PEERAGE
Last updated 20/02/2024
     Date Rank Order Name Born Died  Age
D'ABERNON
20 Feb 1926 V 1 Sir Edgar Vincent 19 Aug 1857 1 Nov 1941 84
to     Created Baron D'Abernon 2 Jul 1914
1 Nov 1941 and Viscount D'Abernon 20 Feb 1926
MP for Exeter 1899-1906.  PC 1920
Peerage extinct on his death
DACRE ("of the north")
9 Oct 1459 B 1 Ralph Dacre 29 Mar 1461
to     Summoned to Parliament as Lord
29 Mar 1461 Dacre 9 Oct 1459
Peerage extinct on his death
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15 Nov 1482 B 1 Humphrey Dacre 30 May 1485
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Dacre 15 Nov 1482
30 May 1485 2 Thomas Dacre 25 Nov 1467 24 Oct 1525 57
KG 1518
24 Oct 1525 3 William Dacre 29 Apr 1500 12 Nov 1563 63
12 Nov 1563 4 Thomas Dacre c 1526 1 Jul 1566
1 Jul 1566 5 George Dacre 1561 17 May 1569 7
to     On his death the peerage fell into
17 May 1569 abeyance
DACRE ("of the south")
13 May 1321 B 1 Ralph Dacre c 1290 Apr 1339
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Dacre 13 May 1321
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 1433 1486 53
She married Sir Richard Fiennes who assumed
the peerage in her right
1486 8 Thomas Fiennes 1474 1533 59
1533 9 Thomas Fiennes c 1517 29 Jun 1541
to     He was executed for murder in 1541 when
29 Jun 1541 the peerage was forfeited
For further information on this peer,see the
note at the foot of this page
1558 10 Gregory Fiennes 25 Sep 1594
Restored to the peerage 1558
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 15 Thomas Lennard,later [1674] 1st Earl of Sussex c 1653 30 Oct 1715
to     On his death the peerage fell into 
30 Oct 1715 abeyance
1741 16 Anne Barrett-Lennard 17 Aug 1684 26 Jun 1755 70
Abeyance terminated in her favour 1741
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 15 Mar 1774 21 Mar 1851 77
MP for Helston 1807 and Hertfordshire 1807-1819
21 Mar 1851 21 Henry Otway Trevor 27 Jul 1777 2 Jun 1853 75
2 Jun 1853 22 Thomas Crosbie William Trevor 5 Dec 1808 26 Feb 1890 81
MP for Hertfordshire 1847-1852. Lord
Lieutenant Essex 1865-1869
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 26 Thomas Henry Brand,4th Viscount Hampden of 30 Mar 1900 17 Oct 1965 65
to     Glynde
17 Oct 1965 on his death the peerage fell into 
  abeyance      
1970 27 Rachel Leila Douglas-Home 24 Oct 1929 25 Dec 2012 83
Abeyance terminated in her favour 1970
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 1629 24 Feb 1685 55
Created Baron Dacre of Gillesland,
Viscount Howard of Morpeth and Earl
of Carlisle 30 Apr 1661
See "Carlisle"
DACRE OF GLANTON
27 Sep 1979 B[L] 1 Hugh Redwald Trevor-Roper 15 Jan 1914 26 Jan 2003 89
to     Created Baron Dacre of Glanton for life
26 Jan 2003 27 Sep 1979
Peerage extinct on his death
DAER AND SHORTCLEUGH
4 Aug 1646 B[S] 1 Lord William Douglas-Hamilton 24 Dec 1634 18 Apr 1694 59
Created Lord Daer and Shortcleugh 
and Earl of Selkirk 4 Aug 1646
See "Selkirk"
DAGWORTH
13 Nov 1347 B 1 Sir Thomas de Dagworth Aug 1350
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Dagworth 13 Nov 1347
Aug 1350 2 Nicholas Dagworth 2 Jan 1402
to     Peerage extinct on his death
2 Jan 1402
DAHRENDORF
15 Jul 1993 B[L] 1 Sir Ralf Dahrendorf 1 May 1929 17 Jun 2009 80
to     Created Baron Dahrendorf for life 15 Jul 1993
17 Jun 2009 Peerage extinct on his death
DAINTON
14 Feb 1986 B[L] 1 Sir Frederick Sydney Dainton 11 Nov 1914 5 Dec 1997 83
to     Created Baron Dainton for life 14 Feb 1986
5 Dec 1997 Peerage extinct on his death
DALHOUSIE
25 Aug 1618 B[S] 1 George Ramsay after 1570 1629
Created Lord Ramsay of Dalhousie
25 Aug 1618
1629 2 William Ramsay 11 Feb 1674
29 Jun 1633 E[S] 1 Created Lord Ramsay of Keringtoun 
and Earl of Dalhousie 29 Jun 1633
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 23 Oct 1770 21 Mar 1838 67
Created Baron Dalhousie [UK]
11 Aug 1815
Governor of Canada 1819-1828
21 Mar 1838 10 James Andrew Broun-Ramsay 22 Apr 1812 19 Dec 1860 48
25 Aug 1849 Created Marquess of Dalhousie
to     25 Aug 1849
19 Dec 1860 MP for Haddington 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 -
19 Dec 1860 11 Fox Maule-Ramsay,2nd Baron Panmure 22 Apr 1801 6 Jul 1874 73
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
6 Jul 1874 12 George Ramsay 26 Apr 1806 20 Jul 1880 74
Created Baron Ramsay of Glenmark 
12 Jun 1875
20 Jul 1880 13 John William Ramsay 29 Jan 1847 28 Nov 1887 40
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.
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 17 Oct 1914 15 Jul 1999 84
MP for Forfarshire 1945-1950. Lord
Lieutenant Angus (Forfar) 1967-1989  KT 1971
15 Jul 1999 17 James Hubert Ramsay 17 Jan 1948
DALKEITH
c 1430  B[S]  1 Sir James Douglas c 1440
Created Lord Dalkeith c 1430
c 1440 2 James Douglas c 1456
c 1456 3 James Douglas 1493
He was created Earl of Morton (qv) in 1458
with which title this peerage then merged
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5 Aug 1581 B[S] 1 Esme Stuart c 1542 26 May 1583
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"
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20 Apr 1663 E[S] 1 James Scott,Duke of Monmouth 9 Apr 1649 15 Jul 1685 36
Created Lord Scott of Whitchester,
Earl of Dalkeith and Duke of
Buccleuch 20 Apr 1663
He was attainted and his honours forfeited
in 1685
DALLING AND BULWER
23 Mar 1871 B 1 William Henry Lytton Earle Bulwer 13 Feb 1801 23 May 1872 71
to     Created Baron Dalling and Bulwer
23 May 1872 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
DALMENY AND PRIMROSE
10 Apr 1703 B[S] 1 Archibald Primrose,1st Viscount Primrose 18 Dec 1664 20 Oct 1723 58
Created Lord Dalmeny and Primrose,
Viscount Innerkeithing and Earl of
Rosebery 10 Apr 1703
See "Rosebery"
DALRYMPLE
8 Apr 1703 V[S] 1 John Dalrymple,2nd Viscount of Stair 1648 8 Jan 1707 58
Created Viscount Dalrymple and Earl 
of Stair 8 Apr 1703
See "Stair"
DALTON
28 Jan 1960 B[L] 1 Edward Hugh John Neale Dalton 26 Aug 1887 13 Feb 1962 74
to     Created Baron Dalton for life 28 Jan 1960
13 Feb 1962 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
DALZELL
18 Sep 1628 B[S] 1 Robert Dalzell c 1560 1639
Created Lord of Dalzell 18 Sep 1628
He was created Earl of Carnwath (qv) in
1639 with which title this peerage then
merged
DALZIEL OF KIRKCALDY
28 Jun 1921 B 1 Sir James Henry Dalziel,1st baronet 24 Apr 1868 15 Jul 1935 67
to     Created Baron Dalziel of Kirkcaldy
15 Jul 1935 28 Jun 1921
MP for Kirkcaldy 1892-1921.  PC 1912
Peerage extinct on his death
DALZIEL OF WOOLER
4 Jul 1927 B 1 Sir Davison Alexander Dalziel,1st baronet 17 Oct 1852 18 Apr 1928 75
to     Created Baron Dalziel of Wooler
18 Apr 1928 4 Jul 1927
MP for Brixton 1910-1923 and 1924-1927
Peerage extinct on his death
D'AMORIE
24 Nov 1317 B 1 Sir Roger d'Amorie 14 Mar 1322
to     Summoned to Parliament as Lord
14 Mar 1322 d'Amorie 24 Nov 1317
He was attainted and the peerage forfeited
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3 Dec 1326 B 1 Sir Richard d'Amorie 21 Aug 1330
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
d'Amorie 3 Dec 1326
21 Aug 1330 2 Richard d'Amorie 29 Mar 1375
to     On his death the peerage became either
29 Mar 1375 extinct or dormant
DANBY
5 Feb 1626 E 1 Henry Danvers 28 Jun 1573 20 Jan 1644 70
to     Created Baron Danvers 21 Jul 1607
20 Jan 1644 and Earl of Danby 5 Feb 1626
KG 1633
Peerages extinct on his death
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27 Jun 1674 E 1 Thomas Osborne,1st Viscount Latimer 20 Feb 1632 26 Jul 1712 80
Created Earl of Danby 27 Jun 1674,
Marquess of Carmarthen 9 Apr 1689
and Duke of Leeds 4 May 1694
See "Leeds"
DANESFORT
19 Feb 1924 B 1 Sir John George Butcher,1st baronet 15 Nov 1853 30 Jun 1935 81
to     Created Baron Danesfort 19 Feb 1924
30 Jun 1935 MP for York 1892-1906 and 1910-1923
Peerage extinct on his death
DANGAN
11 Apr 1857 V 1 Henry Richard Charles Wellesley,2nd Baron 17 Jun 1804 15 Jul 1884 80
Cowley                                            
Created Viscount Dangan and Earl 
Cowley 11 Apr 1857
See "Cowley"
DANNATT
19 Jan 2011 B[L] 1 Sir (Francis) Richard Dannatt 23 Dec 1950
Created Baron Dannatt for life 19 Jan 2011
Chief of General Staff 2006-2009
DANVERS
5 Feb 1626 B 1 Henry Danvers 28 Jun 1573 20 Jan 1644 70
to     Created Baron Danvers 21 Jul 1603
20 Jan 1644 and Earl of Danby 5 Feb 1626
KG 1633
Peerages extinct on his death
DARCY DE DARCY
17 Oct 1509 B 1 Thomas Darcy 20 Jun 1538
to     Summoned to Parliament as Lord
20 Jun 1538 Darcy de Darcy 17 Oct 1509
KG 1509
He was attainted and the peerage forfeited
1548 2 George Darcy 28 Aug 1557
He was restored to the peerage 1548
28 Aug 1557 3 John Darcy 1529 1587 58
1587 4 John Darcy 5 Jul 1635
to     Peerage extinct on his death
5 Jul 1635
DARCY DE KNAYTH
27 Jan 1332 B 1 John Darcy 30 May 1347
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Darcy 27 Jan 1332
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 1341 24 Apr 1399 56
He succeeded as 3rd Lord Meinill in 1368 with
which title this peerage then merged
24 Apr 1399 5 John Darcy 1376 9 Dec 1411 35
9 Dec 1411 6 Philip Darcy 1397 2 Aug 1418 21
to     On his death the peerage fell into abeyance
2 Aug 1418
16 Aug 1641 7 Conyers Darcy 1570 3 Mar 1654 83
Abeyance terminated in his favour 1641
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 15 Sackville George Lane-Fox  [also 12th Lord Conyers] 14 Sep 1827 24 Aug 1888 60
to     On his death the peerage again fell into 
24 Aug 1888 abeyance
29 Sep 1903 16 Violet Ida Evelyn Herbert 1 Jun 1865 29 Apr 1929 63
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
29 Apr 1929 17 Mervyn Horatio Herbert 7 May 1904 23 Mar 1943 38
23 Mar 1943 18 Davina Marcia Ingrams  [Elected hereditary 10 Jul 1938 24 Feb 2008 69
peer 1999-2008]
24 Feb 2008 19 Caspar David Ingrams 5 Jan 1962
DARCY DE MEINILL
10 Aug 1641 B 1 Conyers Darcy 3 Mar 1654
Created Baron Darcy de Meinill
10 Aug 1641
3 Mar 1654 2 Conyers Darcy 24 Jan 1599 14 Jun 1689 90
He was created Earl of Holdernesse (qv) 
in 1682 with which title this peerage then
merged
DARCY OF CHICHE
5 Apr 1551 B 1 Thomas Darcy 4 Dec 1506 28 Jun 1558 51
Created Baron Darcy of Chiche
5 Apr 1551
KG 1551
28 Jun 1558 2 John Darcy 3 Mar 1581
3 Mar 1581 3 Thomas Darcy c 1565 21 Feb 1640
to     His son-in-law,Sir Thomas Savage,obtained 
21 Feb 1640 a reversion of the title on the death of 
1613 B 1 the third Baron. The third Baron was 
created Earl Rivers (qv) 4 Nov 1626. On 
his death the creation of 1551 became
extinct but the creation of 1613 passed
to -
21 Feb 1640 2 John Savage c 1603 10 Oct 1654
He succeeded to the Earldom of Rivers (qv)
with which title this peerage then merged
DARCY OF NAVAN
13 Sep 1721 B[I] 1 James Darcy 21 Aug 1650 19 Jul 1731 80
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
19 Jul 1731 2 James Darcy 1707 15 Jun 1733 25
to     Peerage extinct on his death
15 Jun 1733
DARCY OF NOCTON
29 Dec 1299 B 1 Philip Darcy 1258 1332 74
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Darcy 29 Dec 1299
1332 2 Norman Darcy Apr 1340
Apr 1340 3 Philip Darcy c 1350
to     On his death the peerage fell into abeyance
c 1350
DARESBURY
21 Jun 1927 B 1 Sir Gilbert Greenall,2nd baronet 30 Mar 1867 24 Oct 1938 71
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
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 6 Dec 1849 29 May 1936 86
Created Baron Darling 12 Jan 1924
MP for Deptford 1888-1897. Judge of the
Kings Bench 1897-1923.  PC 1917
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 B[L] 1 George Darling 20 Jul 1905 18 Oct 1985 80
to     Created Baron Darling of Hillsborough
18 Oct 1985 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
DARLING OF ROULANISH
1 Dec 2015 B[L] 1 Alistair Maclean Darling 28 Nov 1953 30 Nov 2023 70
to Created Baron Darling of Roulanish for life
30 Nov 2023 1 Dec 2015
MP for Edinburgh South West 1987-2015. Chief
Secretary to the Treasury 1997-1998. Secretary of
State for Work and Pensions 1998-2002, Transport
2002-2006, Scotland 2003-2006 and Trade and
Industry 2006-2007. Chancellor of the Exchequer
2007-2010. PC 1997
Peerage extinct on his death
DARLINGTON
20 Jan 1686 B[L] 1 Catherine Sedley by 1653 26 Oct 1717
to     Created Baroness Darlington and 
26 Oct 1717 Countess of Dorchester for life 20 Jan 1686
Mistress of James II
Peerages extinct on her death
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6 Apr 1722 E[L] 1 Charlotte Sophia Kielmansegge c 1673 20 Apr 1725
to     Created Baroness of Brentford and
20 Apr 1725 Countess of Darlington for life 6 Apr 1722
Mistress of George I
She had previously been created (1721) Countess
of Leinster (qv). All peerages became extinct on
her death
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3 Apr 1754 E 1 Henry Vane,3rd Baron Barnard c 1705 6 Mar 1758
Created Viscount Barnard and Earl of
Darlington 3 Apr 1754
MP for Launceston 1726-1727, St Mawes
1727-1741, Ripon 1741-1747 and Durham Co.
1747-1753. Lord Lieutenant Durham 1753-
1758. PC [I] 1742
6 Mar 1758 2 Henry Vane 1726 8 Sep 1792 66
MP for Downton 1749-1753 and Durham
1753-1758. Lord Lieutenant Durham 1758-
1792
8 Sep 1792 3 William Harry Vane 27 Jul 1766 29 Jan 1842 75
He was created Duke of Cleveland (qv) in
1833 with which title this peerage then
merged until its extinction in 1891
DARNLEY
1562 B[S] 1 John Stewart c 1532 Nov 1563
Created Lord Darnley 1562
Illegitimate son of James V of Scotland
Nov 1563 2 Francis Stewart c Nov 1562 c 1604
to     He was created Earl of Bothwell (qv) in 1581 with
21 Jul 1593 which title this peerage then merged until forfeited
by attainder in 1593
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18 Apr 1572 B[S] 1 Charles Stuart 1556 1576 20
to     Created Lord Darnley and Earl of
1576 Lennox 18 Apr 1572
Peerages extinct on his death
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16 Jun 1578 B[S] 1 Robert Stuart c 1515 29 Mar 1586
to     Created Lord Darnley and Earl of 
1580 Lennox 16 Jun 1578
He resigned the peerages in 1580
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5 Aug 1581 E[S] 1 Esme Stuart c 1542 26 May 1583
Created Earl of Lennox 5 Mar 1580
and Earl of Darnley and Duke of 
Lennox 5 Aug 1581
See "Lennox" - peerage extinct 1672
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
9 Sep 1675 E 1 Charles Lennox 29 Jul 1672 27 May 1723 50
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 Jun 1725 E[I] 1 John Bligh 28 Dec 1687 12 Sep 1728 40
Created Baron Clifton of Rathmore
14 Sep 1721,Viscount Darnley 7 Mar
1723 and Earl of Darnley 29 Jun 1725
12 Sep 1728 2 Edward Bligh 9 Nov 1715 22 Jul 1747 31
22 Jul 1747 3 John Bligh 1 Oct 1719 31 Jul 1781 61
MP for Maidstone 1741-1747
31 Jul 1781 4 John Bligh 30 Jun 1767 17 Mar 1831 63
17 Mar 1831 5 Edward Bligh 25 Feb 1795 11 Feb 1835 39
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 this page.
11 Feb 1835 6 John Stuart Bligh 16 Apr 1827 14 Dec 1896 69
14 Dec 1896 7 Edward Henry Stuart Bligh 21 Aug 1851 31 Oct 1900 49
For further information on this peer, see the
note at the foot of this page.
31 Oct 1900 8 Ivo Francis Walter Bligh 13 Mar 1859 10 Apr 1927 68
10 Apr 1927 9 Esme Ivo Bligh 11 Oct 1886 29 May 1955 68
He succeeded as 18th Lord Clifton of Leighton
Bromswold in 1937
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] 1 Nigel Kim Darroch 30 April 1954
     Created Baron Darroch of Kew for life 11 Nov 2019
DARTMOUTH
28 Jul 1675 B 1 Charles FitzCharles 1657 17 Oct 1680 23
to     Created Baron of Dartmouth,Viscount
17 Oct 1680 Totness and Earl of Plymouth 
28 Jul 1675
Illegitimate son of Charles II
Peerage extinct on his death
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2 Dec 1682 B 1 George Legge 1647 25 Oct 1691 44
Created Baron Dartmouth 2 Dec 1682
MP for Ludgershall 1668-1679 and
Portsmouth 1679-1682. Lord Lieutenant
Tower Hamlets.  PC 1682
25 Oct 1691 2 William Legge 14 Oct 1672 15 Dec 1750 78
5 Sep 1711 E 1 Created Viscount Lewisham and Earl
of Dartmouth 5 Sep 1711
Secretary of State 1710-1713. Lord Privy
Seal 1713-1714. PC 1702
15 Dec 1750 2 William Legge 20 Jun 1731 15 Jul 1801 70
President of the Board of Trade 1765-1766
Secretary of State for Colonies 1772-1775
Lord Privy Seal 1775-1782.  PC 1765
15 Jul 1801 3 George Legge 3 Oct 1755 10 Nov 1810 55
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
10 Nov 1810 4 William Legge 29 Nov 1784 22 Nov 1853 68
MP for Milborne Port 1810
22 Nov 1853 5 William Walter Legge 12 Aug 1823 4 Aug 1891 67
MP for Staffordshire South 1849-1853. 
Lord Lieutenant Stafford 1887-1891
4 Aug 1891 6 William Heneage Legge 6 May 1851 11 Mar 1936 84
MP for Kent West 1878-1885 and Lewisham
1885-1891. Lord Lieutenant Stafford
1891-1927  PC 1885
11 Mar 1936 7 William Legge 22 Feb 1881 28 Feb 1958 77
MP for West Bromwich 1910-1918
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 23 Sep 1949
DARTREY
28 May 1770 B[I] 1 Thomas Dawson 25 Feb 1725 1 Mar 1813 88
Created Baron Dartrey 28 May 1770,
Viscount Cremorne 19 Jun 1785 and
Baron Cremorne 11 Nov 1797
See "Cremorne"
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12 Jul 1866 E 1 Richard Dawson,3rd Baron Cremorne 7 Sep 1817 12 May 1897 79
Created Baron Dartrey 20 Sep 1847
and Earl of Dartrey 12 Jul 1866
Lord Lieutenant Monaghan 1871-1897
KP 1855
12 May 1897 2 Vesey Dawson 22 Apr 1842 14 Jun 1920 78
MP for Monaghan 1865-1868
14 Jun 1920 3 Anthony Lucius Dawson 12 May 1855 9 Feb 1933 77
to     Peerages extinct on his death
9 Feb 1933
DARWEN
12 Feb 1946 B 1 John Percival Davies 28 Mar 1885 26 Dec 1950 65
Created Baron Darwen 12 Feb 1946
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 7 May 1867 10 May 1949 82
Created Baron Daryngton 12 Feb 1923
MP for Darlington 1898-1910 and 1910-
1923.  PC 1917
10 May 1949 2 Jocelyn Arthur Pike Pease 30 May 1908 5 Apr 1994 85
to     Peerage extinct on his death
5 Apr 1994
DARZI OF DENHAM
12 Jul 2007 B[L] 1 Sir Ara Warkes Darzi 7 May 1960
Created Baron Darzi of Denham for life
12 Jul 2007
PC 2009. OM 2015
DAUBENY
2 Nov 1295 B 1 Elias Daubeny 1264 1305 41
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Daubeny 2 Nov 1295
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 28 May 1508
Created Baron Daubeny 12 Mar 1486
KG 1487
28 May 1508 9 Henry Daubeny,1st Earl of Bridgewater Dec 1493 12 Apr 1548 54
to     Peerages extinct on his death
8 Apr 1548
DAUNTSEY
23 Aug 1664 B 1 James Stuart 11 Jul 1663 20 Jun 1667 3
to     Created Baron of Dauntsey and Earl
20 Jun 1667 and Duke of Cambridge 23 Aug 1664
Second son of James II. KG 1666
Peerages extinct on his death
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
7 Oct 1667 B 1 Edgar Stuart 14 Sep 1667 8 Jun 1671 3
to     Created Baron of Dauntsey and Earl
8 Jun 1671 and Duke of Cambridge 7 Oct 1667
Fourth son of James II
Peerages extinct on his death
DAVENTRY
3 May 1943 V 1 Muriel FitzRoy 8 Aug 1869 8 Jul 1962 92
Created Viscountess Daventry 
3 May 1943
8 Jul 1962 2 Robert Oliver FitzRoy 10 Jan 1893 19 Jan 1986 93
19 Jan 1986 3 Francis Humphrey Maurice FitzRoy
Newdegate 17 Dec 1921 15 Feb 2000 78
Lord Lieutenant Warwickshire 1990-1997
15 Feb 2000 4 James Edward FitzRoy Newdegate 27 Jul 1960
DAVEY
13 Aug 1894 B[L] 1 Sir Horace Davey 29 Aug 1833 20 Feb 1907 73
to     Created Baron Davey for life 13 Aug 1894
20 Feb 1907 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
DAVID
28 Apr 1978 B[L] 1 Nora Ratcliff David 23 Sep 1913 29 Nov 2009 96
to     Created Baroness David for life 28 Apr 1978
29 Nov 2009 Peerage extinct on her death
DAVIDSON
11 Jun 1937 V 1 Sir John Colin Campbell Davidson 23 Feb 1889 11 Dec 1970 81
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
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] 1 Neil Forbes Davidson 13 Sep 1950
Created Baron Davidson of Glen Clova for life
22 Mar 2006
Solicitor-General for Scotland 2000-2001
Advocate General for Scotland 2006-
DAVIDSON OF LAMBETH
14 Nov 1928 B 1 Randall Thomas Davidson 7 Apr 1848 25 May 1930 82
to     Created Baron Davidson of
25 May 1930 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
DAVIDSON OF LUNDIN LINKS
16 Jul 2021 B[L] 1 Ruth Elizabeth Davidson 10 Nov 1978
Created Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links for life
16 Jul 2021
DAVIES
21 Jun 1932 B 1 David Davies 11 May 1880 16 Jun 1944 64
Created Baron Davies 21 Jun 1932
MP for Montgomeryshire 1906-1929
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] 1 Evan Mervyn Davies 21 Nov 1952
Created Baron Davies of Brixton for life
2 Feb 2020
DAVIES OF BRIXTON
18 Sep 2020 B[L] 1 Brinley Howard Davies 17 May 1944 
Created Baron Davies of Abersoch for life
18 Sep 2020
DAVIES OF COITY
1 Oct 1997 B[L] 1 David Garfield Davies 24 Jun 1935 4 March 2019 84
to Created Baron Davies of Coity for life
4 March 2019 1 Oct 1997
Peerage extinct on his death
DAVIES OF GOWER
       4 Sep 1952  
        09 Oct 2019 B[L] 1 Henry Byron Davies
Created Baron Davies of Gower for life on 10 Oct 2019
DAVIES OF LEEK
28 Sep 1970 B[L] 1 Harold Davies 31 Jul 1904 28 Oct 1985 81
to     Created Baron Davies of Leek for life
28 Oct 1985 28 Sep 1970
MP for Leek 1945-1970.  PC 1969
Peerage extinct on his death
DAVIES OF OLDHAM
3 Oct 1997 B[L] 1 Bryan Davies 9 Nov 1939
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
DAVIES OF PENRHYS
8 Jul 1974 B[L] 1 Gwilym Elfred Davies 9 Oct 1913 28 Apr 1992 78
to     Created Baron Davies of Penrhys for life
28 Apr 1992 8 Jul 1974
MP for Rhondda East 1959-1974
Peerage extinct on his death
DAVIES OF STAMFORD
7 Jul 2010 B[L] 1 John Quentin Davies 29 May 1944
Created Baron Davies of Stamford for life
7 Jul 2010
MP for Stamford and Spalding 1987-1997 and
Grantham and Stamford 1997-2010
DAWICK
29 Sep 1919 V 1 Douglas Haig 19 Jun 1861 29 Jan 1928 66
Created Baron Haig,Viscount Dawick
and Earl Haig 29 Sep 1919
See "Haig"
DAWNAY
24 Jul 1897 B 1 Hugh Richard Dawnay,8th Viscount Downe 20 Jul 1844 21 Jan 1924 79
Created Baron Dawnay 24 Jul 1897
See "Downe"
DAWNAY OF COWICK
9 Jun 1796 B 1 John Christopher Burton Dawnay,
to     5th Viscount Downe 15 Nov 1764 18 Feb 1832 67
18 Feb 1832 Created Baron Dawnay of Cowick
9 Jun 1796
Peerage extinct on his death
DAWSON
29 May 1770 B[I] 1 William Henry Dawson 1712 22 Aug 1779 67
Created Baron Dawson 29 May 1770
and Viscount Carlow 24 Jul 1776
See "Carlow"
DAWSON OF PENN
30 Oct 1936 V 1 Bertrand Edward Dawson  9 Mar 1864 7 Mar 1945 80
to     Created Baron Dawson of Penn
7 Mar 1945 9 Feb 1920 and Viscount Dawson of
Penn 30 Oct 1936
PC 1929
Peerages extinct on his death
DEAN OF BESWICK
28 Sep 1983 B[L] 1 Joseph Jabez Dean 3 Jun 1922 26 Feb 1999 76
to     Created Baron Dean of Beswick for life
26 Feb 1999 28 Sep 1983
MP for Leeds West 1974-1983
Peerage extinct on his death
DEAN OF HARPTREE
5 Oct 1993 B[L] 1 Sir (Arthur) Paul Dean 14 Sep 1924 1 Apr 2009 84
to     Created Baron Dean of Harptree for life
1 Apr 2009 5 Oct 1993
MP for Somerset North 1964-1983 and 
Woodspring 1983-1992.  PC 1991
Peerage extinct on his death
DEAN OF THORNTON-LE-FYLDE
12 Oct 1993 B[L] 1 Brenda Dean 29 Apr 1943 13 Mar 2018 74
 to     Created Baroness Dean of Thornton-
13 Mar 2018 le-Fylde for life 12 Oct 1993
PC 1998
Peerage extinct on her death
DEAR
15 Jun 2006 B[L] 1 Sir Geoffrey James Dear 20 Sep 1937
Created Baron Dear for life 15 Jun 2006
DEARING
13 Feb 1998 B[L] 1 Sir Ronald Ernest Dearing 27 Jul 1930 19 Feb 2009 78
to     Created Baron Dearing for life 13 Feb 1998
19 Feb 2009 Peerage extinct on his death
DEBEN
21 Jun 2010 B[L] 1 John Selwyn Gummer 26 Nov 1939
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 and Food 1989-1993.
Secretary of State for the Environment 1993-1997
PC 1985
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.
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