PEERAGES | ||||||
Last updated 05/06/2018 (22 May 2024) | ||||||
Date | Rank | Order | Name | Born | Died | Age |
GLENDEVON | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 Jul 1964 | B | 1 | John Adrian Louis Hope Created Baron Glendevon 16 Jul 1964 MP for Midlothian & Peebles North 1945‑1950 and Pentlands 1950‑1964; Minister of Works 1959‑1962; PC 1959 |
7 Apr 1912 | 18 Jan 1996 | 83 |
18 Jan 1996 | 2 | Julian John Somerset Hope | 6 Mar 1950 | 29 Sep 2009 | 59 | |
29 Sep 2009 | 3 | Jonathan Charles Hope | 23 Apr 1952 | |||
GLENDONBROOK | ||||||
1 Feb 2011 | B[L] | Sir Michael David Bishop Created Baron Glendonbrook for life 1 Feb 2011 |
10 Feb 1942 | |||
GLENDYNE | ||||||
23 Jan 1922 | B | 1 | Sir Robert Nivison, 1st baronet Created Baron Glendyne 23 Jan 1922 |
3 Jul 1849 | 14 Jun 1930 | 80 |
14 Jun 1930 | 2 | John Nivison | 14 Mar 1878 | 28 Jan 1967 | 88 | |
28 Jan 1967 | 3 | Robert Nivison | 27 Oct 1926 | 27 Jun 2008 | 81 | |
27 Jun 2008 | 4 | John Nivison | 18 Aug 1960 | |||
GLENELG | ||||||
8 May 1835 to 23 Apr 1866 |
B | 1 | Charles Grant Created Baron Glenelg 8 May 1835 MP for Inverness Burghs 1807‑1818 and Inverness-shire 1818‑1835; President of the Board of Trade 1827‑1828; President of the Board of Control 1830‑1834; Secretary of State for the Colonies 1834‑1839; PC 1819; PC [I] 1819 Peerage extinct on his death |
26 Oct 1778 | 23 Apr 1866 | 87 |
GLENESK | ||||||
16 Nov 1895 | B | 1 | Sir Algernon Borthwick, 1st baronet Created Baron Glenesk 16 Nov 1895 MP for Kensington South 1885‑1895 Peerage extinct on his death |
27 Dec 1830 | 24 Nov 1908 | 77 |
GLENGALL | ||||||
22 Jan 1816 | E[I] | 1 | Richard Butler, 10th Baron Caher Created Viscount Caher and Earl of Glengall 22 Jan 1816 |
13 Nov 1775 | 30 Jan 1819 | 43 |
30 Jan 1819 to 22 Jan 1858 |
2 | Richard Butler MP for Tipperary 1818‑1819 Peerage extinct on his death |
17 May 1794 | 22 Jan 1858 | 63 | |
GLENKINGLAS | ||||||
3 May 1974 to 15 May 1984 |
B[L] | Michael Antony Cristobal Noble Created Baron Glenkinglas for life 3 May 1974 MP for Argyll 1958‑1974; Secretary of State for Scotland 1962‑1964; President of the Board of Trade 1970; Minister for Trade 1970‑1972; PC 1962 Peerage extinct on his death |
19 Mar 1913 | 15 May 1984 | 71 | |
GLENLUCE | ||||||
21 Apr 1690 | B[S] | 1 | Sir James Dalrymple, 1st baronet Created Lord Glenluce & Stranraer and Viscount of Stair 21 Apr 1690 |
May 1619 | 25 Nov 1695 | 76 |
25 Nov 1695 8 Apr 1703 |
B[S] |
2 1 |
John Dalrymple Created Lord Newliston, Glenluce & Stranraer, Viscount Dalrymple and Earl of Stair 8 Apr 1703 See "Stair" |
1648 | 8 Jan 1707 | 58 |
GLENLYON | ||||||
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 1660 | 14 Nov 1724 | 64 |
17 Jul 1821 | B | 1 | Lord James Murray Created Baron Glenlyon 17 Jul 1821 MP for Perthshire 1807‑1812 |
29 May 1782 | 12 Oct 1837 | 55 |
12 Oct 1837 | 2 | George Augustus Frederick John Murray He succeeded to the Dukedom of Atholl in 1846 with which title this peerage then merged until the extinction of the Barony in 1957 |
20 Sep 1814 | 16 Jan 1864 | 49 | |
GLENRAVEL | ||||||
1 Feb 1936 to 13 Jun 1937 |
B | 1 | Sir Arthur Shirley Benn, 1st baronet Created Baron Glenravel 1 Feb 1936 MP for Plymouth 1910‑1918, Drake 1918‑1929 and Park 1931‑1935 Peerage extinct on his death |
20 Dec 1858 | 13 Jun 1937 | 78 |
GLENTANAR | ||||||
29 Jun 1916 | B | 1 | George Coats Created Baron Glentanar 29 Jun 1916 |
11 Feb 1849 | 26 Nov 1918 | 69 |
26 Nov 1918 to 28 Jun 1971 |
2 | Thomas Coats Peerage extinct on his death |
4 Dec 1894 | 28 Jun 1971 | 76 | |
GLENTORAN | ||||||
8 Jul 1939 | B | 1 | Herbert Dixon Created Baron Glentoran 8 Jul 1939 MP for Pottinger 1918‑1922 and Belfast East 1922‑1939; PC [NI] 1923 |
23 Jan 1880 | 20 Jul 1950 | 70 |
20 Jul 1950 | 2 | Daniel Stewart Thomas Bingham Dixon Lord Lieutenant Belfast 1950‑1985; PC [NI] 1953 |
19 Jan 1912 | 22 Jul 1995 | 83 | |
22 Jul 1995 | 3 | Thomas Robin Valerian Dixon [Elected hereditary peer 1999‑2018] |
21 Apr 1935 | |||
GLENTWORTH | ||||||
2 Jun 1790 | B[I] | 1 | William Cecil Pery Created Baron Glentworth 2 Jun 1790 Bishop of Limerick 1784‑1794 |
26 Jul 1721 | 4 Jul 1794 | 72 |
4 Jul 1794 | 2 | Edmond Henry Pery He was created Earl of Limerick in 1803 with which title this peerage then merged |
8 Jan 1758 | 7 Dec 1844 | 86 | |
GLENURCHY | ||||||
13 Aug 1677 | B[S] | 1 | John Campbell, Earl of Caithness Created Lord Glenurchy, Benederaloch, Ormelie and Weick, Viscount of Tay & Paintland, and Earl of Breadalbane & Holland 13 Aug 1681 See "Breadalbane & Holland" |
c 1635 | 28 Mar 1717 | |
GLERAWLY | ||||||
20 Sep 1758 | V[I] | 1 | William Annesley Created Baron Annesley 20 Sep 1758 and Viscount Glerawly 14 Nov 1766 See "Annesley" |
c 1710 | 12 Sep 1770 | |
GLOUCESTER | ||||||
1093 to 1094 |
E | 1 | William Fitzeustace Created Earl of Gloucester 1093 On his death the peerage reverted to the Crown |
1094 | ||
c 1121 | E | 1 | Robert Fitzroy Created Earl of Gloucester c 1121 Illegitimate son of Henry I |
c 1100 | 31 Oct 1147 | |
31 Oct 1147 to 23 Nov 1183 |
2 | William Fitzrobert On his death the peerage reverted to the Crown |
c 1121 | 23 Nov 1183 | ||
1186 to 1199 |
E | 1 | Isabel She was recognized as Countess of Gloucester in 1186 She married John Plantagenet who succeeded to the throne in 1199 at which time the peerage merged with the Crown |
c 1173 | 14 Oct 1217 | |
1218 | E | 1 | Gilbert de Clare, 4th Earl of Hertford He was recognized as Earl of Gloucester in 1218 |
by 1182 | 25 Oct 1230 | |
25 Oct 1230 | 2 | Richard de Clare, 5th Earl of Hertford | 4 Aug 1222 | 14 Jul 1262 | 39 | |
14 Jul 1262 | 3 | Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford | 2 Sep 1243 | 7 Dec 1295 | 52 | |
7 Dec 1295 | 4 | Joan Plantagenet, Countess of Hertford (7th in line) She was a daughter of King Edward I. She married, firstly, in 1290, Gilbert de Clare (see above), and secondly (and in secret) in Jan 1297 Ralph Monthermer who was later recognised by the King as Earl of Gloucester and Hertford during his wife's lifetime. After her death in 1307 he was summoned to Parliament as Lord Monthermer in 1309. He died 5 Apr 1325 |
Apr 1272 | 23 Apr 1307 | 35 | |
23 Apr 1307 to 24 Jun 1314 |
5 | Gilbert de Clare, 8th Earl of Hertford On his death the peerage reverted to the Crown |
c Apr 1291 | 24 Jun 1314 | 23 | |
16 Mar 1337 to 10 Nov 1347 |
E | 1 | Hugh Audley Created Earl of Gloucester 16 Mar 1337 On his death the peerage is presumed to have become extinct |
10 Nov 1347 | ||
6 Aug 1385 to 8 Sep 1397 |
D | 1 | Thomas Plantagenet Created Duke of Gloucester 6 Aug 1385 Youngest son of Edward III; KG 1380 Peerage forfeited on his death For information on the death of this peer, see the note at the foot of this page |
7 Jan 1355 | 8 Sep 1397 | 42 |
29 Sep 1397 to 6 Oct 1399 |
E | 1 | Thomas le Despencer, 2nd Lord le Despencer Created Earl of Gloucester 29 Sep 1397 KG c 1388 He was degraded from the peerage in 1399 |
22 Sep 1373 | 17 Jan 1400 | 26 |
16 May 1414 to 28 Feb 1447 |
D | 1 | Humphrey Plantagenet Created Earl of Pembroke and Duke of Gloucester 16 May 1414 Fourth son of Henry IV; KG c 1400 Peerage extinct on his death For further information on this peer and, more particularly, his wife, see the note at the foot of this page |
3 Oct 1390 | 28 Feb 1447 | 56 |
1461 to 1483 |
D | 1 | Richard Plantagenet Created Duke of Gloucester 1461 KG c 1465 He succeeded to the throne as Richard III in 1483 when the peerage merged with the Crown |
2 Oct 1452 | 22 Aug 1485 | 32 |
8 Jul 1640 to 13 Sep 1660 |
D | 1 | Henry Stuart Created Duke of Gloucester 8 Jul 1640 KG 1653 Peerage extinct on his death |
8 Jul 1640 | 13 Sep 1660 | 20 |
19 Nov 1764 | D | 1 | William Henry Created Earl of Connaught and Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh 19 Nov 1764 Brother of George III; KG 1762; PC 1764 For further information on this peer, see the note at the foot of this page |
14 Nov 1743 | 25 Aug 1805 | 61 |
25 Aug 1805 to 30 Nov 1834 |
2 | William Frederick KG 1794; PC 1806 Peerage extinct on his death |
15 Jan 1776 | 30 Nov 1834 | 58 | |
31 Mar 1928 | D | 1 | Henry William Frederick Albert Created Baron Culloden, Earl of Ulster and Duke of Gloucester 31 Mar 1928 PC 1925; KG 1921; KT 1933; KP 1934 |
31 Mar 1900 | 10 Jun 1974 | 74 |
10 Jun 1974 | 2 | Richard Alexander Walter George KG 1997 |
26 Aug 1944 | |||
GLYN | ||||||
29 Jun 1953 to 1 May 1960 |
B | 1 | Sir Ralph George Campbell Glyn, 1st baronet Created Baron Glyn 29 Jun 1953 MP for Clackmannan & Eastern Stirlingshire 1918‑1922 and Abingdon 1924‑1953 Peerage extinct on his death |
3 Mar 1885 | 1 May 1960 | 74 |
GODBER | ||||||
23 Jan 1956 to 10 Apr 1976 |
B | 1 | Sir Frederick Godber Created Baron Godber 23 Jan 1956 Peerage extinct on his death |
6 Nov 1888 | 10 Apr 1976 | 87 |
GODBER OF WILLINGTON | ||||||
12 Jul 1979 to 25 Aug 1980 |
B[L] | Joseph Bradshaw Godber Created Baron Godber of Willington for life 12 Jul 1979 MP for Grantham 1951‑1979; Secretary of State for War 1963; Minister of Labour 1964; Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food 1972‑1974; PC 1963 Peerage extinct on his death |
17 Mar 1914 | 25 Aug 1980 | 66 | |
GODDARD | ||||||
19 Jul 1944 to 29 May 1971 |
B[L] | Sir Rayner Goddard Created Baron Goddard for life 19 Jul 1944 Lord Justice of Appeal 1938‑1944; Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1944‑1946; Lord Chief Justice 1946‑1958; PC 1938 Peerage extinct on his death |
10 Apr 1877 | 29 May 1971 | 94 | |
GODDARD OF STOCKPORT | ||||||
15 Sep 2014 | B[L] | David Goddard Created Baron Goddard of Stockport for life 15 Sep 2014 |
2 Oct 1952 | |||
GODERICH | ||||||
14 Nov 1706 to 5 Jun 1740 |
V | 1 | Henry Grey Created Viscount Goderich, Earl of Harold and Marquess of Kent 14 Nov 1706, Duke of Kent 28 Apr 1710 and Marquess Grey 19 May 1740 Peerages (except the Marquessate of Grey) extinct on his death |
28 Sep 1671 | 5 Jun 1740 | 68 |
28 Apr 1827 | V | 1 | Frederick John Robinson Created Viscount Goderich 28 Apr 1827 and Earl of Ripon 13 Apr 1833 See "Ripon" |
30 Oct 1782 | 28 Jan 1859 | 76 |
GODOLPHIN | ||||||
28 Sep 1684 26 Dec 1706 |
B E |
1 1 |
Sidney Godolphin Created Baron Godolphin 28 Sep 1684 and Viscount Rialton and Earl of Godolphin 26 Dec 1706 MP for Helston 1668‑1679 and 1679‑1681 and St. Mawes 1679; Secretary of State 1684; First Lord of the Treasury 1684‑1685, 1690‑1696 and 1700‑1701; Lord High Treasurer 1702‑1710; Lord Lieutenant Cornwall 1705‑1710; PC 1680; KG 1704 |
15 Jun 1645 | 15 Sep 1712 | 67 |
15 Sep 1712 to 17 Jan 1766 23 Jan 1735 |
B |
2 1 |
Francis Godolphin Created Baron Godolphin 23 Jan 1735 This creation contained a special remainder, failing heirs male of his body, to those of his uncle, Henry Godolphin MP for Helston 1695‑1698 and 1701‑1708, East Looe 1701, Oxfordshire 1708‑1710 and Tregony 1710‑1713; Lord Privy Seal 1735‑1740; Lord Lieutenant Oxford 1715‑1739; PC 1723 On his death the Earldom and Barony of 1684 became extinct whilst the Barony of 1735 passed to - |
3 Sep 1678 | 17 Jan 1766 | 87 |
17 Jan 1766 to 25 May 1785 |
2 | Francis Godolphin MP for Helston 1741‑1766 Peerage extinct on his death |
2 Nov 1706 | 25 May 1785 | 77 | |
14 May 1832 | B | 1 | Lord Francis Godolphin Osborne Created Baron Godolphin 14 May 1832 MP for Helston 1799-1802, Lewes 1802-1806 and Cambridgeshire 1810-1831 |
18 Oct 1777 | 15 Feb 1850 | 72 |
15 Feb 1850 | 2 | George Godolphin Osborne He succeeded to the Dukedom of Leeds in 1859 with which title this peerage then merged until its extinction in 1964 |
16 Jul 1802 | 8 Aug 1872 | 70 | |
GODSON | ||||||
25 Jan 2021 | B[L] | Dean Aaron Godson Created Baron Godson for life 25 Jan 2021 |
26 Aug 1962 | |||
GOFF OF CHIEVELEY | ||||||
9 Feb 1986 to 14 Aug 2016 |
B[L] | Sir Robert Lionel Archibald Goff Created Baron Goff of Chieveley for life 9 Feb 1986 Lord Justice of Appeal 1982‑1986; Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1986‑1998; PC 1982 Peerage extinct on his death |
12 Nov 1926 | 14 Aug 2016 | 89 | |
GOHIR | ||||||
24 Jun 2022 | B[L] | Shaista Gohir Created Baroness Gohir for life 24 Jun 2022 |
27 Feb 1969 | |||
GOLD | ||||||
1 Feb 2011 | B[L] | David Laurence Gold Created Baron Gold for life 1 Feb 2011 |
1 Mar 1951 | |||
GOLDIE | ||||||
3 Oct 2013 | B[L] | Annabel MacNicholl Goldie Created Baroness Goldie for life 3 Oct 2013 |
27 Feb 1950 | |||
GOLDING | ||||||
13 Jul 2001 | B[L] | Llinos Golding Created Baroness Golding for life 13 Jul 2001 MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme 1986‑2001 |
21 Mar 1933 | |||
GOLDSMITH | ||||||
29 Jul 1999 | B[L] | Peter Henry Goldsmith Created Baron Goldsmith for life 29 Jul 1999 Attorney General 2001‑2007; PC 2002 |
5 Jan 1950 | |||
GOLDSMITH OF RICHMOND PARK | ||||||
7 Jan 2020 | B[L] | Frank Zacharias Robin Goldsmith Baron Goldsmith of Richmond Park for life 7 Jan 2020 MP for Richmond Park 2010‑2016 and 2017‑2019 |
20 Jan 1975 | |||
GOODHART | ||||||
23 Oct 1997 to 10 Jan 2017 |
B[L] | Sir William Howard Goodhart Created Baron Goodhart for life 23 Oct 1997 Peerage extinct on his death |
18 Jan 1933 | 10 Jan 2017 | 83 | |
GOODLAD | ||||||
19 Jul 2005 | B[L] | Sir Alastair Robertson Goodlad Created Baron Goodlad for life 19 Jul 2005 MP for Northwich 1974‑1983 and Eddisbury 1983‑1999; Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office 1992‑1995; Parliamentary Secretary to Treasury 1995‑1997; PC 1992 |
4 Jul 1943 | |||
GOODMAN | ||||||
20 Jul 1965 to 12 May 1995 |
B[L] | Arnold Abraham Goodman Created Baron Goodman for life 20 Jul 1965 CH 1972 Peerage extinct on his death |
21 Aug 1915 | 12 May 1995 | 79 | |
GOOLD | ||||||
8 Apr 1987 to 27 Jul 1997 |
B[L] | Sir James Duncan Goold Created Baron Goold for life 8 Apr 1987 Lord Lieutenant Renfrew 1994‑1997 Peerage extinct on his death |
28 May 1934 | 27 Jul 1997 | 63 | |
GORDON | ||||||
c 1429 | B[S] | 1 | Sir Alexander Seton Created Lord Gordon c 1429 |
c 1437 | ||
c 1437 to 15 Jul 1470 |
2 | Alexander Seton, later [1445] 1st Earl of Huntly On his death the peerage became dormant For information on an unsuccessful claim to this peerage, see the note at the foot of this page |
15 Jul 1470 | |||
3 Nov 1684 | D[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 KT 1687 |
c 1649 | 7 Dec 1716 | |
7 Dec 1716 | 2 | Alexander Gordon | c 1678 | 28 Nov 1728 | ||
28 Nov 1728 | 3 | Cosmo George Gordon KT 1748 |
c 1721 | 5 Aug 1752 | ||
5 Aug 1752 | 4 | Alexander Gordon Created Baron Gordon of Huntley and Earl of Norwich 2 Jul 1784 Lord Lieutenant Aberdeen 1794‑1808; KT 1775 Succeeded as 12th Lord Mordaunt 1819 |
18 Jun 1743 | 17 Jun 1827 | 83 | |
17 Jun 1827 to 28 May 1836 |
5 | George Gordon MP for Eye 1806‑1807; Lord Lieutenant Aberdeen 1808‑1836; PC 1830 He was summoned to Parliament by a Writ of Acceleration as Lord Gordon of Huntly 11 Apr 1807 Peerage extinct on his death |
2 Feb 1770 | 28 May 1836 | 66 | |
13 Jan 1876 | D | 1 | Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond Created Earl of Kinrara and Duke of Gordon 13 Jan 1876 See "Richmond" |
27 Feb 1818 | 27 Sep 1903 | 85 |
GORDON OF ABERDEEN | ||||||
16 Jul 1814 | V | 1 | George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen Created Viscount Gordon of Aberdeen 16 Jul 1814 See "Aberdeen" |
28 Jan 1784 | 14 Dec 1860 | 76 |
GORDON OF BADENOCH | ||||||
17 Apr 1599 | B[S] | 1 | George Gordon Created Lord Gordon of Badenoch, Earl of Enzie and Marquess of Huntly 17 Apr 1599 See "Huntly" |
c 1563 | 13 Jun 1636 | |
GORDON OF DRUMEARN | ||||||
17 Oct 1876 to 21 Aug 1879 |
B[L] | Edward Strathearn Gordon Created Baron Gordon of Drumearn for life 17 Oct 1876 MP for Thetford 1867‑1868 and Glasgow & Aberdeen Universities 1869‑1876; Solicitor General [S] 1866‑1867; Lord Advocate 1867‑1868 and 1874‑1876; Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1876‑1879; PC 1874 Peerage extinct on his death |
10 Apr 1814 | 21 Aug 1879 | 65 | |
GORDON OF HUNTLEY | ||||||
2 Jul 1784 | B | 1 | Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon Created Baron Gordon of Huntley and Earl of Norwich 2 Jul 1784 See "Gordon" |
18 Jun 1743 | 17 Jun 1827 | 83 |
11 Apr 1807 | George Gordon He was summoned to Parliament by a Writ of Acceleration as Lord Gordon of Huntly 11 Apr 1807 He succeeded as Duke of Gordon in 1827 |
2 Feb 1770 | 28 May 1836 | 66 | ||
GORDON OF STRATHAVON AND GLENLIVET | ||||||
10 Sep 1660 | B[S] | 1 | Charles Gordon Created Lord Gordon of Strathavon and Glenlivet, and Earl of Aboyne 10 Sep 1660 See "Aboyne" |
Mar 1681 | ||
GORDON OF STRATHBLANE | ||||||
4 Oct 1997 to 31 Mar 2020 |
B[L] | James Stuart Gordon Created Baron Gordon of Strathblane for life 4 Oct 1997 Peerage extinct on his death |
17 May 1936 | 31 Mar 2020 | 85 | |
GORDON-WALKER | ||||||
4 Jul 1974 to 2 Dec 1980 |
B[L] | Patrick Chrestian Gordon‑Walker Created Baron Gordon-Walker for life 4 Jul 1974 MP for Smethwick 1945‑1964 and Leyton 1966‑1974; MEP 1975‑1976; Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations 1950‑1951; Foreign Secretary 1964‑1965; Secretary of State for Education & Science 1967‑1968; PC 1950; CH 1968 Peerage extinct on his death |
7 Apr 1907 | 2 Dec 1980 | 73 | |
GORE | ||||||
30 Jun 1764 to 1802 |
B[I] | 1 | Sir Ralph Gore, 6th baronet Created Baron Gore 30 Jun 1764, Viscount Belleisle 25 Aug 1768 and Earl of Ross 4 Jan 1772 See "Ross" |
23 Nov 1725 | Sep 1802 | 76 |
GORE-BOOTH | ||||||
2 Jul 1969 to 29 Jun 1984 |
B[L] | Paul Henry Gore-Booth Created Baron Gore-Booth for life 2 Jul 1969 Peerage extinct on his death |
3 Feb 1909 | 29 Jun 1984 | 75 | |
GORELL | ||||||
16 Feb 1909 | B | 1 | John Gorell Barnes Created Baron Gorell 16 Feb 1909 PC 1905 |
16 May 1848 | 22 Apr 1913 | 64 |
22 Apr 1913 | 2 | Henry Gorell Barnes | 21 Jan 1882 | 16 Jan 1917 | 34 | |
16 Jan 1917 | 3 | Ronald Gorell Barnes | 16 Apr 1884 | 2 May 1963 | 79 | |
2 May 1963 | 4 | Timothy John Radcliffe Barnes | 2 Aug 1927 | 25 Sep 2007 | 80 | |
25 Sep 2007 | 5 | John Picton Gorell Barnes | 29 Jul 1959 | |||
GORGES | ||||||
4 Mar 1309 | B | 1 | Ralph de Gorges Summoned to Parliament as Lord Gorges 4 Mar 1309 |
1324 | ||
1324 to c 1325 |
2 | Ralph de Gorges On his death the peerage fell into abeyance |
1309 | c 1325 | ||
GORGES OF DUNDALK | ||||||
13 Jul 1620 | B[I] | 1 | Sir Edward Gorges, 1st baronet Created Baron Gorges of Dundalk 13 Jul 1620 |
c 1650 | ||
c 1650 to 27 Sep 1712 |
2 | Richard Gorges MP for Newton 1661‑1679 Peerage extinct on his death |
c 1619 | 27 Sep 1712 | ||
GORING | ||||||
28 Nov 1644 | B | 1 | George Goring Created Baron Goring 14 Apr 1628 and Earl of Norwich 28 Nov 1644 See "Norwich" |
c 1583 | 6 Jan 1663 | |
GORMANSTON | ||||||
c 1390 | B[I] | 1 | Sir Robert Preston Created Baron Gormanston c 1390 |
1396 | ||
1396 | 2 | Christopher Preston | c 1430 | |||
c 1430 | 3 | Christopher Preston | c 1450 | |||
c 1450 7 Aug 1478 |
V[I] |
4 1 |
Robert Preston Created Viscount Gormanston 7 Aug 1478 |
c 1435 | 5 Apr 1503 | |
5 Apr 1503 | 2 | William Preston | 21 Sep 1532 | |||
21 Sep 1532 | 3 | Jenico Preston | 1502 | 1569 | 67 | |
1569 | 4 | Christopher Preston | 1546 | 24 Jan 1599 | 52 | |
24 Jan 1599 | 5 | Jenico Preston | 1584 | 14 Mar 1630 | 45 | |
14 Mar 1630 | 6 | Nicholas Preston | 1608 | 29 Jul 1643 | 35 | |
29 Jul 1643 | 7 | Jenico Preston Lord Lieutenant Meath |
17 Mar 1691 | |||
17 Mar 1691 | 8 | Jenico Preston | c 1700 | |||
c 1700 | 9 | Anthony Preston | 25 Sep 1716 | |||
25 Sep 1716 | 10 | Jenico Preston | 1707 | 31 Oct 1757 | 50 | |
31 Oct 1757 | 11 | Anthony Preston | 1736 | 15 Dec 1786 | 50 | |
15 Dec 1786 | 12 | Jenico Preston | 4 Jan 1775 | 10 Feb 1860 | 85 | |
10 Feb 1860 8 Dec 1868 |
B |
13 1 |
Edward Anthony John Preston Created Baron Gormanston 8 Dec 1868 |
3 Jun 1796 | 28 Sep 1876 | 80 |
28 Sep 1876 | 14 | Jenico William Joseph Preston Governor of the Leeward Islands 1885‑1887, British Guiana 1887‑1893 and Tasmania 1893‑1900 |
1 Jun 1837 | 29 Oct 1907 | 70 | |
29 Oct 1907 | 15 | Jenico Edward Joseph Preston | 16 Jul 1879 | 7 Nov 1925 | 46 | |
7 Nov 1925 | 16 | Jenico William Richard Preston | 7 Oct 1914 | 9 Jun 1940 | 25 | |
9 Jun 1940 | 17 | Jenico Nicholas Dudley Preston | 19 Nov 1939 | |||
For information about the Gormanston foxes, see the note at the foot of this page | ||||||
GORMLEY | ||||||
20 Jul 1982 to 27 May 1993 |
B[L] | Joseph Gormley Created Baron Gormley for life 20 Jul 1982 Peerage extinct on his death |
5 Jul 1917 | 27 May 1993 | 75 | |
GORONWY-ROBERTS | ||||||
25 Mar 1974 to 23 Jul 1981 |
B[L] | Goronwy Owen Goronwy-Roberts Created Baron Goronwy-Roberts for life 25 Mar 1974 MP for Caernarvonshire 1945‑1950 and Caernarvon 1950‑1974; Minister of State, Welsh Office 1964‑1966; Minister of State, Education 1966‑1967; Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office 1967‑1969; Minister of State, Board of Trade 1969‑1970; PC 1968 Peerage extinct on his death |
20 Sep 1913 | 23 Jul 1981 | 67 | |
GORT | ||||||
22 Jan 1816 | V[I] | 1 | John Prendergast-Smyth Created Baron Kiltarton of Gort 15 May 1810 and Viscount Gort 22 Jan 1816 For details of the special remainder included in the creation of the Viscountcy of 1816, see the note at the foot of this page MP [I] for Carlow Borough 1776‑1783 and Limerick City 1785‑1797 |
1742 | 23 May 1817 | 74 |
23 May 1817 | 2 | Charles Vereker MP [I] for Limerick City 1794‑1800; MP for Limerick 1802‑1817; PC [I] 1809 |
1768 | 11 Nov 1842 | 74 | |
11 Nov 1842 | 3 | John Prendergast Vereker MP for Limerick 1817‑1820 |
1 Jul 1790 | 20 Oct 1865 | 75 | |
20 Oct 1865 | 4 | Standish Prendergast Vereker | 6 Jul 1819 | 9 Jan 1900 | 80 | |
9 Jan 1900 | 5 | John Gage Prendergast Vereker | 28 Jan 1849 | 15 Aug 1902 | 53 | |
15 Aug 1902 8 Feb 1946 to 31 Mar 1946 |
V |
6 1 |
John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker VC Created Viscount Gort 8 Feb 1946 Field Marshal 1943 For further information on this peer and VC winner, see the note at the foot of this page On his death the UK Viscountcy became extinct whilst the Irish Viscountcy passed to - |
10 Jul 1886 | 31 Mar 1946 | 59 |
31 Mar 1946 | 7 | Standish Robert Gage Prendergast Vereker | 12 Feb 1888 | 21 May 1975 | 87 | |
21 May 1975 | 8 | Colin Leopold Prendergast Vereker | 21 Jun 1916 | 6 Apr 1995 | 78 | |
6 Apr 1995 | 9 | Foley Robert Standish Prendergast Vereker | 24 Oct 1951 | |||
GOSCHEN | ||||||
18 Dec 1900 | V | 1 | George Joachim Goschen Created Viscount Goschen 18 Dec 1900 MP for London 1863‑1880, Ripon 1880‑1885, Edinburgh East 1885‑1886 and St. Georges, Hanover Square 1887‑1900; Vice President of the Board of Trade 1865‑1866; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1866; President of the Poor Law Board 1868‑1871; First Lord of the Admiralty 1871‑1874 and 1895‑1900; Chancellor of the Exchequer 1887‑1892; PC 1865 |
10 Aug 1831 | 7 Feb 1907 | 75 |
7 Feb 1907 | 2 | George Joachim Goschen MP for East Grinstead 1895‑1906; Governor of Madras 1924‑1929; PC 1930 |
15 Oct 1866 | 24 Jul 1952 | 85 | |
24 Jul 1952 | 3 | John Alexander Goschen | 7 Jul 1906 | 22 Mar 1977 | 70 | |
22 Mar 1977 | 4 | Giles John Harry Goschen [Elected hereditary peer 1999-] |
16 Nov 1965 | |||
GOSFORD | ||||||
20 Jul 1776 20 Jun 1785 |
B[I] V[I] |
1 1 |
Sir Archibald Acheson, 6th baronet Created Baron Gosford 20 Jul 1776 and Viscount Gosford 20 Jun 1785 MP [I] for Dublin University 1741‑1761, Armagh County 1761‑1776 and Enniskillen 1776; PC [I] 1770 |
1 Sep 1718 | 5 Sep 1790 | 72 |
5 Sep 1790 | E[I] |
2 1 |
Arthur Acheson Created Earl of Gosford 4 Feb 1806 MP [I] for Old Leighlin 1783‑1791; PC [I] 1793 |
c 1745 | 14 Jan 1807 | |
14 Jan 1807 | 2 | Archibald Acheson Created Baron Worlingham of Beccles 13 Jun 1835 MP [I] for Armagh County 1798‑1800; MP for co. Armagh 1800‑1807; Lord Lieutenant Armagh 1831‑1849; Governor of Canada 1835‑1838; PC 1834 |
1 Aug 1776 | 27 Mar 1849 | 72 | |
27 Mar 1849 | 3 | Archibald Acheson Created Baron Acheson 18 Sep 1847 MP for co. Armagh 1830‑1847; Lord Lieutenant Armagh Feb‑Jun 1864; KP 1855 |
20 Aug 1806 | 15 Jun 1864 | 57 | |
15 Jun 1864 | 4 | Archibald Brabazon Sparrow Acheson Lord Lieutenant Armagh 1883‑1920; KP 1869 |
19 Aug 1841 | 11 Apr 1922 | 80 | |
11 Apr 1922 | 5 | Archibald Charles Montagu Brabazon Acheson | 26 May 1877 | 20 Mar 1954 | 76 | |
20 Mar 1954 | 6 | Archibald Alexander John Stanley Acheson | 14 Jan 1911 | 17 Feb 1966 | 55 | |
17 Feb 1966 | 7 | Charles David Alexander John Sparrow Acheson | 13 Jul 1942 | |||
GOUDIE | ||||||
21 Jul 1998 | B[L] | Mary Teresa Goudie Created Baroness Goudie for life 21 Jul 1998 |
2 Sep 1946 | |||
GOUGH | ||||||
25 Apr 1846 15 Jun 1849 |
B V |
1 1 |
Sir Hugh Gough, 1st baronet Created Baron Gough 25 Apr 1846 and Viscount Gough 15 Jun 1849 Field Marshal 1862; KP 1857; PC 1859 |
3 Nov 1779 | 2 Mar 1869 | 89 |
2 Mar 1869 | 2 | George Stephens Gough | 18 Jan 1815 | 31 May 1895 | 80 | |
31 May 1895 | 3 | Hugh Gough | 27 Aug 1849 | 14 Oct 1919 | 70 | |
14 Oct 1919 | 4 | Hugh William Gough | 22 Feb 1892 | 4 Dec 1951 | 59 | |
4 Dec 1951 to 14 Apr 2023 |
5 | Shane Hugh Maryon Gough Peerage extinct on his death |
26 Aug 1941 | 14 Apr 2023 | 81 | |
GOULD OF BROOKWOOD | ||||||
7 Jun 2004 to 6 Nov 2011 |
B[L] | Philip Gould Created Baron Gould of Brookwood for life 7 Jun 2004 Peerage extinct on his death |
30 Mar 1950 | 6 Nov 2011 | 61 | |
GOULD OF POTTERNEWTON | ||||||
6 Oct 1993 | B[L] | Joyce Brenda Gould Created Baroness Gould of Potternewton for life 6 Oct 1993 |
29 Oct 1932 | |||
GOWER | ||||||
16 Mar 1703 | B | 1 | Sir John Leveson-Gower, 5th baronet Created Baron Gower 16 Mar 1703 MP for Newcastle under Lyme 1692‑1703; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1702‑1706; PC 1702 |
7 Jan 1675 | 31 Aug 1709 | 34 |
31 Aug 1709 8 Jul 1746 |
E |
2 1 |
John Leveson-Gower Created Viscount Trentham and Earl Gower 8 Jul 1746 Lord Privy Seal 1742‑1743 and 1744‑1754; Lord Lieutenant Staffordshire 1742‑1754; PC 1742 |
10 Aug 1694 | 25 Dec 1754 | 60 |
25 Dec 1754 | 2 | Granville Leveson-Gower MP for Lichfield 1754 He was created Marquess of Stafford in 1786 with which title this peerage then merged |
4 Aug 1721 | 26 Oct 1803 | 82 | |
25 Feb 1799 | George Granville Leveson‑Gower He was summoned to Parliament by a Writ of Acceleration as Baron Gower 25 Feb 1799 He succeeded as Marquess of Stafford in 1803 and was subsequently created Duke of Sutherland in 1833 |
9 Jan 1758 | 5 Jul 1833 | 75 | ||
25 Nov 1826 | George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower He was summoned to Parliament by a Writ of Acceleration as Baron Gower 25 Nov 1826 He succeeded as Duke of Sutherland in 1833 |
8 Aug 1786 | 28 Feb 1861 | 74 | ||
GOWRAN | ||||||
13 Apr 1676 to Aug 1677 |
E[I] | 1 | Lord John Butler Created Baron of Aghrim, Viscount Clonmore and Earl of Gowran 13 Apr 1676 Peerages extinct on his death |
1643 | Aug 1677 | 34 |
27 Apr 1715 | B[I] | 1 | Richard Fitzpatrick Created Baron Gowran 27 Apr 1715 MP [I] for Harristown 1703‑1713 and Queen's County 1713‑1715; PC [I] 1715 |
c 1662 | 9 Jun 1727 | |
9 Jun 1727 | 2 | John Fitzpatrick He was created Earl of Upper Ossory in 1751 with which title this peerage then merged |
1719 | 23 Sep 1758 | 39 | |
GOWRIE | ||||||
c 1060 to 3 Nov 1093 |
E[S] | 1 | Donald Bane Said to have been created Earl of Gowrie c 1060 He succeeded to the throne of Scotland in 1093 when the peerage merged with the Crown |
c 1033 | after 1094 | |
23 Aug 1581 to 28 May 1584 |
E[S] | 1 | William Ruthven, 4th Lord Ruthven Created Earl of Gowrie 23 Aug 1581 He was attainted and peerages forfeited |
c 1545 | 28 May 1584 | |
1586 | 2 | James Ruthven Restored to the peerage 1586 |
25 Sep 1575 | 1588 | 12 | |
1588 to 5 Aug 1600 |
3 | John Ruthven The peerage was forfeited on his death For further information on the death of this peer, see the note at the foot of this page |
c 1576 | 5 Aug 1600 | ||
8 Jan 1945 | E | 1 | Alexander Gore Arkwright Hore-Ruthven VC Created Baron Gowrie of Canberra 20 Dec 1935, and Viscount Ruthven of Canberra and Earl of Gowrie 8 Jan 1945 Governor of South Australia 1928‑1934 and New South Wales 1935‑1936; Governor General of Australia 1936‑1944; PC 1937 For further information on this peer and VC winner, see the note at the foot of this page |
6 Jul 1872 | 2 May 1955 | 82 |
2 May 1955 | 2 | (Alexander Patrick) Greysteil Ruthven He subsequently [1956] succeeded as 2nd Baron Ruthven of Gowrie Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1984‑1985; PC 1984 |
26 Nov 1939 | 24 Sep 2021 | 81 | |
24 Sep 2021 | 3 | (Patrick Leo) Brer Ruthven | 4 Feb 1964 | |||
GOWRIE OF CANBERRA | ||||||
20 Dec 1935 | B | 1 | Alexander Gore Arkwright Hore-Ruthven VC Created Baron Gowrie of Canberra 20 Dec 1935, and Viscount Ruthven of Canberra and Earl of Gowrie 8 Jan 1945 See "Gowrie" |
6 Jul 1872 | 2 May 1955 | 82 |
GRABINER | ||||||
26 Jul 1999 | B[L] | Anthony Stephen Grabiner Created Baron Grabiner for life 26 Jul 1999 |
21 Mar 1945 | |||
GRADE | ||||||
22 Jun 1976 to 13 Dec 1998 |
B[L] | Sir Lew Grade Created Baron Grade for life 22 Jun 1976 Peerage extinct on his death |
25 Dec 1906 | 13 Dec 1998 | 91 | |
GRADE OF YARMOUTH | ||||||
25 Jan 2011 | B[L] | Michael Ian Grade Created Baron Grade of Yarmouth for life 25 Jan 2011 |
8 Mar 1943 | |||
GRAFTON | ||||||
11 Sep 1675 | D | 1 | Henry FitzRoy Created Baron Sudbury, Viscount Ipswich, Earl of Euston 16 Aug 1672 and Duke of Grafton 11 Sep 1675 Illegitimate son of Charles II; Lord Lieutenant Suffolk 1685‑1689; KG 1680 |
2 Sep 1663 | 9 Oct 1690 | 27 |
9 Oct 1690 | 2 | Charles FitzRoy He subsequently [1723] succeeded as 3rd Earl of Arlington Lord Lieutenant Suffolk 1705‑1757; Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1720‑1724; PC 1715; KG 1721 |
25 Oct 1683 | 6 May 1757 | 73 | |
6 May 1757 | 3 | Augustus Henry FitzRoy MP for Bury St. Edmunds 1756‑1757; Secretary of State 1765‑1766; Prime Minister 1766‑1770; Lord Privy Seal 1771‑1775 and 1782; Lord Lieutenant Suffolk 1757‑1763 and 1769‑1790; PC 1765; KG 1769 |
28 Sep 1735 | 14 Mar 1811 | 75 | |
14 Mar 1811 | 4 | George Henry FitzRoy MP for Thetford 1782‑1784 and Cambridge University 1784‑1811; Lord Lieutenant Suffolk 1790‑1844; KG 1834 |
14 Jan 1760 | 28 Sep 1844 | 84 | |
28 Sep 1844 | 5 | Henry FitzRoy MP for Bury St. Edmunds 1818‑1820 and 1826‑1831, and Thetford 1834‑1842 |
10 Feb 1790 | 26 Mar 1863 | 73 | |
26 Mar 1863 | 6 | William Henry FitzRoy MP for Thetford 1847‑1863 |
4 Aug 1819 | 21 May 1882 | 62 | |
21 May 1882 | 7 | Augustus Charles Lennox FitzRoy KG 1883 For information on Henry James FitzRoy, styled Earl of Euston, see the note at the foot of this page |
22 Jun 1821 | 4 Dec 1918 | 97 | |
4 Dec 1918 | 8 | Alfred William Maitland FitzRoy | 3 Mar 1850 | 10 Jan 1930 | 79 | |
10 Jan 1930 | 9 | John Charles William FitzRoy For information on the death of this peer, see the note at the foot of this page |
1 Aug 1914 | 4 Aug 1936 | 22 | |
4 Aug 1936 | 10 | Charles Alfred Euston FitzRoy | 4 Jun 1892 | 11 Nov 1970 | 78 | |
11 Nov 1970 | 11 | Hugh Denis Charles FitzRoy KG 1976 |
3 Apr 1919 | 7 Apr 2011 | 92 | |
7 Apr 2011 | 12 | Henry Oliver Charles FitzRoy | 6 Apr 1978 | |||
GRAHAM | ||||||
c 1415 | B[S] | 1 | Sir William Graham Created Lord Graham c 1415 |
c 1425 | ||
c 1425 | 2 | Patrick Graham | c 1466 | |||
c 1466 | 3 | William Graham | 1472 | |||
1472 | 4 | William Graham He was created Earl of Montrose in 1505 with which title this peerage then merged |
c 1464 | 9 Sep 1513 | ||
6 May 1644 | B[S] | 1 | James Graham Created Lord Graham and Mugdock, Earl of Kincardine and Marquess of Montrose 6 May 1644 See "Montrose" |
1612 | 21 May 1650 | 37 |
23 May 1722 | E | 1 | David Graham Created Baron Graham and Earl Graham 23 May 1722 These creations contained a special remainder, failing heirs male of his body, to his brothers William Graham and George Graham |
c 1705 | 30 Sep 1731 | |
30 Sep 1731 | 2 | William Graham He succeeded to the Dukedom of Montrose in 1742 with which title this peerage then merged and still remains so |
27 Aug 1712 | 23 Sep 1790 | 78 | |
24 Apr 1707 | M[S] | 1 | James Graham, 4th Marquess of Montrose Created Lord Aberruthven, Viscount of Dundaff, Earl of Kincardine, Marquess of Graham and Buchanan and Duke of Montrose 24 Apr 1707 See "Montrose" |
1682 | 7 Jan 1742 | 59 |
GRAHAM OF EDMONTON | ||||||
12 Sep 1983 to 21 Mar 2020 |
B[L] | Thomas Edward Graham Created Baron Graham of Edmonton for life 12 Sep 1983 MP for Edmonton 1974‑1983; PC 1998 Peerage extinct on his death |
26 Mar 1925 | 21 Mar 2020 | 94 | |
GRAHAM OF ESK | ||||||
21 May 1681 | B[S] | 1 | Sir Richard Graham, 3rd baronet Created Lord Graham of Esk and Viscount Preston 21 May 1681 See "Preston" |
24 Sep 1648 | 22 Nov 1695 | 47 |
GRAHAME OF CLAVERHOUSE | ||||||
12 Nov 1688 | B[S] | 1 | John Graham Created Lord Grahame of Claverhouse and Viscount of Dundee 12 Nov 1688 See "Dundee" |
17 Jun 1689 | ||
GRANARD | ||||||
22 Nov 1675 30 Dec 1684 |
V[I] E[I] |
1 1 |
Sir Arthur Forbes, 2nd baronet Created Baron Clanehugh and Viscount of Granard 22 Nov 1675, and Earl of Granard 30 Dec 1684 PC [I] 1670 |
1623 | 1695 | 72 |
1695 | 2 | Arthur Forbes | c 1656 | 24 Aug 1734 | ||
24 Aug 1734 | 3 | George Forbes MP for Queenborough 1723‑1727 and Ayr Burghs 1741‑1747; PC [I] 1721 |
21 Oct 1685 | 19 Jun 1765 | 79 | |
19 Jun 1765 | 4 | George Forbes MP [I] for Mullingar 1749‑1765 |
15 Mar 1710 | 16 Oct 1769 | 59 | |
16 Oct 1769 | 5 | George Forbes MP [I] for St. Johnstown (Longford) 1762‑1768; PC [I] 1772 |
2 Apr 1740 | 15 Apr 1780 | 40 | |
15 Apr 1780 24 Feb 1806 |
B |
6 1 |
George Forbes Created Baron Granard 24 Feb 1806 PC [I] 1806 |
14 Jun 1760 | 9 Jun 1837 | 76 |
9 Jun 1837 | 7 | George Arthur Hastings Forbes Lord Lieutenant Leitrim 1857‑1872; KP 1857 |
5 Aug 1833 | 25 Aug 1889 | 56 | |
25 Aug 1889 | 8 | Bernard Arthur William Patrick Hastings Forbes Lord Lieutenant Longford 1915‑1922; PC 1907; KP 1909; PC [I] 1918 |
17 Sep 1874 | 10 Sep 1948 | 73 | |
10 Sep 1948 | 9 | Arthur Patrick Hastings Forbes | 10 Apr 1915 | 19 Nov 1992 | 77 | |
19 Nov 1992 | 10 | Peter Arthur Edward Hastings Forbes | 15 Mar 1957 | |||
GRANBY | ||||||
29 Mar 1703 | M | 1 | John Manners, 9th Earl of Rutland Created Marquess of Granby and Duke of Rutland 29 Mar 1703 See "Rutland" |
29 May 1638 | 10 Jan 1711 | 72 |
Thomas Plantagenet (Thomas of Woodstock), Duke of Gloucester (creation of 1385) | ||
The following account of the death of the Duke of Gloucester appears in Chambers's Book of Days [2 vols, W & R Chambers, London, 1869] under the date of 8 September, the anniversary of the Duke's death:- | ||
The arrest and murder of Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, is one of the most tragical episodes of English history. However guilty he might be, the proceedings against him were executed with such treachery and cruelty, as to render them revolting to humanity. He was the seventh and youngest son of Edward III, and consequently the uncle of Richard II. Being himself a resolute and warlike man, he was dissatisfied with what he considered the unprincipled and pusillanimous conduct of his nephew, and, either from a spirit of patriotism or ambition, or, more probably, a combination of both, he promoted two or three measures against the king, more by words than by acts. On confessing this to the king, and expressing his sorrow for it, he was promised forgiveness, and restored to the royal favour. Trusting to this reconciliation, he was residing peaceably in his castle at Pleshy, near London [Pleshy lies near Chelmsford in Essex], where he received a visit from the king, not only without suspicion, but with the fullest confidence of his friendly intentions. The incident is thus touchingly related by Froissart, a contemporary chronicler:- | ||
"The king went after dinner, with part of his retinue, to Pleshy, about five o'clock. The Duke of Gloucester had already supped; for he was very sober, and sat but a short time at table, either at dinner or supper. He came to meet the king, and honoured him as we sought to honour our lord, so did the duchess and her children, who were there. The king entered the hall, and thence into the chamber. A table was spread for the king, and he supped a little. He said to the duke: 'Fair uncle! Have your horses saddled; but not all; only five or six; you must accompany me to London; we shall find there my uncles Lancaster and York, and I mean to be governed by your advice on a request they intend making to me. Bid your maitre-d'hotel follow you with your people to London.' | ||
"The duke, who thought no ill from it, assented to it pleasantly enough. As soon as the king had supped, and all were ready, the king took leave of the duchess and her children, and mounted his horse. So did the duke, who left Pleshy with only three esquires and four varlets. They avoided the high-road to London, but rode with speed, conversing on various topics, till they came to Stratford. The king then pushed on before him, and the earl marshal came suddenly behind him, with a great body of horsemen, and springing on the duke, said: "I arrest you in the king's name!" The duke, astonished, saw that he was betrayed, and cried with a loud voice after the king. I do not know if the king heard him or not, but he did not return, but rode away. | ||
"The duke was then hurried off to Calais, where he was placed in the hands of some of the king's minions, under the Duke of Norfolk. Two of these ruffians, Serle, a valet of the king's, and Franceys, a valet of the [future] Duke of Albemarle, then told the Duke of Gloucester that it was the king's will that he should die. He answered, that if it was his will, it must be so. They asked him to have a chaplain; he agreed, and confessed. They then made him lie down on a bed; the two valets threw a feather-bed upon him; three other persons held down the sides of it, while Serle and Franceys pressed on the mouth of the duke till he expired, three others of the assistants all the while on their knees weeping and praying for his soul, and Halle keeping guard at the door. When he was dead, the Duke of Norfolk came to them, and saw the dead body." | ||
The body of the Duke of Gloucester was conveyed with great pomp to England, and first buried in the abbey of Pleshy, his own foundation, in a tomb which he himself had provided for the purpose. Subsequently, his remains were removed to Westminster, and deposited in the king's chapel, under a marble slab inlaid with brass. Immediately after his murder, his widow, who was the daughter of Humphry de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, became a nun in the abbey of Barking; at her death she was buried beside her husband in Westminster Abbey. | ||
Humphrey Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester and his second wife Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester | ||
Humphrey was the fourth son of Henry IV, by his first wife, Mary de Bohun. He was created Duke of Gloucester by his brother, Henry V, in 1414. During Henry V's final illness, he was appointed as Deputy Regent to his older brother, John, Duke of Bedford. When Bedford was subsequently absent in France, Humphrey attempted to claim his position as Regent, but the parliament allowed him only the title of Protector during Bedford's absence. | ||
In about 1422, he married Jacqueline, Countess of Hainault and Holland and former wife of the Duke of Brabant. This marriage greatly upset Philip, Duke of Burgundy, for she was an heiress to estates which were irreconcilable with his interests. In 1425, Humphrey attempted to lay claim to his wife's estates by leading an army to Hainault, but he soon returned to England leaving his wife behind. As soon as he had departed, Burgundy invaded Hainault and captured his wife. Humphrey was already tired of Jacqueline and, in 1428, their marriage was annulled. | ||
He had already taken a mistress, Eleanor Cobham, daughter of Lord Cobham and in 1431 they were married. Four years later, on the death of the Duke of Bedford, Humphrey became the next heir to the throne. However, his popularity and power were declining when allegations were made that Eleanor dabbled in witchcraft and employed a certain Margery Jourdemayne, known as 'the witch of Eye' who lived in the Manor of Eye-next-Westminster in London and who made a living selling charms and potions. | ||
Eleanor Cobham is said to have first approached her to obtain love potions to give to her husband, whose affections, she had reason to fear, were wandering. If the testimony against her is to believed, the success of these love potions led the Duchess to experiment further with black magic. According to Eleanor, she said that she passionately desired a child and consulted two men, a wizard named Roger Bolingbroke and Canon Thomas Southwell, for advice whereby she might become a mother. Margery Jourdemayne, together with the two men, fashioned a wax image which was later exposed at Paul's Cross. | ||
The prosecution alleged that it was an image of the young King purposely made to destroy him. The belief was that as, exposed to the sun, the wax gradually melted, the health of the King would also dwindle away. The Duchess declared that it was merely a device intended to procure her a child by her husband. She admitted having employed Bolingbroke to look into the future for her, but declared there was nothing treasonable in this - she had only wanted to know what fate had in store for her and not to gain endorsement of any hope of her husband supplanting his nephew as King. | ||
But when Bolingbroke and Southwell were arrested, Bolingbroke accused the Duchess of being his instigator to treason. He stated that Southwell had held a Mass over the instruments that Bolingbroke used in crafting the wax figure. As a result, the authorities were ill-disposed to believe the protestations of the Duchess. Whilst they may not have been guilty of treason, all four had, by their own admission, dabbled in the equally heinous crime of necromancy. | ||
Alarmed by her situation, the Duchess fled to sanctuary at Westminster, but the Cardinals, Henry Beaufort and William Ayscough, held a court at St. Stephen's Chapel, before which she was called to answer charges of necromancy, witchcraft, heresy and treason, and by their judgment she was imprisoned in Leeds Castle in Kent. Bolingbroke, Southwell and Margery Jourdemayne were indicted as principals, and Eleanor as an accessory, to the employment of the black arts in an attempt upon the life of the King. | ||
Another commission of bishops met, again at St. Stephen's Chapel, and Eleanor was brought from Leeds Castle to appear before them. She confessed to some of the minor charges, but firmly denied the main charge of treason. In the meanwhile, the other three defendants had been found guilty - Margery Jourdemayne was burned at the stake and Bolingbroke was hanged, drawn and quartered. His severed head was set up on London Bridge and his one of his four limbs was sent to each of Oxford, Cambridge, Hereford and York, to be displayed as a warning to others. Southwell was confined in the Tower of London and eventually died there. | ||
After being forced to watch the executions of Jourdemayne and Bolingbroke, Eleanor was brought before the bishops to receive her sentence. Fortunately for her, she got off very lightly. For three days, she had to walk barefoot and bare-headed through the streets of London, dressed in the robes of a penitent and carrying a candle of two pound's weight. She was then committed to the wardship of Sir Thomas Stanley and imprisoned, initially in Chester Castle and later in Peel Castle on the Isle of Man. | ||
Throughout all this ordeal, her husband did not dare to intervene. He attempted to seek a pardon for her in 1447, but died a few days later. Eleanor was held in Peel Castle until she died in 1454. | ||
William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh [created 1764] | ||
William was the younger brother of King George III and, like most of his family, dull and sober. He had been strictly reared and the young bucks of the time delighted in lampooning his solemn silliness. | ||
In 1763, he met a lovely young widow in the Duchess of Devonshire's drawing-room. The young widow was Maria Walpole, one of three illegitimate daughters of Edward Walpole and Dolly Clements, milliner and cloak-maker. Edward Walpole was, in turn, the second son of Sir Robert Walpole, the all-powerful Whig Prime Minister between 1721 and 1742. Maria was born in 1736, making her seven years older than Gloucester. Her two sisters both contracted successful marriages; Laura, the eldest, married Frederick Keppel, later Bishop of Exeter, and Charlotte, the youngest, married the future Earl of Dysart. | ||
Maria was virtually adopted by Edward's brother, Horace Walpole. She had many suitors, but none more persistent than James, Earl Waldegrave, Lord of the Bedchamber to George II and the King's most intimate friend and advisor. He had been the tutor to the future George III, until intrigues drove him from Court. For her part, Maria fell in love with Waldegrave and married him in May 1759. Their marriage was reportedly idyllic until Waldegrave died in April 1763, 'assassinated by his physicians' according to his friends. | ||
At 27, Maria was in the prime of her beauty and, as a result, lacked no aspirants for her hand. Gloucester was fascinated by Maria's beauty and wit and Maria was flattered by the Duke's obvious admiration. Clubmen wagered hundreds of guineas on how soon she would become a royal mistress. But Maria wanted marriage - as did Gloucester, but he was afraid of his brother's wrath. At the same time, Horace Walpole was outraged at the growing scandal surrounding the couple, denying that he was trying to manoeuvre the Duke into marrying his niece. Gloucester kept begging Maria to marry him, even though the marriage would have to be kept secret until the King's heart had softened toward her. She finally agreed, and on 6 September 1766, they were secretly married at Leicester House in Pall Mall. | ||
For six years, the secret was kept so closely that the King had not the slightest suspicion that Maria was anything other than his brother's mistress. In 1771, George III learnt of his youngest brother's [the Duke of Cumberland] marriage to Ann Horton, a woman described as being as 'noisy, vulgar and indelicate' as Cumberland himself. In a fit of rage, George III banished Cumberland from Court and then forced Parliament to pass the Royal Marriage Act of 1772, which made it illegal for a member of the Royal family under age 25 to marry without the King's consent. At the same time, George III bluntly demanded that Gloucester provide himself with a wife, which forced Gloucester to confess to his secret marriage. | ||
Gloucester was forbidden to show his face in Court again and the King made it known that any hostess who received Maria would incur the heaviest royal displeasure. Worse humiliation followed in May 1773, when the King set up a special commission to inquire into the legality of the marriage; both the Duke and Maria were forced to attend the commission and swear an oath that the ceremony had taken place. | ||
Banned from Court and ostracised by the King's friends, the Duke and Maria fled into exile to Italy where they stayed for around seven years, all the time falling deeper into debt. Their only powerful supporter was Horace Walpole, who eventually prevailed on George III to relent, inviting the Duke and Maria to return to Court and offering to make his brother a handsome allowance with which to pay off his massive debts. | ||
Unfortunately for Maria, Gloucester, now freed from the restraints of poverty, developed into a fat libertine. Soon, he was seeking pleasures outside the arms of the faithful Maria; the most crushing blow to her pride was a liaison with Lady Almeria Carpenter, daughter of the Earl of Tyrconnell, by whom he had an illegitimate daughter [Louisa Maria la Coast, who married the 3rd Baron Macdonald of Slate]. | ||
Freedom eventually came in 1805, on the Duke's death. She lived for only two more years, dying on 22 August 1807, aged 71. Her three daughters from her marriage to Earl Waldegrave all achieved good matches - Elizabeth to her cousin, the 4th Earl Waldegrave; Charlotte, to the 4th Duke of Grafton; and Anna to Lord Hugh Seymour, from whom Diana, Princess of Wales was descended. | ||
She [Maria] had three children by the Duke of Gloucester - Princess Sophia of Gloucester, who never married; Princess Carolina Augusta Maria of Gloucester who died, aged only 9 months from the effect of a smallpox vaccination designed to protect her from the disease; and Prince William Frederick, who succeeded as Duke in 1805. | ||
The claim to the Gordon peerage made in 1929 | ||
In 1929, Sir Bruce Seton, 9th baronet, unsuccessfully attempted to prove his right to the ancient Scottish title of Lord Gordon. The following report appeared in The Times of India of 21 May 1929:- | ||
Sir Bruce Gordon Seton was a smiling loser when he left the House of Lords on May 1 after the Committee of Privileges had rejected his claim to the ancient Gordon peerage. | ||
"The whole question is just a matter of opinion", he said to an interviewer. "I have no intention of appealing against the decision." | ||
Throughout the afternoon, the Committee again disinterred phases of Scottish history. Once more my lords heard how Sir Alexander Seton, who married the heiress of the Gordons, received the personal title of Lord Gordon about 1429; and how his son married Egidia Hay, a distant relative and an heiress, and had a son, Alexander Seton of Touch, from whom Sir Bruce is descended. | ||
The marriage with Egidia was declared annulled on the grounds of consanguinity, and Alexander married another heiress, whose father procured him the title of Earl of Huntly. In 1912 a papal bull was discovered in the archives of the Vatican, from which it appeared that the marriage with Egidia was never annulled. | ||
It was therefore claimed that Egidia's son being legitimate, the title of Lord Gordon descended to the direct heir. There was no question of claim to the Huntly title, but the Marquis of Huntly opposed Sir Bruce's claim. | ||
Lord Dunedin expressed the opinion that the creation of the peerage in favour of Sir Alexander Seton was proved, though he was aware that he differed from some of the other members of the committee. | ||
It was announced by the Earl of Donoughmore that seven of the eight peers who were members of the committee were of opinion that the claim had failed. | ||
The Gormanston foxes | ||
The crest and one of the supporters on the coat of arms of the Viscounts of Gormanston is a fox. According to tradition, a Viscount Gormanston (or, in some versions, his wife) who lived in the seventeenth century was taking part in a hunt one day when he (or she) discovered a vixen and, taking pity on it, hid it in a hole until the hunt had passed, when he or she released it. | ||
Ever since that time it is alleged that, whenever one of the Viscounts is about to die, foxes leave their coverts and congregate around Gormanston Castle, only leaving after the death has taken place. | ||
According to the book True Irish Ghost Stories by St. John Seymour and Harry Neligan [Dublin 1914] :- | ||
When Jenico, the 12th Viscount was dying in 1860, foxes were seen about the house and moving towards the house for some days previously. Just before his death, three foxes were playing about and making a noise close to the house, and just in front of the "cloisters", which are yew-trees planted and trained in that shape. The Hon. Mrs. Farrell states as regards the same that the foxes came in pairs into the demesne, and sat under the Viscount's bedroom window, and barked and howled all night. Next morning they were to be found crouching about in the grass in front and around the house. They walked through the poultry and never touched them. After the funeral they disappeared. | ||
At the death of Edward, the 13th Viscount, in 1876, the foxes were also there. He had been rather better one day, but the foxes appeared, barking under the window, and he died that night contrary to expectation. | ||
On October 28, 1907, Jenico, the 14th Viscount died in Dublin [actually he died on the 29th]. About 8 o'clock that night the coachman and gardener saw two foxes near the chapel (close to the house), five or six more round the front of the house, and several crying in the "cloisters". Two days later, the Hon. Richard Preston was watching by his father's body in the above chapel. About 3 a.m. he became conscious of a slight noise, which seemed to be that of a number of people walking stealthily around the chapel on the gravel walk. He went to the side door, listened, and heard outside a continuous and insistent snuffling or sniffling noise, accompanied by whimperings and scratchings at the door. On opening it he saw a full-grown fox sitting on the path within four feet of him. Just in the shadow was another, while he could hear several more moving close by in the darkness. He then went to the end door, opposite the altar, and on opening it saw two more foxes, one so close that he could have touched it with his foot. On shutting the door the noise continued until 5 a.m., when it suddenly ceased. | ||
The special remainder to the Viscountcy of Gort created in 1816 | ||
From the London Gazette of 30 January 1816 (issue 17104, page 173):- | ||
His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has been pleased, in the name and on behalf of His Majesty, to grant … in the Peerage of this part of His Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, called Ireland, to … John Prendergast Baron Kiltarton, the dignity of a Viscount, by the name, style, and title of Viscount Gort, of Limerick, with remainder to the Right Honourable Charles Vereker, nephew of the said John Prendergast Baron Kiltarton, and to the heirs male of his body. | ||
John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker VC, 6th Viscount Gort [I] and 1st Viscount Gort [UK] | ||
Gort was a Captain and Brevet Major (and acting Lieutenant-Colonel) in the 1st Battalion of the Grenadier Guards when he was awarded the Victoria Cross in November 1918. The citation for the award reads:- | ||
For most conspicuous bravery, skilful leading and devotion to duty during the attack of the Guards Division on 27th September, 1918, across the Canal Du Nord, near Flesquieres, when in command of the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, the leading battalion of the 3rd Guards Brigade. | ||
Under heavy artillery and machine gun fire he led his battalion with great skill and determination to the 'forming-up' ground, where very severe fire from artillery and machine guns was again encountered. | ||
Although wounded, he quickly grasped the situation, directed a platoon to proceed down a sunken road to make a flanking attack, and, under terrific fire, went across open ground to obtain the assistance of a Tank, which he personally led and directed to the best possible advantage. While thus fearlessly exposing himself, he was again severely wounded by a shell. Notwithstanding considerable loss of blood, after lying on a stretcher for awhile, he insisted on getting up and personally directing the further attack. By his magnificent example of devotion to duty and utter disregard of personal safety all ranks were inspired to exert themselves to the utmost, and the attack resulted in the capture of over 200 prisoners, two batteries of field guns and numerous machine guns. Lt.‑Col. Viscount Gort then proceeded to organise the defence of the captured position until he collapsed; even then he refused to leave the field until he had seen the 'success signal' go up on the final objective. | ||
The successful advance of the battalion was mainly due to the valour, devotion and leadership of this very gallant officer. | ||
John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie (creation of 1581) | ||
The death of John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie, and his younger brother Alexander, is one of the great unsolved mysteries of Scottish history. The following version of the "Gowrie Conspiracy" appeared [in] the Australian monthly magazine Parade in its issue for July 1967:- | ||
On the morning of August 5, 1600, King James VI of Scotland left his hunting lodge at Falkland and, with a small retinue of nobles and huntsmen, rode to the nearby town of Perth to dine with young John Ruthven, Earl of Gowrie. Within the halls of Gowrie House that day was enacted the most mysterious tragedy in Scottish history, a mystery that has remained unsolved ever since. | ||
By nightfall King James was galloping back to Falkland. Behind him lay the bodies of Gowrie and his brother, Alexander Ruthven, slain by the royal retainers in a struggle the origin of which no man could discover. According to the King's own story, the Ruthvens had been cut down when they failed in an attempt to assassinate him. But there were many in Scotland, then and for years afterwards, who believed that the Earl and his brother were in fact the victims of a cold-blooded murder plot hatched by King James himself. | ||
Whatever the truth, James took extraordinary measures to conceal the grim facts that lay behind the mystery. Possible witnesses were silenced by torture or bribes. Gowrie House, the scene of the tragedy, was pulled down stone by stone. Even the name of Ruthven was obliterated by royal decree. For months afterwards the rotting, dismembered corpses of the dead men, impaled on spikes in four Scottish towns, remained as mute evidence of King James's vengeance. | ||
The Ruthven family had a long record of restless violence as leading figures in the extreme Protestant faction during the reigns of Mary, Queen of Scots and her son, James VI. Two Ruthvens had taken part in the murder of Rizzio, the Queen's Italian favourite, in 1566. They had been influential in helping force Mary's abdication from the throne a year later. During the minority of King James, while Mary was a prisoner of Queen Elizabeth in England, they had never ceased to intrigue against the royal advisers, whom they suspected of trying to restore Catholicism in Scotland. Even after the first Earl of Gowrie was beheaded for treason in 1584 the Ruthven clan remained an object of fear and suspicion to King James as potential rebels and traitors. | ||
John Ruthven was barely 12 years old when he succeeded an elder brother and became third Earl of Gowrie in 1588, but he soon showed himself as turbulent as his forebears. In 1593, still only 16, he joined an armed rising, led by the Earl of Atholl, which collapsed when a large royal army marched on Atholl's castle at Doune in Perthshire. Gowrie managed to make his peace with King James, but he thought it prudent to vanish into voluntary exile, spending the next six years travelling in Italy and France. Late in 1599 the young Scots lord arrived in London where he was warmly welcomed at Queen Elizabeth's court and was closeted in long interviews with Sir Robert Cecil, the hard-headed rising power behind the throne. | ||
James VI of Scotland was the natural successor to Elizabeth on the English throne. To Cecil it was vital that the succession should be peaceful and that it should leave the Protestant ascendancy undisturbed in both England and Scotland. In the Ruthvens and Scottish nobles of similar views he saw powerful allies in forming an "English" party that would dominate the councils of King James in Edinburgh. Later allegations that the Earl of Gowrie became a hireling of Cecil's policy were probably untrue. | ||
But when Gowrie returned to Scotland in early 1600 King James made no secret of his hostility to the whole Ruthven family. It was not long before he had open reasons for his suspicions. After a violent brawl between Gowrie's retainers and those of the King's servant, Colonel Stewart, in [the] palace of Holyrood, the Earl hastily retired to his stronghold outside Perth. Then, in June 1600, boldly defying rumours that his life was in imminent peril, he returned to Edinburgh to attend a meeting of the Scottish Parliament. Ostensibly to secure the rights to the English throne as soon as Elizabeth died, King James proposed to raise a standing army financed by fresh taxation of 100,000 gold crowns. Gowrie made himself spokesman for the opposition. "That rash lord has condemned himself to death!" said one of the royal party as James left the chamber in speechless fury. | ||
Only two months later came the bloody tragedy in Gowrie House that spelt the utter ruin of the proud family of Ruthven. Late in July, King James was at Falkland for his customary summer deer-hunting. Early on the morning of August 5 he was preparing to ride out for the day when a messenger arrived from Gowrie House. The visitor was Alexander Ruthven, the Earl of Gowrie's younger brother and, according to the King's later statement, he had an extraordinary tale to unfold. Some days previously Gowrie's retainers had seized a mysterious foreigner who was found to have a large bag of gold concealed under his cloak. The traveller, presumably a spy, was being held prisoner in a turret in Gowrie House and the Earl suggested that the King might care to question him personally before he was sent to Edinburgh. | ||
Some historians, however, have declared that the story of Alexander Ruthven's message was a complete fabrication by James to account for his sudden decision to descend on Gowrie House. They believe, as many of the King's enemies believed at the time, that James had already plotted the Earl's death and that it was with murder in his heart that he set out for the Ruthven stronghold. | ||
By noon the King was at Gowrie House with Alexander Ruthven, the Earls of Lennox and Mar, Sir Thomas Erskine, Sir Hugh Herries, Sir John Ramsay and about half a dozen servants and huntsmen. Gowrie and the royal party sat down amicably to dine. Then, after that, the truth about the grim following events becomes shrouded in an almost impenetrable veil of mystery. Neither the Earl nor his brother survived to tell their side of the story, and every member of the Gowrie household was later tortured or terrified into subservience to the "official" accounts of the King's own men. | ||
According to these accounts, Gowrie led the King's followers into the garden immediately after dinner "to eat cherries" while James himself remained in the house with Alexander Ruthven. The King's story was that Ruthven then led him up a winding staircase into a small turret room where the foreigner was supposed to be confined with his bag of gold. However, there was no cloaked foreigner in the turret, only a grim figure clad in armour with a drawn sword. And Ruthven instantly drew a dagger, pressed it to the King's breast and threatened to kill him on the spot. Wrenching himself free, James struggled to a tiny window overlooking the garden. Frantically he shouted "Treason! Treason!" as Ruthven tried to drag him back into the room. | ||
Hearing the cries and catching a glimpse of the King's terrified face at the window above, the royal party drew their swords and rushed towards the house. Erskine seized Gowrie by the throat and was immediately felled by one of the Ruthven servants. But Ramsay, Herries, Lennox and Mar raced up the narrow staircase and burst into the turret room. They found James and Ruthven still locked in deadly struggle. "Strike him high, he wears a doublet of mail", the King shouted as they poured in flourishing their swords. Ramsay plunged his blade into Ruthven's back. Two more thrusts dispatched him, and his body was flung headlong down the stone stairs just as Gowrie himself reached the scene. | ||
In a few moments the fighting was over. With a sword in each hand Gowrie defended himself with desperate bravery until Ramsay got underneath his guard and buried his steel in the Earl's side. As he fell dying, more sword blows rained down on his defenceless body. Thomas Cranston, his most faithful retainer, was cut down mortally wounded beside him. The "man in armour", John Henderson, another of the Ruthven household, had not stirred a hand since James was brought into the turret room and his evidence was later to play a vital part in confirming the King's story. | ||
The brief and gory tragedy was over. Ordering that the bodies of Gowrie and his brother be sent after him, King James galloped back with his followers to the hunting lodge at Falkland. There on August 7 the Privy Council was summoned from Edinburgh to begin an official investigation. The result was a foregone conclusion. King James's story was that the Ruthvens, members of a family long notorious for treason and violence, had been slain during a reckless attempt to entrap and assassinate him. His account was substantiated by Henderson and by every member of the royal party who rode with him to Gowrie House. | ||
Torture implements were brought to Falkland from Edinburgh Castle, and the agonies of the rack and the "boot" quickly silenced any of the Ruthven retainers who presumed to gainsay the King's word. In November the mutilated bodies of Gowrie and his brother were brought to Edinburgh where they were hanged on a gallows at the Market Cross, then dismembered and the remains fixed on spikes in the towns of Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee and Stirling. Even then the King's fury against the Ruthven clan was not sated. The Earl's two younger brothers, Patrick and William, escaped death only by flight to England. All the ancient honours of the Ruthven family were forfeited and their estates confiscated. It was declared treasonable to anyone even to bear the name of Ruthven. Gowrie House, its stones still stained with the blood of its victims, was torn down by the King's decree. | ||
However, not all the royal edicts and persecution could stifle the doubts in many men's minds about the guilt of the Earl of Gowrie and Alexander Ruthven. For more than 350 years historians have puzzled over one of the classic mysteries of history, and three main theories have been debated with fruitless results. One is that King James's story was true. Another is that the Ruthvens were deliberately murdered with the King's connivance, and the third that the tragedy arose out of a sudden quarrel unpremeditated by either side. But no one will ever know for certain what happened in the gloomy turret chamber of Gowrie House on that August day in 1600. | ||
Alexander Gore Arkwright Hore-Ruthven VC, 1st Earl of Gowrie (creation of 1945) | ||
During the Sudan Campaign of 1898, Hore-Ruthven was a Captain in the 3rd Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry. On 22 September 1898 at Gedarif, Hore‑Ruthven saw a wounded Egyptian officer lying about 50 yards from the advancing Dervishes. He picked up the wounded officer and carried him towards the 16th Egyptian Battalion, stopping several times in order to fire upon the Dervishes and check their advance. For saving the officer's life, and for his bravery, Hore‑Ruthven was awarded the Victoria Cross on 28 February 1899. | ||
He later became Governor of South Australia 1928‑1934, Governor of New South Wales 1935‑1936 and finally Governor General of Australia 1936‑1944, becoming in the process Australia's longest serving Governor General. | ||
Henry James FitzRoy, Earl of Euston (son of the 7th Duke of Grafton) | ||
Henry James FitzRoy was the eldest son of the 7th Duke of Grafton and, as such, after his father had succeeded as Duke of Grafton in 1882, he was entitled to the courtesy title of Earl of Euston. | ||
Henry was born 28 November 1848 and, in 1870, he met Kate Cook (nee Walsh), with whom he lived until the couple went through a ceremony of marriage on 29 May 1871 at a parish church in Worcester. The marriage was witnessed by a solicitor named Froggatt. After the marriage, Henry settled an amount of £10,000 on his wife. Froggatt was appointed trustee of this settlement, and betrayed his trust by making off with the money. Froggatt was subsequently convicted and imprisoned as a result of this theft. | ||
By 1875, the marriage was on the rocks, and Henry took himself off to Australia, where he obtained Government employment. He returned to England in 1881, and in 1884 commenced proceedings to have his marriage annulled on the grounds that Kate Cooke was already married at the time he had married her in 1871. | ||
The following account is taken from Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper of 6 April 1884:- | ||
In the Divorce division on Friday [4 April 1884], Sir James Hannen and a special jury had before them the suit of 'Euston v. Smith (otherwise Euston)'. The petition was that of the Hon. Henry J. FitzRoy, Earl of Euston, eldest son of the Duke of Grafton, for a decree of nullity of marriage on the ground that at the time he married the respondent, Mrs Kate Walsh Smith, she had a husband living. In the pleadings it was set out that the petitioner, on 29 May 1871, went through a ceremony of marriage with the respondent, who was described as a widow, at the parish church of St. Michael, in the county of Worcester, and that previously she had been married to George Manley Smith, at St. Mungo's Catholic chapel at Glasgow, on the 6th July 1863. The respondent admitted this marriage, but pleaded that at the time George Manley Smith was lawfully married to Mary Ann Smith, a widow, at the parish church of Handsworth, Stafford, on the 26th June 1862. | ||
In opening the case, Mr Russell Q.C., said that the petitioner, in 1870, met the respondent, who was known by the name of Kate Cook. She was a courtesan, and got her name from a man with whom she formerly lived of the name of Cook. After the petitioner met her he continued to visit her from time to time, and finally, in the month of May 1871, he went through a ceremony of marriage with her. She gave the name of Kate Walsh, and described herself as a widow. The friends of Lord Euston became aware of the unfortunate connection, and did all they could to prevent the marriage, but their efforts were unsuccessful. He settled £10,000 upon her; but, unfortunately for her, she was introduced by some friends of hers to Mr Froggatt, solicitor, who officiated as one of the trustees of the settlement, and he substantially spent the money. The petitioner and respondent lived together for about four years, and their married life was anything but a pleasant one. In 1875 he separated from her, from which time he had not communicated with his wife. He went abroad and got Government employment in Australia. Inquiries were made, and it was found out that she was not a widow, and that she had a husband who was now living of the name of George Manley Smith, whom she married on 6th July 1863, in Glasgow. It appeared that the respondent was sued in the county court in respect of some claim made upon her, and it became necessary to explain her status. She said that he sailed in the ill-fated London, which foundered with all hands. [The London was an emigrant ship between England and Australia which sank in the Bay of Biscay in January 1866, with large loss of life]. Upon inquiry it was found that a George Masleyn Smith sailed in that vessel, and the Probate Court had granted administration of his effects as that of a deceased person, but that he was not the husband of the respondent. The George Manley Smith was now in court, and would be examined. He (the counsel) understood that the defence to be set up was that Mr Smith had failed to identify the respondent and that if he was the person, the marriage was not legal, as he had a wife living. It was, in fact, a double suggestion of nullity of marriage. | ||
Lord Euston, the petitioner, was then examined, and supported the statement of his counsel. The petitioner's age at the time of his marriage was 22, and the respondent's age 24. | ||
George Manley Smith said he came home a couple of months ago from New Zealand. He first met the respondent in 1863, and he married her on the 6th July of that year. He lived with her for about four months. They did not live happily. Recently he went to the respondent's house and identified her. - Cross-examined: He went out to Australia with a woman of the name of Johnson. Had not married her (laughter). | ||
At this point, Mr Inderwick Q.C., intimated that the respondent having a good opportunity of seeing Mr Smith that morning could not deny that he was the person she had married; therefore it would only be necessary to devote his attention to the question as to the former wife being alive at the time the second marriage was contracted. Evidence was then given by a brother and sister of George Manley Smith's wife to show that at the time of her marriage, and for some time subsequently, the respondent's first husband's wife was alive at the time of her marriage with the petitioner. This, therefore, annulled her marriage with Smith, and legalised her union with the petitioner. | ||
Under the direction of the judge, the jury found for the respondent, and the petition of Lord Euston was, accordingly, dismissed, with costs. | ||
In other words, when Kate Cook married George Manley Smith, he was already married and thus her marriage to him was null and void. As a result, Lord Euston's argument that his marriage to Kate was illegal on the grounds that she was already married was overturned. Euston died before his father on 10 May 1912 and the dukedom therefore descended, on the death of the 7th Duke, to Euston's younger brother. | ||
John Charles William FitzRoy, 9th Duke of Grafton | ||
The 9th Duke was fatally injured in a car race, aged only 22. The following report of the inquest into his death appeared in The Irish Times of 5 August 1936:- | ||
How John Charles William FitzRoy, Ninth Duke of Grafton met his death as the result of his car crashing in the Limerick Grand Prix yesterday was told at an inquest which was held in Barrington's Hospital, Limerick today by Mr. J.S. McNeice, solicitor, deputy coroner, who sat with a jury. | ||
Mr. Hugh Caruthers Massey, Hazel Hurst, Sway, Hampshire, identified the remains. He was a personal friend of the deceased man. He accompanied him from England for the motor race, and acted as his pit representative. | ||
On hearing of the accident while at [the] pits he immediately went to the scene, and later accompanied the Duke in an ambulance to the hospital. | ||
Inspector Brazil, Civic Guard - How long have you known him? - About four years. I was at Cambridge with him. Did he suffer from any physical disability? - I am definite that he did not. Was his eyesight good? - He always wore glasses. His vision when wearing glasses was up to normal. Did he wear the same glasses when driving? - He wore the same lens set into racing goggles. | ||
Mr. Samuel T. Robinson, 33 South King Street, Dublin, stated that he was chief technical officer to the Irish Motor Racing Club. It was his duty to examine every car before it was allowed to take part either in practice or the race. He examined the Duke of Grafton's car on 31st July. He paid particular attention to the steering and the brakes, including the steering points and connections, and he found them in perfect condition. | ||
Continuing, the witness stated that he examined the remains of the car in the Shannon Garage this morning and found that the back part of the right-hand side was badly bent towards the opposite side. He saw a distinct mark on the hub cap of that wheel where it must have struck something. He examined the brake connections and linings on the left-hand side, and found that they were in perfect condition. | ||
Inspector Brazil - Could you form any opinion as to why the car should have gone on fire? - I think it is pretty obvious that the back of the car containing the petrol tank struck the wall and caused the fluid to spill on the red-hot exhaust pipe, where it ignited. As a result of such a fire the car would be completely enveloped in flames. | ||
Dr. W. O'Sullivan stated that he examined the body of the Duke of Grafton and found that death was due to shock and heart failure following extensive burns. | ||
Mr. T.E. O'Donnell, solicitor, stated that he was section marshal in the Limerick motor race which included the scene of the accident. He saw the car which was then driven by the late Duke coming through the opening from William street to Roxboro' road. It left the ground after coming over the road and moved about ten yards before it went into a skid. The car travelled for about 25 yards in a slight skid, and then the right back portion struck the pier at the entrance to the Christian Brothers' Schools. The car immediately became enveloped in flames. It travelled for about 50 yards, and was burning fiercely, and the footpath from the place of impact to where the car rested was just one sheet of flame. Everything possible that could be done was done for the Duke. | ||
Albert Bennett, 11 James's street, Limerick, stated that he was also a marshal at the place where the accident occurred. He saw a car coming towards a bend on the road. It made a dash into the wall, and was instantly enveloped in flames. "I ran immediately for an extinguisher", added the witness, "and I turned it on the car. I found the Duke lying on the ground three or four feet from the car, with the flames around him. He was badly burned, but he was able to speak. He said, 'I am alright; I am not too bad.' His clothes had been burned off." | ||
Did you remove him, asked Inspector Brazil. The witness said that he walked for about a yard, aided by another marshal and himself. He was then removed on a stretcher to a nearby yard, where a doctor arrived soon after. | ||
The Rev. Brother Patrick Ennis, Christian Brothers' Schools, Sexton street, said that on the occasion he was sitting on a bicycle shed about two yards from the wall. He saw the car of the late Duke of Grafton approaching. It was one of the first of the second group of cars. The car bumped at the corner of Sexton street while on the point of turning, and the back wheels skidded to the left. In trying to rectify this the driver turned to the left, and the back wheels skidded to the opposite direction. "I saw the car skid slantways across the road", continued the witness, "and the back right wheel crashed against the wall. Almost immediately the vehicle went on fire. The flames leapt to a height of about thirty feet." | ||
Major Niall MacNeill, President of the Irish Motor Racing Club, stated that every competitor in the motor race was required to qualify in practice by completing at least three laps of the course. The late Duke of Grafton completed his laps on Saturday morning, all of which, except the first two, were well above the qualifying speed of 45 miles an hour. The test was a serious one and properly carried out. Everything went to show that both the entrant and his car were fully qualified to compete. "It is inevitable, in the history of motor racing", added Major MacNeill, "that these sad accidents will occur". | ||
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. | ||
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