[S]	1	Robert Stuart Created Lord Darnley and Earl of Lennox 16 Jun 1578 He resigned the peerages in 1580	c 1515	29 Mar 1586
5 Aug 1581	E[S]	1	Esme Stuart Created Lord Darnley, Aubigny and Dalkeith and Earl of Lennox 5 Mar 1580, and Lord Aubigny, Dalkeith, Torboltoun and Aberdour, Earl of Darnley and Duke of Lennox 5 Aug 1581 See "Lennox" - peerage extinct 1672	c 1542	26 May 1583
9 Sep 1675	E	1	Charles Lennox Created Baron Setrington, Earl of March and Duke of Richmond 9 Aug 1675 and Lord of Torboltoun, Earl of Darnley and Duke of Lennox 9 Sep 1675 See "Richmond"	29 Jul 1672	27 May 1723	50
7 Mar 1723 29 Jun 1725	V[I] E[I]	1 1	John Bligh Created Baron Clifton of Rathmore 14 Sep 1721, Viscount Darnley 7 Mar 1723 and Earl of Darnley 29 Jun 1725 MP [I] for Trim 1709‑1713 and Athboy 1713‑1721	28 Dec 1687	12 Sep 1728	40
12 Sep 1728		2	Edward Bligh	9 Nov 1715	22 Jul 1747	31
22 Jul 1747		3	John Bligh MP [I] for Athboy 1739‑1748; MP for Maidstone 1741‑1747; MP for Maidstone 1741‑1747	1 Oct 1719	31 Jul 1781	61
31 Jul 1781		4	John Bligh	30 Jun 1767	17 Mar 1831	63
17 Mar 1831		5	Edward Bligh MP for Canterbury 1818‑1830; Lord Lieutenant Meath 1831‑1835 For information on the death of this peer, see the note at the foot of the page	25 Feb 1795	11 Feb 1835	39
11 Feb 1835		6	John Stuart Bligh	16 Apr 1827	14 Dec 1896	69
14 Dec 1896		7	Edward Henry Stuart Bligh For information on this peer, see the note at the foot of this page	21 Aug 1851	31 Oct 1900	49
31 Oct 1900		8	Ivo Francis Walter Bligh	13 Mar 1859	10 Apr 1927	68
10 Apr 1927		9	Esme Ivo Bligh He succeeded as 18th Lord Clifton of Leighton Bromswold in 1937	11 Oct 1886	29 May 1955	68
29 May 1955		10	Peter Stuart Bligh	1 Oct 1915	15 Jun 1980	64
15 Jun 1980		11	Adam Ivo Stuart Bligh	8 Nov 1941	18 Jun 2017	75
18 Jun 2017		12	Ivo Donald Stuart Bligh	17 Apr 1968
DARROCH OF KEW
11 Nov 2019	B[L]		(Nigel) Kim Darroch Created Baron Darroch of Kew 11 Nov 2019	30 Apr 1954
DARTMOUTH
28 Jul 1675 to     17 Oct 1680	B	1	Charles FitzCharles Created Baron of Dartmouth, Viscount Totness and Earl of Plymouth 28 Jul 1675 Illegitimate son of Charles II Peerage extinct on his death	1657	17 Oct 1680	23
2 Dec 1682	B	1	George Legge Created Baron Dartmouth 2 Dec 1682 MP for Ludgershall 1668‑1679 and Portsmouth 1679‑1682; Lord Lieutenant Tower Hamlets; PC 1682	1647	25 Oct 1691	44
25 Oct 1691 5 Sep 1711	E	2 1	William Legge Created Viscount Lewisham and Earl of Dartmouth 5 Sep 1711 Secretary of State 1710‑1713; Lord Privy Seal 1713‑1714; PC 1702	14 Oct 1672	15 Dec 1750	78
15 Dec 1750		2	William Legge President of the Board of Trade 1765‑1766; Secretary of State for Colonies 1772‑1775; Lord Privy Seal 1775‑1782; PC 1765	20 Jun 1731	15 Jul 1801	70
15 Jul 1801		3	George Legge MP for Plymouth 1778‑1780 and Staffordshire 1780‑1786; President of the India Board 1801; PC 1801; KG 1805 He was summoned to Parliament by a Writ of Acceleration as Baron Dartmouth 15 Jun 1801	3 Oct 1755	10 Nov 1810	55
10 Nov 1810		4	William Legge MP for Milborne Port 1810	29 Nov 1784	22 Nov 1853	68
22 Nov 1853		5	William Walter Legge MP for Staffordshire South 1849‑1853; Lord Lieutenant Stafford 1887‑1891	12 Aug 1823	4 Aug 1891	67
4 Aug 1891		6	William Heneage Legge MP for Kent West 1878‑1885 and Lewisham 1885‑1891; Lord Lieutenant Stafford 1891‑1927; PC 1885	6 May 1851	11 Mar 1936	84
11 Mar 1936		7	William Legge MP for West Bromwich 1910‑1918	22 Feb 1881	28 Feb 1958	77
28 Feb 1958		8	Humphrey Legge	14 Mar 1888	16 Oct 1962	74
16 Oct 1962		9	Gerald Humphry Legge	26 Apr 1924	14 Dec 1997	73
14 Dec 1997		10	William Legge MEP for South West England 2009‑2099	23 Sep 1949
DARTREY
28 May 1770	B[I]	1	Thomas Dawson Created Baron Dartrey 28 May 1770, Viscount Cremorne 19 Jun 1785 and Baron Cremorne 11 Nov 1797 See "Cremorne"	25 Feb 1725	1 Mar 1813	88
20 Sep 1847 12 Jul 1866	B E	1 1	Richard Dawson, 3rd Baron Cremorne Created Baron Dartrey 20 Sep 1847 and Earl of Dartrey 12 Jul 1866 Lord Lieutenant Monaghan 1871‑1897; KP 1855	7 Sep 1817	12 May 1897	79
12 May 1897		2	Vesey Dawson MP for Monaghan 1865‑1868	22 Apr 1842	14 Jun 1920	78
14 Jun 1920 to     9 Feb 1933		3	Anthony Lucius Dawson Peerages extinct on his death	12 May 1855	9 Feb 1933	77
DARWEN
12 Feb 1946	B	1	John Percival Davies Created Baron Darwen 12 Feb 1946	28 Mar 1885	26 Dec 1950	65
26 Feb 1950		2	Cedric Percival Davies	18 Feb 1915	9 Dec 1988	73
9 Dec 1988		3	Roger Michael Davies	28 Jun 1938	26 May 2011	72
26 May 2011		4	Paul Davies	20 Feb 1962
DARYNGTON
12 Feb 1923	B	1	Herbert Pike Pease Created Baron Daryngton 12 Feb 1923 MP for Darlington 1898‑1910 and 1910‑1923; PC 1917	7 May 1867	10 May 1949	82
10 May 1949 to     5 Apr 1994		2	Jocelyn Arthur Pike Pease Peerage extinct on his death	30 May 1908	5 Apr 1994	85
DARZI OF DENHAM
12 Jul 2007	B[L]		Sir Ara Warkes Darzi Created Baron Darzi of Denham for life 12 Jul 2007 PC 2009; OM 2015	7 May 1960
DAUBENY
2 Nov 1295	B	1	Elias Daubeny Summoned to Parliament as Lord Daubeny 2 Nov 1295	1264	1305	41
1305		2	Ralph Daubeny	3 Mar 1305	after 1342
after 1342		3	Giles Daubeny		24 Jun 1386
24 Jun 1386		4	Giles Daubeny	1371	22 Aug 1403	32
22 Aug 1403		5	John Daubeny	1394	1409	15
1409		6	Giles Daubeny	20 Oct 1393	11 Jan 1446	52
11 Jan 1446		7	William Daubeny	11 Jun 1424	2 Jun 1461	36
2 Jun 1461		8	Giles Daubeny Created Baron Daubeny 12 Mar 1486 KG 1487		28 May 1508
28 May 1508 to     12 Apr 1548		9	Henry Daubeny, 1st Earl of Bridgewater Peerages extinct on his death	Dec 1493	12 Apr 1548	54
DAUNTSEY
23 Aug 1664 to     20 Jun 1667	B	1	James Stuart Created Baron of Dauntsey and Earl and Duke of Cambridge 23 Aug 1664 Second son of James II. KG 1666 Peerages extinct on his death	11 Jul 1663	20 Jun 1667	3
7 Oct 1667 to     8 Jun 1671	B	1	Edgar Stuart Created Baron of Dauntsey and Earl and Duke of Cambridge 7 Oct 1667 Fourth son of James II Peerages extinct on his death	14 Sep 1667	8 Jun 1671	3
DAVENTRY
3 May 1943	V	1	Muriel FitzRoy Created Viscountess Daventry 3 May 1943	8 Aug 1869	8 Jul 1962	92
8 Jul 1962		2	Robert Oliver FitzRoy	10 Jan 1893	19 Jan 1986	93
19 Jan 1986		3	Francis Humphrey Maurice FitzRoy Newdegate Lord Lieutenant Warwickshire 1990‑1997	17 Dec 1921	15 Feb 2000	78
15 Feb 2000		4	James Edward FitzRoy Newdegate	27 Jul 1960
DAVEY
13 Aug 1894 to     20 Feb 1907	B[L]		Sir Horace Davey Created Baron Davey for life 13 Aug 1894 MP for Christchurch 1880‑1885 and Stockton 1888‑1892; Solicitor General 1886; Lord Justice of Appeal 1893‑1894; Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1894‑1907; PC 1893 Peerage extinct on his death	29 Aug 1833	20 Feb 1907	73
DAVID
28 Apr 1978 to     29 Nov 2009	B[L]		Nora Ratcliff David Created Baroness David for life 28 Apr 1978 Peerage extinct on her death	23 Sep 1913	29 Nov 2009	96
DAVIDSON
11 Jun 1937	V	1	Sir John Colin Campbell Davidson Created Viscount Davidson 11 Jun 1937 MP for Hemel Hempstead 1920‑1923 and 1924‑1937; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1923‑1924 and 1931‑1937; CH 1923; PC 1928	23 Feb 1889	11 Dec 1970	81
11 Dec 1970		2	John Andrew Davidson	22 Dec 1928	20 Jul 2012	83
20 Jul 2012		3	Malcolm William MacKenzie Davidson	28 Aug 1934	27 Sep 2019	85
27 Sep 2019		4	John Nicolas Alexander Davidson	1971
DAVIDSON OF GLEN CLOVA
22 Mar 2006	B[L]		Neil Forbes Davidson Created Baron Davidson of Glen Clova for life 22 Mar 2006 Solicitor General for Scotland 2000‑2001; Advocate General for Scotland 2006‑2010	13 Sep 1950
DAVIDSON OF LAMBETH
14 Nov 1928 to     25 May 1930	B	1	Randall Thomas Davidson Created Baron Davidson of Lambeth 14 Nov 1928 Bishop of Rochester 1891‑1895; Bishop of Winchester 1895‑1903; Archbishop of Canterbury 1903‑1928; PC 1903 Peerage extinct on his death	7 Apr 1848	25 May 1930	82
DAVIDSON OF LUNDIN LINKS
31 Jul 2021	B[L]		Ruth Elizabeth Davidson Created Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links 31 Jul 2021	10 Nov 1978
DAVIES
21 Jun 1932	B	1	David Davies Created Baron Davies 21 Jun 1932 MP for Montgomeryshire 1906‑1929	11 May 1880	16 Jun 1944	64
16 Jun 1944		2	David Davies	16 Jan 1915	25 Sep 1944	29
25 Sep 1944		3	David Davies	2 Oct 1940	7 Feb 2024	83
7 Feb 2024		4	(David) Daniel Davies	23 Oct 1975
DAVIES OF ABERSOCH
2 Feb 2009	B[L]		Evan Mervyn Davies Created Baron Davies of Abersoch for life 2 Feb 2009	1952
DAVIES OF BRIXTON
18 Sep 2020	B[L]		Brinley Howard Davies Created Baron Davies of Brixton for life 18 Sep 2020	17 May 1944
DAVIES OF COITY
1 Oct 1997 to     4 Mar 2019	B[L]		David Garfield Davies Created Baron Davies of Coity for life 1 Oct 1997 Peerage extinct on his death	24 Jun 1935	4 Mar 2019	83
DAVIES OF GOWER
10 Oct 2019	B[L]		Henry Byron Davies Created Baron Davies of Gower for life 10 Oct 2019	4 Sep 1952
DAVIES OF LEEK
28 Sep 1970 to     28 Oct 1985	B[L]		Harold Davies Created Baron Davies of Leek for life 28 Sep 1970 MP for Leek 1945‑1970; PC 1969 Peerage extinct on his death	31 Jul 1904	28 Oct 1985	81
DAVIES OF OLDHAM
3 Oct 1997	B[L]		Bryan Davies Created Baron Davies of Oldham for life 3 Oct 1997 MP for Enfield North 1974‑1979 and Oldham Central and Royton 1992‑1997; PC 2006	9 Nov 1939
DAVIES OF PENRHYS
8 Jul 1974 to     28 Apr 1992	B[L]		Gwilym Elfred Davies Created Baron Davies of Penrhys for life 8 Jul 1974 MP for Rhondda East 1959‑1974 Peerage extinct on his death	9 Oct 1913	28 Apr 1992	78
DAVIES OF STAMFORD
7 Jul 2010	B[L]		John Quentin Davies Created Baron Davies of Stamford for life 7 Jul 2010 MP for Stamford & Spalding 1987‑1997 and Grantham & Stamford 1997‑2010	29 May 1944
DAWICK
29 Sep 1919	V	1	Douglas Haig Created Baron Haig, Viscount Dawick and Earl Haig 29 Sep 1919 See "Haig"	19 Jun 1861	29 Jan 1928	66
DAWNAY
24 Jul 1897	B	1	Hugh Richard Dawnay, 8th Viscount Downe Created Baron Dawnay 24 Jul 1897 See "Downe"	20 Jul 1844	21 Jan 1924	79
DAWNAY OF COWICK
9 Jun 1796 to     18 Feb 1832	B	1	John Christopher Burton Dawnay, 5th Viscount Downe Created Baron Dawnay of Cowick 9 Jun 1796 Peerage extinct on his death	15 Nov 1764	18 Feb 1832	67
DAWSON
29 May 1770	B[I]	1	William Henry Dawson Created Baron Dawson 29 May 1770 and Viscount Carlow 24 Jul 1776 See "Carlow"	1712	22 Aug 1779	67
DAWSON OF PENN
9 Feb 1920 30 Oct 1936 to     7 Mar 1945	B V	1 1	Bertrand Edward Dawson Created Baron Dawson of Penn 9 Feb 1920 and Viscount Dawson of Penn 30 Oct 1936 PC 1929 Peerages extinct on his death	9 Mar 1864	7 Mar 1945	80
DEAN OF BESWICK
28 Sep 1983 to     26 Feb 1999	B[L]		Joseph Jabez Dean Created Baron Dean of Beswick for life 28 Sep 1983 MP for Leeds West 1974‑1983 Peerage extinct on his death	3 Jun 1922	26 Feb 1999	76
DEAN OF HARPTREE
5 Oct 1993 to     1 Apr 2009	B[L]		Sir (Arthur) Paul Dean Created Baron Dean of Harptree for life 5 Oct 1993 MP for Somerset North 1964‑1983 and Woodspring 1983‑1992; PC 1991 Peerage extinct on his death	14 Sep 1924	1 Apr 2009	84
DEAN OF THORNTON-LE-FYLDE
12 Oct 1993 to     13 Mar 2018	B[L]		Brenda Dean Created Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde for life 12 Oct 1993 PC 1998 Peerage extinct on her death	29 Apr 1943	13 Mar 2018	74
DEAR
15 Jun 2006	B[L]		Sir Geoffrey James Dear Created Baron Dear for life 15 Jun 2006	20 Sep 1937
DEARING
13 Feb 1998 to     19 Feb 2009	B[L]		Sir Ronald Ernest Dearing Created Baron Dearing for life 13 Feb 1998 Peerage extinct on his death	27 Jul 1930	19 Feb 2009	78
DEBEN
21 Jun 2010	B[L]		John Selwyn Gummer Created Baron Deben for life 21 Jun 2010 MP for Lewisham West 1970‑1974, Eye 1979‑1983 and Suffolk Coastal 1983‑2010; Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food 1989‑1993; Secretary of State for the Environment 1993‑1997; PC 1985	26 Nov 1939

	Thomas Fiennes, 9th Lord Dacre ("of the South")
	The 9th Lord Dacre was executed on 29 June 1541 for murder. The following account of his crime is taken from Annales, or a Generale Chronicle of England from Brute until the present yeare of Christ 1580 by John Stow, first published in 1580. I have taken the liberty of modernising the spelling.
	The same day that he suffered [this refers to the execution of Leonard Grey, Viscount Grane], there were executed at Saint Thomas Waterings three gentlemen, John Mantel, John Frouds, and George Roidon. They died for a murder committed in Sussex (as their indictment imported) in company of Thomas Fines Lord Dacres of the South. The truth thereof was thus. The said Lord Dacres, through the lewd persuasion of some of them, as hath been reported, meaning to hunt in the park of Nicholas Pelham, esquire, at Laughton in the same county of Sussex, being accompanied with the said Mantell, Frouds, and Roidon, John Cheney, and T[homas] Isley gentlemen, and Richard Middleton and John Goldwel, yeomen, passed from his house of Hurstmonseux the last of April in the night season, toward the same park where they intended so to hunt, and coming into a place called Pikehay, in the parish of Hillingley, they found one John Busbrig, James Busbrig, and Richard Somener, standing there together; and as it fell out through quarrelling, there ensued a fray betwixt the said Lord Dacres and his company on the one part, and the said John and James Busbrig and Richard Somener on the other, inasmuch that the said John Busbrig received such hurt, that he died thereof on the second of May next ensuing; whereupon as well the said Lord Dacres, as those that were with him, and divers other likewise that were appointed to go another way to meet them at the said park, were indicted of murder, and the seven and twentieth of June the Lord Dacres himself was arraigned before the Lord Audley of Walden, the Lord chancellor, sitting that day as High Steward of England, with other peers of the realm about him, who then and there condemned the said L. Dacres to die for the transgression; and afterwards the nine and twentieth of June being St. Peter's day, at eleven of the clock in the forenoon, the Sheriffs of London accordingly as they were appointed, were ready at the Tower to have received the said prisoner, and him to have led to execution on the Tower Hill. But as the prisoner should come forth of the Tower, one Heire a gentleman of the Lord Chancellor's house came, and in the King's name commanded them to stay the execution till two of the clock in the afternoon, which caused many to think that the king would have granted his pardon. But nevertheless at 3 of the clock in the same afternoon he was brought forth of the Tower, and delivered to the Sheriffs, who led him on foot betwixt them unto Tyburn, where he died. His body was buried in the church of St. Sepulchre; he was not past four and twenty years of age when he came thus through great mishap to his end; for whom many sore lamented, and likewise for the other three gentlemen, Mantell, Frouds, and Roidon, but chiefly for the said young Lord being a right towardly gentleman.
	John William Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie
	John William Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie, married Lady Ida Louisa Bennet, daughter of the 6th Earl of Tankerville in December 1877. Lord and Lady Dalhousie were returning from a visit to the United States in November 1887 when Lady Dalhousie's ill-health forced them to break their journey at Le Havre, where, in spite of expert medical attention, she died of peritonitis. Lord Dalhousie was heartbroken by the death of his wife and, after retiring to bed on the day of her death, never awoke, having apparently suffered an apoplectic fit in his sleep, thereby surviving the death of his wife by less than 24 hours.
	Gilbert Greenall, son and heir of the 1st Baron Daresbury (2 October 1901-27 July 1928)
	Greenall was killed in a motor accident in July 1928. The following account of the subsequent inquest appeared in The Irish Times of 31 July 1928:-
	A verdict of "accidental death" was returned at the inquest yesterday on the Hon. Gilbert Greenall, son and heir of Lord Daresbury, of Walton Hall, Warrington, who was killed when his motor car came into collision with a motor lorry last Friday evening. The jury recommended that special warning notices should be placed inside and outside the park at the Forest gate of Windsor Great Park, where the collision occurred.
	Mr. Greenall, who was twenty-seven years of age, was a lieutenant in the Life Guards, stationed at Combermere Barracks, Windsor.
	Colonel Monckton Arundell, officer commanding the Life Guards at Combermere Barracks, gave evidence of identification, and said that Lieutenant Greenall was on his way back to barracks at the time of the accident to take up duty for the remainder of the evening, having arranged to relieve another officer. He lived in the barracks. After the accident the body was removed to the house of Colonel the Hon. Claud Willoughby, deputy ranger, Windsor Park.
	Replying to the Coroner, Colonel Arundell said that the Forest gate was wide enough and easy enough to get through, but there was a curve in the road which presented difficulties. The position of the lodge prevented drivers from the direction of Ascot seeing anything coming through the gate: also the road had a high crown, with steep sides. This construction of the road rather inclined every car automatically to hang to the crown, and the road was greasy after the heavy rain of the previous day.
	Witness stated, in reply to Mr. J.B. Kelly, deputy clerk to the Berkshire County Council, that Mr. Greenall was familiar with the road. This blind corner was well known to him, and he knew that the lodge gate was there.
	Charles Munns, Mr. Greenall's chauffeur, said he was sitting in the car (a 45 h.p. saloon) at the left-hand side of his master, who was driving.
	"We were coming," he continued, "from Ascot and making towards Windsor about 7.30 or 7.45, and as we came round the bend in the road we found ourselves on top of a lorry coming in the opposite direction out of the gate as we were trying to go in. There was not room for us, and there was not time to do anything."
	Replying to the Coroner, the witness said they were not driving fast because they had slowed up to go through at about 25 to 30 miles an hour. The lorry struck the car near the driver's seat. The car was badly damaged and the wind screen smashed.
	"I was not much hurt," added Mr. Munns, who had a bandage round his head. "I bumped my head and was a bit shaken, but I scrambled out of the car to do what I could for Mr. Greenall. He was still sitting in the driver's seat holding two pieces of the broken [steering] wheel in his hand. Mr. Greenall was a good, experienced driver. I sat by him with confidence, as I always did."
	Replying to Mr. P. Rutland, who appeared for the owner of the lorry, Mr. Munns said the lorry was on the left hand side of the car. Mr. Rutland - And you were on the crown of the road, were you not? - We had to be to go into the gates.
	Dr. C. Wingfield, who was motoring in Windsor Park when the accident happened, said he found Mr. Greenall wedged behind the steering wheel. A man was holding him to prevent him falling out of the broken side of the car.
	"He was unconscious," said Dr. Wingfield, "and it was obvious that his injuries were such that nothing could help him. He was on the point of dying, and I left the man holding him while I collected the other injured people from the lorry and put them by the side of the road. When I returned a few minutes later Mr. Greenall was dead."
	William Loomes, the driver of the lorry, whose right arm was fractured in the collision, was assisted into court by police officers. His head was swathed in bandages, and his injured arm, which was in splints, rested on a pillow on the Coroner's table while he gave evidence. "When I first saw the car," he said, "I was riding upon the near side of the road as far as I could go without getting on the grass. The car was dead in the centre of the road. I swerved right over on to the grass, and if the car had gone straight on they would have been no accident. The driver of the car applied his brake, and skidded into me broadside. It swung my lorry right round."
	"I don't think there is any doubt," said the Coroner, "that it was a very considerable speed at which the motor car approached the comparatively narrow gate and curve, and I think we can come to the conclusion that it was too great under the circumstances."
	Edward Bligh, 5th Earl of Darnley
	The 5th Earl died following an accident which occurred on his estate. The following report appeared in The [London] Examiner on 15 February 1835:-
	We regret to state that, on Wednesday, whilst Lord Darnley was engaged in giving directions to some workmen employed in felling timber in Cobham park, he took up an axe with the intention of lopping a branch, when unfortunately he struck his foot, cut off one toe, and nearly severed another. Had not his Lordship's boot been thick, the accident might have been fatal. An express was despatched to Gravesend immediately for Mr. Beaumont, the medical attendant, and it is hoped no serious consequences will ensue.'
	Unfortunately for Lord Darnley, the optimism expressed in the above report was not to be. On 13 February, The Times reported:-
	We are concerned to state that the Earl of Darnley, who, it will be remembered, some days since was reported to have met with an accident by a blow from an axe, which separated two of his Lordship's toes, departed this life yesterday, at three o'clock, at his seat, Cobham hall. It appears that tetanus was induced from the effect of the wound, and it was found necessary to call in Sir Benjamin Brodie, who, accompanied by Mr. Buckley Bolton, consulting-surgeon to his Lordship, proceeded to Cobham-hall on Tuesday last, and on their arrival sent off for Dr. Farr; but the symptoms increased rapidly, and, in defiance of every remedy that could be suggested, ultimately proved fatal. His Lordship expired in the 40th year of his age, leaving his Countess with five children, the eldest of whom, now in his eighth year, succeeds to the title and estates.
	Edward Henry Stuart Bligh, 7th Earl of Darnley
	The following is an article which appeared in The Washington Post of 11 June 1900.
	The Earl of Darnley, who has just created a sensation by proclaiming his refusal to take his seat in the House of Lords, or the customary oath of allegiance to the Queen, is the same nobleman who, prior to his father's death, wrote the Irish National leaders offering his support, which was declined on the ground that the admittance of such a rank lunatic to their party would tend to harm rather than to advance the cause of Erin. His refusal to take the oath of allegiance is by no means his first act of disrespect to the crown since his accession to the earldom. Not very long ago he made a public announcement that he no longer proposed to assume court mourning when the latter was decreed by the lord chamberlain in the name of the Queen. Had the earl merely abstained from putting himself in black no one would have made any remark. But the publicity of his announcement served to call down upon his head the wrath of his brother-in-law, a country rector, who wrote, through his lawyer, to demand, under a threat of legal proceedings entailing fine and imprisonment, that the earl should don mourning whenever the latter was officially ordered in the name of the sovereign. There is still in force a statute enacted several centuries ago which provides for the severe punishment of any peer of the realm or court dignitary who neglects to obey the sumptuary behests of the monarch in connection with tokens of mourning. This law has never, save on this occasion, been invoked in modern times, and no one would have dreamed of its existence had it not been unearthed from some ancient records for the purpose of satisfying a family spite.
	Another form of eccentricity on the part of the earl is his attitude toward vaccination. Not content with expressing disapproval of the vaccination laws, he actually is the leading spirit of a crusade to encourage people to defy the laws on the subject, devoting all the money that he can spare to paying the fines and legal expenses of those indicted for neglecting to have their progeny vaccinated. [There are a number of references in The Times during the 1880s to court cases regarding vaccinations which involved Lord Clifton, as he was then known].
	The miscarriage of justice with which he charges the law advisers of the crown, and which he puts forward as the grounds for his refusal to take the oath of allegiance to the Queen or his seat in the House of Lords, is not connected to his claim to the Dukedom of Lennox, now held by the Duke of Richmond, but relates to a coroner's inquest held at Dumpton Park, in January 1887, on the body of a young boy in his employ of the name of Albert Victor Fox, who had been found dead by hanging in the saddle-room of Dumpton Park, tenanted by Lord Darnley, who at that time bore the title of Lord Clifton. The latter was then, as now, in a perpetual state of warfare with his neighbours, high and low, and the mysterious character of young Fox's death, as well as evidence tendered at the inquest, which was manifestly dictated by animosity toward Lord Clifton rather than by any regard for the truth, had the effect of causing the coroner's jury, composed of people strongly prejudiced against the nobleman, to return a verdict which, while not actually declaring him legally guilty of the boy's death, intimated that he was morally responsible, the wording of the verdict being such as to give colour to the vile charges brought against Lord Clifton. The latter immediately afterward, and likewise since his accession to the Earldom of Darnley, has repeatedly endeavoured through the agency of the great law officers of the crown to have this verdict affecting his honour quashed and removed from the records. But in the first place there are legal difficulties in the way of any such action, and, secondly, the earl is so incoherent, eccentric and aggressive that he cannot find any one of the proper people willing to take up the matter.
	That he still feels himself under a species of moral cloud through the refusal of the great law officers to do him justice in connection with this affair is apparent not only from his utterances last week to his tenantry in County Meath, but likewise from the letter which he wrote some four years ago to the various London papers for the purpose of explaining in the most incoherent and disconnected fashion, it is true, his refusal to attend the inquest held a short time previously on the body of his unmarried sister, Lady Mary Bligh, who was found drowned in the lake of the Darnley country seat, Cobham Hall, in Kent [on 5 July 1896]. Lord Darnley declared in his letter that after his "dreadful experience" in connection with the coroner's inquest at Dumpton Park in 1887 on the boy, Albert Victor Fox, he had made up his mind never again to have anything whatsoever to do with legal proceedings of that character, but at the same time he wished to express publicly his dissent from the finding of the jury on the circumstances of Lady Mary's death. According to the jury the unfortunate girl had committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity, brought on by overstudy and likewise by an unfortunate "affair de coeur", the fact that this delicate and refined girl being demented at the time being rendered evident by the circumstances that previous to drowning herself she had divested herself of all her clothing, folding them carefully together and laying them in a pile on the bank. Lord Darnley insisted that Lady Mary could not have been insane since he had received a perfectly sensible letter from her, dated a few hours previous to the tragedy, which he ascribed to the effects of an attack of "migraine".
	*****************
	The 7th Earl was a reasonably good cricketer. His brief biography on the Cricinfo webpage reads as follows:-
	Tall and burly, Lord Clifton was a fast round-arm bowler and a hard-hitting batsman who was the mainstay of the Eton side in 1869 and 1870 but who faded from the scene after a handful of appearances for Kent. A volatile character, his background meant that he was tolerated rather than liked, but by the time he succeeded his father as the 7th Earl of Darnley in 1896 he was suffering from delusions and paranoia. He died four years later.
	His brother Ivo Bligh, who succeeded him as 8th Earl, was a far more famous cricketer. He led the English team during their tour of Australia in 1882-83 which regained the Ashes. The small terracotta urn which holds the Ashes was presented to him during that tour by a group of Melbourne women, one of whom was Florence Morphy, whom he later married.

	Copyright © 2003-2018 Leigh Rayment
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