PEERAGE
Last updated 24/04/2024
Date Rank Order Name Born Died  Age
FEVERSHAM
8 Apr 1676 E 1 Sir George Sondes Nov 1599 16 Apr 1677 77
Created Baron of Throwley,Viscount
Sondes and Earl of Feversham
8 Apr 1676
MP for Ashburton 1661-1676
16 Apr 1677 2 Louis de Duras 1641 19 Apr 1709 67
to     Created Baron Duras 29 Jan 1673
19 Apr 1709 KG 1685. Lord Lieutenant Kent 1688-1689
Peerages extinct on his death
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19 Mar 1719 E[L] 1 Ermengarde Melusina Schulenberg 1659 10 May 1743 83
to     Created Baroness of Dundalk,
10 May 1743 Countess and Marchioness of 
Dungannon and Duchess of Munster for life
18 Jul 1716,and Baroness Glastonbury,
Countess of Feversham and Duchess
of Kendal for life 19 Mar 1719
Mistress of George I
Peerages extinct on her death
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23 Jun 1747 B 1 Anthony Duncombe c 1695 18 Jun 1763  
to     Created Baron Feversham 23 Jun 1747
18 Jun 1763 MP for Salisbury 1721-1734 and Downton
1734-1747
Peerage extinct on his death
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14 Jul 1826 B 1 Charles Duncombe 5 Dec 1764 16 Jul 1841 76
Created Baron Feversham 14 Jul 1826
MP for Shaftesbury 1790-1796, Aldborough
1796-1806, Heytesbury 1812-1816 and 
Newport IOW 1818-1826
16 Jul 1841 2 William Duncombe 14 Jan 1798 11 Feb 1867 69
MP for Grimsby 1820-1826,Yorkshire 1826-1831 
Yorkshire West Riding 1832-1841
11 Feb 1867 3 William Ernest Duncombe 28 Jan 1829 13 Jan 1915 85
25 Jul 1868 E 1 Created Viscount Helmsley and Earl of
Feversham 25 Jul 1868
MP for East Retford 1852-1857 and 
N Riding Yorkshire 1859-1867
13 Jan 1915 4 Charles William Reginald Duncombe 8 May 1879 15 Sep 1916 37
2 MP for Thirsk 1906-1915
15 Sep 1916 5 Charles William Slingsby Duncombe 2 Nov 1906 4 Sep 1963 56
to     3 On his death the Earldom and Viscountcy
4 Sep 1963 became extinct whilst the Barony 
passed to - 
4 Sep 1963 6 Charles Anthony Peter Duncombe 3 Jan 1945 29 Mar 2009 64
29 Mar 2009 7 Jasper Orlando Slingsby Duncombe 14 Mar 1968
FFRENCH
14 Feb 1798 B[I] 1 Dame Rose ffrench 8 Dec 1805
Created Baroness ffrench 14 Feb 1798
8 Dec 1805 2 Sir Thomas ffrench,2nd baronet c 1765 9 Dec 1814
For further information on the death of this peer,
see the note at the foot of this page
9 Dec 1814 3 Charles Austin ffrench 9 Apr 1786 25 Sep 1860 74
25 Sep 1860 4 Thomas ffrench 13 Sep 1810 20 Jan 1892 81
20 Jan 1892 5 Marcus Joseph ffrench 1 Oct 1813 2 Nov 1893 80
2 Nov 1893 6 Charles Austin Thomas Robert John
Joseph ffrench 20 Jun 1868 4 Mar 1955 86
4 Mar 1955 7 Peter Martin Joseph Charles John
Mary ffrench 4 May 1926 30 Jan 1986 59
30 Jan 1986 8 Robuck John Peter Charles Mario ffrench 14 Mar 1956
FIELD
14 Apr 1890 B 1 William Ventris Field 21 Aug 1813 23 Jan 1907 93
to     Created Baron Field 14 Apr 1890
23 Jan 1907 PC 1890
Peerage extinct on his death
FIELD OF BIRKENHEAD
15 Sep 2020 B[L] 1 Frank Ernest Field CH, PC, DL 16 Jul 1942 23 April 2024 81
to     Created Baron Field of Birkenhead for life.
23 Apr 2024
  Peerage extinct on his death
FIELDHOUSE
26 Feb 1990 B[L] 1 Sir John David Elliott Fieldhouse 12 Feb 1928 17 Feb 1992 64
to     Created Baron Fieldhouse for life 26 Feb 1990
17 Feb 1992 Admiral of the Fleet 1985. Chief of the Defence 
Staff 1985-1988
Peerage extinct on his death
FIFE
c 1115 E[S] 1 Beth
Witness to Charter of Scone as Earl 
of Fife in 1115
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c 1120 E[S] 1 Constantine c 1128
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c 1129 E[S] 1 Gillemichael Macduff 1139
1139 2 Duncan Macduff 1154
1154 3 Duncan Macduff 1203
1203 4 Malcolm Macduff 1228
1228 5 Malcolm Macduff 1266
1266 6 Colbran Macduff 1270
1270 7 Duncan Macduff 1262 25 Sep 1288 26
25 Sep 1288 8 Duncan Macduff 1285 1353 68
1353 9 Isabel [or Elizabeth] Stewart c 1389
She resigned the peerage in favour of -
1371 10 Robert Stewart 1340 3 Sep 1420 80
Third son of Robert II of Scotland who 
was created Duke of Albany 1398 (qv)
3 Sep 1420 11 Murdoch Stewart,Duke of Albany 24 May 1425
to     He was executed and his peerages
24 May 1425 forfeited
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12 May 1567 M[S] 1 James Hepburn,Earl of Bothwell c 1535 14 Apr 1578
to     Created Marquess of Fife and Duke of
29 Dec 1567 Orkney 12 May 1567
Peerages forfeited 29 Dec 1567
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26 Apr 1759 E[I] 1 William Duff c 1696 30 Sep 1763
Created Baron Braco of Kilbryde
28 Jul 1735 and Viscount Macduff and
Earl Fife 26 Apr 1759
MP for Banffshire 1727-1734
30 Sep 1763 2 James Duff 28 Sep 1729 28 Jan 1809 79
5 Jul 1790 B 1 Created Baron Fife [GB] 5 Jul 1790
to     MP for Banffshire 1754-1784 and Elgin
28 Jan 1809 1784-1790. Lord Lieutenant Banff 1794-1809
On his death the Barony became extinct 
whilst the Earldom passed to -
28 Jan 1809 3 Alexander Duff 1731 17 Apr 1811 79
17 Apr 1811 4 James Duff 6 Oct 1776 9 Mar 1857 80
28 Apr 1827 B 1 Created Baron Fife [UK] 28 Apr 1827
to     MP for Banffshire 1818-1826. Lord
9 Mar 1857 Lieutenant Banff 1813-1856.  KT 1827
On his death the Barony became extinct 
whilst the Earldom passed to -
9 Mar 1857 5 James Duff 6 Jul 1814 7 Aug 1879 65
Created Baron Skene 1 Oct 1857
MP for Banffshire 1837-1857. Lord Lieutenant
Elgin 1851-1856 and Banff 1856-1879.  KT 1860
7 Aug 1879 6 Alexander William George Duff 10 Nov 1849 29 Jan 1912 62
13 Jul 1885 E 1 Created Earl of Fife 13 Jul 1885,
 to     Marquess of Macduff and Duke of 
29 Jan 1912 Fife 29 Jul 1889 and Earl of Macduff and
29 Jul 1889 D 1 Duke of Fife 16 Oct 1899
to     For a discussion on the date of creation of the
29 Jan 1912 second Dukedom,which differs from the date shown
16 Oct 1899 D 1 in standard peerage reference books,see the note
at the foot of this page
For details of the special remainders included in the
creations of the Earldom and Dukedom of 1899,see
the note at the foot of this page
For information on the shipwrecking of the Duke
and his family in December 1911,see the note at
the foot of this page
MP for Elgin and Nairnshires 1874-1879.
Lord Lieutenant Elgin 1872-1902 and 
London 1900-1912. PC 1880  KT 1881 
KG 1911
On his death the Earldom of 1759 became probably
dormant,the Earldom of 1885 and the Marquessate
and the Dukedom of 1889 became extinct whilst
the Earldom and Dukedom of 1899 passed to -
29 Jan 1912 2 Princess Alexandra Victoria Alberta 
Edwina Louise of Connaught 17 May 1891 26 Feb 1959 67
26 Feb 1959 3 James George Alexander Bannerman
Carnegie 23 Sep 1929 22 Jun 2015 85
He succeeded as 12th Earl of Southesk in 1992
22 Jun 2015 4 David Charles Carnegie 3 Mar 1961
FILKIN
29 Jul 1999 B[L] 1 David Geoffrey Nigel Filkin 1 Jul 1944
Created Baron Filkin for life 29 Jul 1999
FINCASTLE
16 Aug 1686 V[S] 1 Lord Charles Murray 28 Feb 1661 19 Apr 1710 49
Created Lord Murray of Blair,Viscount
of Fincastle and Earl of Dunmore 
16 Aug 1686
See "Dunmore"
FINCH OF DAVENTRY
10 Jan 1673 B 1 Heneage Finch 23 Dec 1621 18 Dec 1682 60
Created Baron Finch of Daventry
10 Jan 1673 and Earl of Nottingham
12 May 1681
See "Nottingham"
FINCH OF FORDWICH
7 Apr 1640 B 1 John Finch 17 Sep 1584 20 Nov 1660 76
to     Created Baron Finch of Fordwich 
20 Nov 1660 7 Apr 1640
MP for Canterbury 1614 and 1625-1629.
Speaker of the House of Commons 1628-
1629. Lord Keeper 1640-1641
Peerage extinct on his death
FINDLATER
20 Feb 1638 E[S] 1 James Ogilvy,2nd Lord Ogilvy of Deskford c 1653
Created Earl of Findlater 20 Feb 1638
c 1653 2 Patrick Ogilvy 30 Mar 1658
30 Mar 1658 3 James Ogilvy 1711
1711 4 James Ogilvy 11 Jul 1663 19 Aug 1730 67
KT 1704  PC 1723
Created Earl of Seafield (qv) 1701
19 Aug 1730 5 James Ogilvy c 1689 9 Jul 1764
9 Jul 1764 6 James Ogilvy c 1714 3 Nov 1770
3 Nov 1770 7 James Ogilvy 10 Apr 1750 5 Oct 1811 61
to     Peerage extinct on his death
5 Oct 1811
FINGALL
26 Sep 1628 E[I] 1 Luke Plunkett,10th Baron Killeen 1589 29 Mar 1637 47
Created Earl of Fingall 26 Sep 1628
29 Mar 1637 2 Christopher Plunkett 18 Aug 1649
18 Aug 1649 3 Luke Plunkett 1639 c 1684
c 1684 4 Peter Plunkett 1678 24 Jan 1718 39
24 Jan 1718 5 Justin Plunkett 27 Mar 1734
27 Mar 1734 6 Robert Plunkett 31 Jan 1738
31 Jan 1738 7 Arthur James Plunkett Jul 1731 21 Aug 1793 62
21 Aug 1793 8 Arthur James Plunkett 9 Sep 1759 30 Jul 1836 76
20 Jun 1831 B 1 Created Baron Fingall [UK] 20 Jun 1831
KP 1821
30 Jul 1836 9 Arthur James Plunkett 29 Mar 1791 21 Apr 1869 78
2 MP for Meath 1830-1832. PC [I] 1834. Lord
Lieutenant Meath 1849-1869. KP 1846
21 Apr 1869 10 Arthur James Plunkett 10 May 1819 24 Apr 1881 61
3
24 Apr 1881 11 Arthur James Francis Plunkett 1 Apr 1859 12 Nov 1929 70
4 PC [I] 1892
12 Nov 1929 12 Oliver James Horace Plunkett 17 Jun 1896 5 Mar 1984 87
to     5 Peerages extinct on his death
5 Mar 1984
FINK
18 Jan 2011 B[L] 1 Stanley Fink 15 Sep 1957
Created Baron Fink for life 18 Jan 2011
FINKELSTEIN
11 Sep 2013 B[L] 1 Daniel William Finkelstein 30 Aug 1962
Created Baron Finkelstein for life 11 Sep 2013
FINLAY
27 Mar 1919 V 1 Robert Bannatyne Finlay 11 Jul 1842 9 Mar 1929 86
Created Baron Finlay 19 Dec 1916
and Viscount Finlay 27 Mar 1919
MP for Inverness 1885-1892 and 1895-1906
and Edinburgh & St.Andrews Universities
1910-1916. Solicitor General 1895-1900
Attorney General 1900-1905. Lord
Chancellor 1916-1919   PC 1905
9 Mar 1929 2 William Finlay 15 Oct 1875 30 Jun 1945 69
to     Lord Justice of Appeal 1938-1945. PC 1938
30 Jun 1945 Peerages extinct on his death
FINLAY OF LLANDAFF
28 Jun 2001 B[L] 1 Ilora Gillian Finlay 23 Feb 1949
Created Baroness Finlay of Llandaff for life
28 Jun 2001
FINN
14 Oct 2015 B[L] 1 Simone Jari Finn 10 Jun 1968
Created Baroness Finn for life 14 Oct 2015
FINSBERG
27 Jun 1992 B[L] 1 Sir Geoffrey Finsberg 13 Jun 1926 7 Oct 1996 70
to     Created Baron Finsberg for life 27 Jun 1992
7 Oct 1996 MP for Hampstead 1970-1983 and Hampstead &
Highgate 1983-1992
Peerage extinct on his death
FISHER
7 Dec 1909 B 1 John Arbuthnot Fisher 25 Jan 1841 10 Jul 1920 79
Created Baron Fisher 7 Dec 1909
Admiral of the Fleet 1905  OM 1905
10 Jul 1920 2 Cecil Vavasseur-Fisher 18 Jul 1868 11 May 1955 86
11 May 1955 3 John Vavasseur Fisher 24 Jul 1921 31 Oct 2012 91
31 Oct 2012 4 Patrick Vavasseur Fisher 14 Jun 1953
FISHER OF CAMDEN
19 Jun 1974 B[L] 1 Sir Samuel Fisher 20 Jan 1905 12 Oct 1979 74
to     Created Baron Fisher of Camden for life
12 Oct 1979 19 Jun 1974
Peerage extinct on his death
FISHER OF LAMBETH
2 Jun 1961 B[L] 1 Geoffrey Francis Fisher 5 May 1887 14 Sep 1972 85
to     Created Baron Fisher of Lambeth for life
14 Sep 1972 2 Jun 1961
Bishop of Chester 1932-1939, Bishop of
London 1939-1945 and Archbishop of
Canterbury 1945-1961.  PC 1939
Peerage extinct on his death
FISHER OF REDNAL
2 Jul 1974 B[L] 1 Doris Mary Gertrude Fisher 13 Sep 1919 18 Dec 2005 86
to     Created Baroness Fisher of Rednal for life
18 Dec 2005 2 Jul 1974
MP for Ladywood 1970-1974.
Peerage extinct on her death
FISHERWICK
3 Jul 1790 B 1 Arthur Chichester,5th Earl of Donegall 13 Jun 1739 5 Jan 1799 59
Created Baron Fisherwick 3 Jul 1790
See "Donegall"
FISKE
18 Sep 1967 B[L] 1 Sir William Geoffrey Fiske 3 Jul 1905 13 Jan 1975 69
to     Created Baron Fiske for life 18 Sep 1967
13 Jan 1975 Peerage extinct on his death
FITT
14 Oct 1983 B[L] 1 Gerard Fitt 9 Apr 1926 26 Aug 2005 79
to     Created Baron Fitt for life 14 Oct 1983
26 Aug 2005 MP for Belfast West 1966-1983
Peerage extinct on his death
FITZALAN
23 Jun 1295 B 1 Brian Fitzalan 1 Jun 1306
to     Summoned to Parliament as Lord
1 Jun 1306 Fitzalan 23 Jun 1295
On his death the peerage fell into 
abeyance
FITZALAN OF DERWENT
28 Apr 1921 V 1 Edmund Bernard Fitzalan-Howard 1 Jun 1855 18 May 1947 91
Created Viscount Fitzalan of
Derwent 28 Apr 1921
MP for Chichester 1894-1921. Viceroy of
Ireland 1921-1922.  PC 1918  PC [I] 1921
KG 1925
18 May 1947 2 Henry Edmund Fitzalan-Howard 30 Oct 1883 17 May 1962 78
to     Peerage extinct on his death
17 May 1962
FITZBERNARD
8 Jan 1313 B 1 Thomas Fitzbernard 5 Jan 1289 18 Dec 1322 33
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Fitzbernard 8 Jan 1313
18 Dec 1322 2 John Fitzbernard 4 Apr 1361
to     Peerage extinct on his death
4 Apr 1361
FITZCLARENCE
4 Jun 1831 V 1 George Augustus Frederick FitzClarence 16 Jan 1794 20 Mar 1842 48
Created Viscount FitzClarence and
Earl of Munster 4 Jun 1831
See "Munster"
FITZGERALD
23 Jun 1882 B[L] 1 John David FitzGerald 1 May 1816 16 Oct 1889 73
to     Created Baron FitzGerald for life 23 Jun 1882
16 Oct 1889 MP for Ennis 1852-1860. Solicitor General
of Ireland 1855-1856. Attorney General of
Ireland 1856-1858 and 1859-1860.  Lord of Appeal
in Ordinary 1882-1889. PC [I] 1856. PC 1882
Peerage extinct on his death
FITZGERALD OF OFFALY
1176 B[I] 1 Maurice FitzGerald Sep 1177
Received a grant of the Barony of
Offaly 1176
Sep 1177 2 Gerald FitzGerald 1205
1205 3 Maurice FitzGerald 1195 20 May 1257 61
20 May 1257 4 Maurice FitzGerald 1277
1277 5 Gerald FitzGerald 1287
1287 6 Maurice FitzGerald c 1294
c 1294 7 John FitzThomas FitzGerald c 1250 10 Sep 1316
He was created Earl of Kildare (qv) in 1316
with which title this peerage then merged
FITZGERALD AND VESEY
31 Jul 1826 B[I] 1 Catherine Fitzgerald 1759 3 Jan 1832 72
Created Baroness Fitzgerald and
Vesey 31 Jul 1826
3 Jan 1832 2 William Vesey-Fitzgerald c 1782 11 May 1843  
10 Jan 1835 B 1 Created Baron Fitzgerald 10 Jan 1835
to     MP for Clare 1818-1828, Newport 1829-1830,
11 May 1843 Lostwithiel 1830 and Ennis 1808-1812,1813-1818
and 1831-1835. President of the Board of Control 
1841-1843. Lord Lieutenant Clare 1831-1843.  
PC [I] 1810  PC 1812
On his death the UK Barony became extinct
whilst the Irish Barony passed to -
11 May 1843 3 Henry Vesey-Fitzgerald c 1786 30 Mar 1860
to     Peerage extinct on his death
30 Mar 1860
FITZGIBBON
6 Jul 1789 B[I] 1 John Fitzgibbon 1748 28 Jan 1802 53
6 Dec 1793 V[I] 1 Created Baron Fitzgibbon [I] 6 Jul 1789,Viscount
24 Sep 1799 B 1 Fitzgibbon [I] 6 Dec 1793,Earl of Clare [I] 12 Jun
1795 and Baron Fitzgibbon [GB] 24 Sep 1799
See "Clare"
FITZHARDINGE
14 Jul 1663 V[I] 1 Charles Berkeley 11 Jan 1630 3 Jun 1665 35
Created Baron Berkeley of Rathdowne
and Viscount Fitzhardinge 14 Jul 1663
and Baron Botetourt of Langport
and Earl of Falmouth 17 Mar 1665
MP for Romney 1661-1665. 
3 Jun 1665 2 Charles Berkeley 14 Dec 1599 12 Jun 1668 68
MP for Heytesbury 1661-1665
12 Jun 1668 3 Sir Maurice Berkeley,1st baronet 15 Jun 1628 13 Jun 1690 61
MP for Wells 1661-1679 and Bath 1681-1690
PC [I] 1663. Lord Lieutenant Somerset 1689-1690
13 Jun 1690 4 John Berkeley 18 Apr 1650 19 Dec 1712 62
to     MP for Hindon 1691-1695 and Windsor 
19 Dec 1712 1695-1710
Peerage extinct on his death
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17 Aug 1841 E 1 William Fitzhardinge Berkeley 26 Dec 1786 10 Oct 1857 70
to     Created Baron Segrave of Berkeley
10 Oct 1857 Castle 10 Sep 1831 and Earl
Fitzhardinge 17 Aug 1841
MP for Gloucestershire 1810-1811. Lord
Lieutenant Gloucester 1835-1857
Peerages extinct on his death
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5 Aug 1861 B 1 Sir Maurice Frederick Fitzhardinge Berkeley 3 Jan 1788 17 Oct 1867 79
Created Baron Fitzhardinge 5 Aug 1861
MP for Gloucester 1831-1833,1835-1837
and 1841-1857.  PC 1855
17 Oct 1867 2 Francis William Fitzhardinge Berkeley 16 Nov 1826 29 Jun 1896 69
MP for Cheltenham 1856-1865
29 Jun 1896 3 Charles Paget Fitzhardinge Berkeley 19 Apr 1830 5 Dec 1916 86
to     MP for Gloucester 1862-1865
5 Dec 1916 Peerage extinct on his death
FITZHARRIS
29 Dec 1800 V 1 James Harris,1st Baron Malmesbury 9 Apr 1746 21 Nov 1820 74
Created Viscount Fitzharris and Earl 
of Malmesbury 29 Dec 1800
See "Malmesbury"
FITZHENRY
4 Mar 1309 B 1 Aucher Fitzhenry 10 Apr 1339
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Fitzhenry 4 Mar 1309
10 Apr 1339 2 Henry Fitzaucher 1299 after 1345
to     On his death the peerage became either
after 1345 dormant or extinct
FITZHERBERT
26 Jun 1660 B 1 Heneage Finch,3rd Earl of Winchilsea c 1627 1 Sep 1689
Created Baron Fitzherbert 26 Jun 1660
See "Winchilsea"
FITZHUGH
15 May 1321 B 1 Henry FitzHugh 1356
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
FitzHugh 15 May 1321
1356 2 Henry FitzHugh 1338 29 Aug 1386 48
29 Aug 1386 3 Henry FitzHugh 1363 11 Jan 1425 61
KG c 1409
11 Jan 1425 4 William FitzHugh 1398 22 Oct 1452 54
22 Oct 1452 5 Henry FitzHugh 1429 4 Jun 1472 42
4 Jun 1472 6 Richard FitzHugh 1457 20 Nov 1487 30
20 Nov 1487 7 George FitzHugh 28 Jan 1513
to     On his death the peerage fell into abeyance
28 Jan 1513
FITZJOHN
23 Jun 1295 B 1 Richard Fitzjohn 1252 5 Aug 1297 45
to     Summoned to Parliament as Lord
5 Aug 1297 Fitzjohn 23 Jun 1295
Peerage extinct on his death
FITZMAURICE
7 Oct 1751 V[I] 1 John Petty 1706 10 May 1761 54
Created Baron Dunkeron and Viscount
Fitzmaurice 7 Oct 1751 and Earl of
Shelburne 6 Jun 1753 and Baron
Wycombe 20 May 1760
See "Shelburne"
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9 Jan 1906 B 1 Edmond George Petty-Fitzmaurice 19 Jun 1846 21 Jun 1935 89
to     Created Baron Fitzmaurice 9 Jan 1906
21 Jun 1935 MP for Calne 1868-1885 and Cricklade
1898-1905. Chancellor of the Duchy of
Lancaster 1998-1909.  PC 1908
Peerage extinct on his death
FITZPAYNE
6 Feb 1299 B 1 Robert Fitzpayne 22 Aug 1316
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Fitzpayne 6 Feb 1299
22 Aug 1316 2 Robert Fitzpayne 1288 30 Nov 1354 66
to     On his death the peerage became dormant
30 Nov 1354 until 1450 when it fell into abeyance
FITZREGINALD
29 Dec 1299 B 1 John Fitzreginald 10 Feb 1310
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Fitzreginald 29 Dec 1299
10 Feb 1310 2 Herbert Fitz-John Fitzreginald after 1310
to     On his death the peerage is presumed to
after 1310 have become extinct
FITZROGER
6 Feb 1299 B 1 John Fitzroger
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Fitzroger 6 Feb 1299
10 Apr 1299 B 2 Andrew Fitzroger
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Fitzroger 10 Apr 1299
Nothing further known of these peerages
FITZWALTER
23 Jun 1295 B 1 Robert FitzWalter 1247 18 Jan 1325 77
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
FitzWalter 23 Jun 1295
18 Jan 1325 2 Robert FitzWalter c 1297 6 May 1328
6 May 1328 3 John FitzWalter c 1314 18 Oct 1361
18 Oct 1361 4 Walter FitzWalter 1345 26 Sep 1386 41
26 Sep 1386 5 Walter FitzWalter c 1368 16 May 1406
16 May 1406 6 Humphrey FitzWalter 18 Oct 1398 1 Sep 1415 16
1 Sep 1415 7 Walter FitzWalter 22 Jun 1401 25 Nov 1431 30
25 Nov 1431 8 Elizabeth Radcliffe 28 Jul 1430 c 1485
c 1485 9 John Radcliffe 1 Jan 1452 24 Nov 1496 44
to     He was attainted and the peerage forfeited
24 Nov 1496
25 Jan 1506 10 Robert Radclyffe c 1483 27 Nov 1542
18 Jun 1525 V 1 Created Viscount FitzWalter 18 Jun 1525
and Earl of Sussex (qv) 8 Dec 1529
KG 1524
Restored to the peerage 1506
27 Nov 1542 11 Henry Radclyffe,2nd Earl of Sussex c 1507 17 Feb 1557
2
17 Feb 1557 12 Thomas Radclyffe,3rd Earl of Sussex c 1525 9 Jun 1583
3 He was summoned to Parliament by a Writ of
Acceleration as Baron FitzWalter 24 Aug 1553
9 Jun 1583 13 Henry Radclyffe,4th Earl of Sussex c 1532 14 Dec 1593
4
14 Dec 1593 14 Robert Radclyffe,5th Earl of Sussex 12 Jun 1573 22 Sep 1629 56
5 On his death the Viscountcy passed to 
Edward Radclyffe,6th Earl of Sussex (see below)
whilst the Barony passed to -
22 Sep 1629 15 Henry Mildmay c 1585 1654
1654 16 Henry Mildmay 24 Mar 1662
24 Mar 1662 17 Benjamin Mildmay c 1646 1 Jun 1679
1 Jun 1679 18 Charles Mildmay 31 Aug 1670 16 Feb 1728 57
16 Feb 1728 19 Benjamin Mildmay 27 Dec 1672 29 Feb 1756 83
to     Created Viscount Harwich and Earl
29 Feb 1756 FitzWalter 14 May 1730 (not 1735 as shown in
14 May 1730 E 1 Burke's Peerage)
to     President of the Board of Trade 1735-1756
29 Feb 1756 Lord Lieutenant Essex 1741-1756  PC 1735
On his death the creations of 1730 became
extinct and the Barony fell into abeyance
30 Sep 1924 20 Henry Fitzwalter Plumptre 12 Dec 1860 12 Sep 1932 71
to     Abeyance terminated in his favour 1924.
12 Sep 1932 On his death the peerage again fell
into abeyance
For information on claims to this peerage made in 
1841-1844 and 1924,see the note at the foot of
this page
28 May 1953 21 Fitzwalter Brook Plumptre 15 Jan 1914 14 Oct 2004 90
Abeyance terminated in his favour 1953
14 Oct 2004 22 Julian Brook Plumptre 18 Oct 1952
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22 Sep 1629 V 6 Edward Radclyffe,6th Earl of Sussex c 1559 Aug 1643
to     Peerage extinct on his death
Aug 1643
FITZWALTER OF WOODHAM WALTER
17 Apr 1868 B 1 Brook William Bridges 2 Jun 1801 6 Dec 1875 74
to     Created Baron Fitzwalter of
6 Dec 1875 Woodham Walter 17 Apr 1868
MP for Kent East 1852 and 1857-1868
Peerage extinct on his death
FITZWARINE
23 Jun 1295 B 1 Fulke Fitzwarine c 1250 c 1315
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Fitzwarine 23 Jun 1295
c 1315 2 Fulke Fitzwarine 1349
1349 3 Fulke Fitzwarine c 1342 Mar 1373
Mar 1373 4 Fulke Fitzwarine 1378
1378 5 Fulke Fitzwarine c 1363 8 Aug 1391
8 Aug 1391 6 Fulke Fitzwarine c 1388 Oct 1407
Oct 1407 7 Fulke Fitzwarine 1406 21 Sep 1420 14
21 Sep 1420 8 Elizabeth Hankford c 1403 c 1428
to     On her death the peerage fell into abeyance
c 1428
2 Jan 1449 9 Thomazine Bourchier c 1421 26 Mar 1467
She married Sir William Bourchier who was
summoned to Parliament as Lord Fitzwarine
in her right in 1449. He died c 1471
c 1471 10 Fulke Bourchier 12 Sep 1479
12 Sep 1479 11 John Bourchier c 1470 30 Apr 1539
He was created Earl of Bath (qv) in 1536
30 Apr 1539 12 John Bourchier,2nd Earl of Bath 1499 10 Feb 1561 61
10 Feb 1561 13 William Bourchier,3rd Earl of Bath by 1557 12 Jul 1623
12 Jul 1623 14 Edward Bourchier,4th Earl of Bath Feb 1590 2 Mar 1637 47
to     On his death the peerage again fell into
2 Mar 1637 abeyance
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25 Feb 1342 B 1 William Fitzwarine 28 Oct 1361
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Fitzwarine 25 Feb 1342
28 Oct 1361 2 Ivo Fitzwarine 6 Sep 1414
to     On his death the peerage fell into abeyance
6 Sep 1414
Thomas ffrench,2nd Baron ffrench
Both the title and the family name are spelled with a lower case double-'f'.
The 2nd Baron ffrench committed suicide in the room of one of his sons at Trinity College,
Dublin, on 9 December 1814. The following account of the inquest held into his death is
taken from "The Caledonian Mercury" of 26 December 1814.
'On Saturday an inquest was held by Alderman Bloxham, Coroner, on the body of the late
Right Hon. Thomas ffrench. The Jury, after identifying and examining the body, adjourned to
the Medical Lecture Room, in the College, where the inquest was held.
'Surgeon Richard Stanley Ireland, deposed, that the deceased came by his death by a ball 
from a gun or pistol, passing through the right side of his head.
'Matthew Rawden, sworn - is servant to Gonville ffrench, Esq., and other young gentlemen of
the College; saw Lord ffrench, for the last time alive, on Friday, about two o'clock; deceased
called witness into the room where the body is, and told him to sign his name to a paper
which lay on the table; witness asked the contents; deceased said, "no matter, sign your
name after mine;" witness did so; deceased remarked (as witness thought in a jesting tone)
"you take up much room;" witness did not remark any thing unusual, but thought that deceased
looked frightened, and paced the room backwards and forwards very fast; witness remained
about five minutes in the room; then went to the room of Mr Pakenham opposite; heard a shot;
did not know from whence it was fired; thought it not extraordinary, as some young gentlemen
might amuse themselves by firing their pistols; remained about half and hour, when he again
entered the room of Mr ffrench, it was full of smoke; he saw Lord ffrench lying on the carpet,
with his face covered with blood; entered the room by a key in his possession, merely about
his business; thinks he heard two shots, almost at the same moment; is sure he was the first
who entered the room; he would have heard if any other person entered; when he saw the 
body, he returned immediately to Mr Pakenham's room, and said there was a shocking sight
in the next room; Mr Pakenham, Mr Smyth, and witness entered the room where the deceased
lay, and saw him, apparently dead; witness saw the deceased at McDonald's Hotel, in Mary
Street, the day before; saw him during the day on which this event happened; heard persons
say he appeared deranged; there was no person in the room when witness signed the paper
[apart from Lord ffrench, one assumes]; it was a printed paper, with the name of ffrench
subscribed.
'Mr Magrath, the Police Magistrate, here produced a letter marked "private" directed to the
Hon. Thomas ffrench; it was found on the chimney piece; it was sealed with wax, bearing the
impression of a tenpenny bank token.
'Counsellor O'Dwyer here said, that he conceived it his duty to state to the Jury, that they
would exceed their duty by opening a letter, which was the property of the Hon. Thomas
ffrench. It would be an outrage on the sacredness of a seal, which no principle of law
authorised.
'Alderman Bloxham thought it his duty to submit any document to the Jury which would tend
to satisfy their minds in giving their verdict; however, he would wait to hear whatever evidence
would be produced. He said, that he could call to mind no instance of Counsel being employed
in a case of this nature.
'Counsellor O'Dwyer answered, that in the course of a practice of twenty years he had been
frequently heard at inquests.
'The letter was not opened.
'Christopher Hughes, examined - Knew the deceased for many years; saw him last on Thursday,
in the hall of the Four Courts, between two and three o'clock; observed that he looked more
joyous than a man under pressure of such misfortunes could be supposed to do. Witness dined
with the deceased on Thursday last, at Radcliffe's tavern; they drank small beer at dinner; had
no wine; deceased called for a glass of rum, part of which he made into punch. Deceased
talked very incoherently, so as to impress witness with a notion that he was insane; deceased 
talked something of one man being fed on venison, and another on mutton; but it was so 
foolish that witness could not understand him; witness dreaded some misfortune; on his oath
he did not consider deceased to be of sound mind.
Mr J. Ormsby, sworn - Knew the deceased 25 years; met him on Friday about one o'clock, at
the lower end of Nassau Street; he looked gloomy and heavy; when witness approached, he
thought deceased looked wild, he held down his head without saluting him; thought he must
have seen him; was always in the habit of saluting witness; when he went home, he remarked
to his partner that Lord ffrench seemed distracted.
'R.B. Foster, Esq., sworn - the daughter of Lord ffrench is married to the elder brother of
witness; he saw the deceased on Wednesday last, and wished to speak to him; Lord ffrench
appeared unusually busy, and did not salute witness; never passed witness before without 
saluting him; thought the deceased rather sharp sighted than otherwise; when he saw 
deceased in this unusual mood, he was uneasy lest he might have a duel on his hands;
attempted several times to speak to the deceased, but was always avoided; he mentioned
this to a gentleman who was with him; witness had a conversation with the deceased after-
wards; he appeared inconsistent both in mind and manner; witness remarked the same to his
family.
'Peter Nugent Daly, Esq., sworn - Is an officer in the 95th regiment; returned to this country
on Monday last; waited on Lord ffrench on Tuesday; was received in a most friendly manner; 
witness saw the deceased again on Thursday, in Henry Street; witness was walking with an
officer, to whom he said, "This is Lord ffrench." The officer remarked that he looked hurried
in thought; witness said, "How do you do, my Lord?" deceased made no answer; he took 
deceased by the hand, who looked wildly on witness; asked several questions of deceased,
but received no answer; witness thought him mad, and told his mother when he went home 
that Lord ffrench would lose his reason.
'John Daniel Byrne, Esq., swore - that he and the deceased were intimately acquainted; he met
him on Thursday in Charles Street; deceased stared at witness without appearing to know him,
though he always treated witness with courtesy and attention; he thought, at the time, that
deceased was deranged.
'Isaac Cahill, sworn - Is apprentice to Mr Betagh, attorney; saw Lord ffrench last on Thursday,
in the Four Courts; he expressed to his Lordship that he was glad a certain matter of business
had terminated as his Lordship wished; deceased immediately started off, with seeming to
regard him; deceased had always been extremely polite to him; he had waited on him on 
Saturday last, to settle some professional business; deceased began to talk of extraneous
matter, which had no relation to the business he came about; was complaining to witness
of some treachery which witness could not understand; deceased interrupted the business by
introducing various other subjects; deceased had always been a man of uncommon precision
in business.
'John Ffrench Madden, Esq., sworn - Knew deceased for many years; saw him last on Thursday;
did not consider him sound in mind; he observed to his partner, Mr Kelly, that there seemed a
wonderful alteration of intellect in his Lordship.
'Richard Pakenham, Esq., sworn - Is a member of the University; entered the room where 
deceased lay, along with Rawden, the first witness; observed deceased, as before described,
with a pistol in his hand; has seen Lord ffrench often, but did not know him as an
acquaintance.
'The evidence ended here.
'There were two bags of papers found in the room, which the Jury wished to inspect. To this
Counsellor O'Dwyer objected; they had no proof that these papers were the property of the
deceased; they were found in the room of Gonville ffrench, Esq., and it would be exceeding
the limits of their duty to inspect them. He commented on the evidence which had been given.
He hoped that the Jury would not, by returning a verdict, aggravate the misfortunes of this
afflicted family, by which the chattels and goods of the deceased must revert to the Crown
[until 1961 English law considered suicide (or attempted suicide) to be a crime punishable by
forfeiture of goods and property to the Crown unless the suicide was the result of madness or
illness]; of this he had no apprehensions, satisfied as he was, that their verdict would flow
from the evidence before them.
'The Jury, after consulting about half an hour, returned a verdict of Insanity.'
Lord ffrench is described as being a 'prominent banker.' In the Dublin "Freeman's Journal" of
9 December 1814, it is stated that "the perplexities into which his Lordship was plunged, by
the unfortunate storm which had so unexpectedly overtaken the great banking concern with
which he once had a connection, is the only cause to which this melancholy catastrophe 
can be traced."
The date of the second creation of the Dukedom of Fife
The standard works of reference on the peerage all state that the second creation of the
Dukedom of Fife occurred on 24 April 1900. The creation was announced in the "London Gazette"
on that date (for the wording of the announcement see the following note). The entry does not
include any date of the creation, and it appears that the standard works of reference have
simply adopted the date of the Gazette as being the date of creation.
Another website devoted to the peerage is that maintained by David Beamish. David's excellent
page can be found at http://www.peerages.info/   I noted that his page shows a date of 
creation of the 2nd Dukedom of Fife of 16 October 1899. I therefore wrote to David, and he very
kindly provided me with additional information in support of that date. David referred me to 
C231/19, page 153, of the Crown Office Docket Books held in the National Archives. Another
friend, Richard Rutter, who is also very interested in matters pertaining to the peerage, has now
provided me with a photograph of the relevant page referred to above.
 
The entry reads "Letters Patent granting unto His Grace Alexander William George Duke of Fife
K.T. the dignities of an Earl and Duke of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland by the
respective names styles and titles of Earl of Macduff in the County of Banff and Duke of Fife to
hold the same to him and the heirs male of his marriage with Her Royal Highness Princess Louise
Victoria Alexandra Dagmar of Wales Duchess of Fife with remainder to Lady Alexandra Victoria 
Alberta Edwina Louisa Duff by the respective names styles and titles of Countess of Macduff
aforesaid and Duchess of Fife and her heirs male and in default of such issue with remainder to
Lady Maud Alexandra Victoria Georgina Bertha Duff by the same names styles and titles and
her heirs male and in default of such issue to the after born daughters of the said Alexander
William George Duke of Fife by his aforesaid marriage by the same names styles and titles and
their respective heirs male. Dated 16th October 1899. By Warrant."
My thanks to David and Richard for their assistance in resolving this question.
The special remainders to the Earldom of Macduff and Dukedom of Fife created in 1899
From the "London Gazette" of 24 April 1900 (issue 27186, page 2605):-
"The Queen has been pleased, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, to grant the dignities of Earl and Duke of the said United Kingdom unto
unto Alexander William George, Duke of Fife, K.T., by the names, styles, and titles of Earl of 
Macduff, in the county of Banff, and Duke of Fife: With remainder to the heirs male of his body
by his marriage with Her Royal Highness Princess Louise Victoria Alexandra Dagmar of Wales.
With remainder in default of such issue to their elder daughter, Alexandra Victoria Alberta Edwina
Louise Duff, commonly called Lady Alexandra Victoria Alberta Edwaina Louise Duff, by the names,
styles, and titles of Countess of Macduff, in the county of Banff, and Duchess of Fife: and after
her decease with remainder to her heirs male by the names, styles, and titles of Earl of Macduff
and Duke of Fife."
The shipwrecking of the Duke of Fife and his family in December 1911
In late 1911, while on their way to Egypt, the ship in which the Fife family were travelling was
wrecked off the coast of Morocco, near Tangier. The following edited account of the family's
subsequent hardships appeared in "The Times" on 14 December 1911:-
'The P. and O. liner Delhi, with the Duke and Duchess of Fife and their two daughters, Princess
Alexandra and Princess Maud, among her passengers on board, stranded in dirty weather at 2 
o'clock yesterday morning two miles off Cape Spartel [at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar,
12 km west of Tangier]. The Royal Party were on their way to Egypt, where the Princess Royal
has wintered of late years.
'The fact having been reported by wireless telegraphy and the ship's position appearing to be
critical, the torpedo-boat No. 93 immediately proceeded at full speed from Gibraltar to the scene
of the occurrence, followed by the battleship London, the cruiser Duke of Edinburgh, and the
Admiralty tug Energetic, towing the Gibraltar lifeboat. Salvage steamers were also sent. Later
the cruiser Weymouth also left with an artillery party and live-saving apparatus on board. The
Atlantic Fleet, which was to have left homeward bound yesterday, was at once detained.
'The Royal Party were rescued, and the passengers are reported to be in safety. Three seamen
of the French cruiser Friant, which had a prominent part in the work of rescue, were drowned.
The boat carrying the Princess Royal, her husband, and two daughters to the shore sank when
still some distance from the beach. All were wearing lifebelts and floated to the surface, but were
terribly buffeted by the waves. Princess Alexandra disappeared for a moment under the sea. 
After suffering great hardships the party reached Tangier.
'The following Marconi message has been received from Cadiz:- "Royal party on board s.s. Delhi
desire following published in all English papers:- 'S.s. Delhi to Queen Alexandra, London. All safe -
LOUISE' "
THE STRANDING OF THE DELHI - THE PRINCESS ROYAL'S EXCITING EXPERIENCE (From our
Correspondent) - The P. and O. Liner Delhi ran ashore at an early hour some three miles south
of Cape Spartel. The night was very black and stormy with strong westerly winds and torrential
rains. It was about 2 a.m. when the vessel struck and the passengers, amongst whom were the
Princess Royal, the Duke of Fife, and the Princesses Alexandra and Maud, were immediately
summoned to the deck saloon. They had not time even to dress, and some were in nightdresses
with such coats as they could pick up in the hurry of the moment. The vessel took a list shortly
after striking, and the water entered the lower cabins.
'Meanwhile, news had reached Tangier and the French cruiser Friant proceeded to the scene of
the wreck. The sea was running very high, and there was considerable difficulty in communic-
ating with the ship. Some women and children, however, were transhipped safely to the 
warships London and Duke of Edinburgh, which had arrived from Gibraltar meanwhile.
An accident to Friant's vedette [small naval launch] caused this transhipment to be abandoned,
and I regret to have to relate that in saving British passengers in a dangerous sea three French
sailors of the vedette lost their lives, being washed into the sea and drowned.
'Owing to the heavy sea that was running the naval authorities decided that the Princess Royal
and her party must be landed on the shore, as that course would be less dangerous than trans-
shipment. Shortly before 11 o'clock her Royal Highness with the Princesses Alexandra and Maud
and the Duke of Fife went on board a boat belonging to the cruiser Duke of Edinburgh, 
accompanied by Rear-Admiral [Christopher] Cradock (1862-1914). Very considerable difficulty
was experienced in getting into the boat, and the ladies had literally to be dropped and caught.
When the boat was still some way from the shore the breakers began to fill her, in spite of the
fact that the Duke and others bailed as hard as possible. While the boat was still some distance
from the beach she filled and sank. The whole party were wearing lifebelts, and they floated to
the surface of the water, where they were terribly buffeted by the waves. Princess Alexandra
disappeared for a moment under the sea. However, after great efforts and after the members 
of the Royal party had been washed off their feet in the shallower water they were safely
landed.
'The rain was falling in torrents and the gale was fierce; and, drenched, cold, and clothed in
nightdresses and coats, the Princesses struggled over the rocky shore to Cape Spartel light-
house, some four miles away. The track was only a rocky path and the sufferings of the party
were extreme. On their arrival at the lighthouse such clothing as could be found was given to
them and hot coffee was prepared. Sir Reginald Lister [son of the 3rd Baron Ribblesdale, 1865-
1912], the British Minister, arrived a little later at the lighthouse with spare horses and such
wraps as he had been able hurriedly to get together. I accompanied him, and on our arrival
the Duke of Fife, who was still in his nightshirt and was wearing a pair of lighthouse-keeper's
trousers, informed the Princess that a start could be made for Tangier. Her Royal Highness,
who looked pale but was remarkably calm, accompanied by the Princesses, came out from a
little room in which they had been warming themselves by a wood fire.
'Having mounted mules, in pouring rain the weary party set out for Tangier, some ten miles
distant. It is no exaggeration to say that all were in a pitiable plight, clothed in such garments
as could be found in an African lighthouse, cold, and wet. But in spite of this her Royal Highness
and all the party showed most remarkable courage and pluck, and, during the long ride of over
three hours in pouring rain, concealed the fatigue from which they were all undoubtedly suffering,
talking cheerfully the whole way.
'From those who had been with them in the ship and in the boat when the accident that so 
nearly proved fatal happened, I hear the same account of the courage with which the Princess
Royal and all the members of the party faced their great danger.
'It was after 6 o'clock this evening when the Princess Royal, the Duke of Fife, and the two
Princesses, drenched with rain, arrived on muleback, guided by the glimmer of a few native
lanterns, at the British Legation, where every preparation had been made for their reception.
Their luggage remains on board the Delhi, and they have no clothes except the lighthouse-
keeper's garments in which they made the journey from Cape Spartel.'
Although he appeared to have survived his ordeal with no ill-effects, the Duke caught a chill 
which subsequently turned to pleurisy, and he died less than two months later at Aswan in
Egypt.
The claims made for the Fitzwalter barony in 1841-1844 and 1924
The following report appeared in "The Times" on 19 July 1844:-
'Yesterday the House of Lords sat in a committee for privileges, to hear the further proceedings
upon the claim to this barony, on the part of Sir Brook William Bridges, Bart.
'Mr. Wigram [for the claimant] proceeded at considerable length to sum up the evidence which
had been adduced before the committee, from which it appeared that the barony of Fitzwalter
was a barony in fee, and that the first Baron had been summoned to the Upper House in the 
reign of Edward I; that in 1670 the barony had devolved on Benjamin Mildmay, claiming through
his father, Robert Mildmay; that this Benjamin had left issue, but that on the death of his second
son, also named Benjamin, in 1756, all issue in that line had become extinct. The evidence then,
continued the learned counsel, had gone on to establish that, exclusive of the said Benjamin
Mildmay, afterwards Lord Fitzwalter, the only children of Robert Mildmay were an elder son, Henry,
who had died without issue, and an only daughter, who had married Henry Mildmay of Graces;
and therefore that upon the extinction of the descendants of the said Benjamin Mildmay, the
title would have fallen upon Mary Mildmay, if she had been alive. It then appeared, that amongst
other children, this Mary Mildmay had had issue a daughter named Lucy, who married Thomas
Gardiner, and a daughter named Frances, who married Christopher Fowler, and a daughter
Catherine, who married Thomas Townsend. All the children of Mary Mildmay died without ever
having had issue, with the exception of the said Lucy, Frances, and Catherine. Now the present
claimant was by lineal descent the heir of Frances Fowler. The learned counsel next went on to
show, that upon the evidence it had been clearly proved that the descendants of Catherine
Mildmay had entirely failed, and that Lucy Mildmay, afterwards Gardiner, her sister, had left no
other descendant than a grand-daughter named Jemima, who had married one Robert Duke,
whose descendants, notwithstanding the most diligent search and inquiries which had been made,
it had been impossible to find, and were consequently supposed to be extinct. The result of the
evidence on the whole case, therefore, was, that on the death of the last Baron Fitzwalter in
1756, the barony had fallen into abeyance between Fanny Fowler, who married the grandfather
of the present claimant (Sir Brook Bridges), Dame Lucy Bacon, and Jemima Duke, as the then
co-heirs of Mary Mildmay; that the said Dame Lucy Bacon had afterwards died without issue, and
that no descendant of the said Jemima Duke could now be discovered. Upon this state of facts it
was humbly submitted to their Lordships that the barony had now either devolved absolutely on
the claimant, or that, if there should chance to be existing a descendant of Jemima Duke, then
that the barony was in abeyance between the claimant and such descendant, and their Lordships
were therefore prayed to report to the House accordingly.
'The Solicitor-General [Sir Frederic Thesiger, later Baron Chelmsford], who appeared for the first
time in this case, said he had carefully looked through the evidence, which appeared to him to 
have satisfactorily proved the pedigree which had been put in. It afforded him pleasure, too, to
add that the present Lord Chief Baron [Sir Jonathan Pollock], who had been Attorney-General
while the various witnesses had been undergoing examination at their Lordships' bar, had enter-
tained a similar opinion as to the sufficiency of proof. There were only two points, therefore, to
which he would draw the attention of the committee - first, that there had not been any
evidence offered for the purpose of proving how it had happened that a period of 88 years [i.e.
1756 to 1844] had been permitted to pass without any attempt to set up a claim to the barony
being made; there had in truth been no endeavour to show how it was that the barony had been
allowed to remain dormant for so many years; and next, as to the insufficiency of evidence in
reference to the extinction of the branch of Gardiner. He could not tell whether the committee
would consider the very little evidence, which had been given upon that point in the case as
satisfactory, but at any rate it was his duty to direct their attention to it.
'The Lord Chancellor did not think that there was sufficient evidence to account for the
descendants of Jemima Duke.
'The Solicitor-General said, no doubt where a lady in her station had contracted a marriage, as
appeared to have been the case, with a person who was greatly her inferior, there would be
great difficulty in tracing out her descendants, the moreso, too, as she and her husband and
family had gone abroad, and had not since been heard of.
'The Lord Chancellor wished to hear what Mr. Wigram had to say to these points.
'Mr. Wigram did not apprehend that delay would be held as a bar to the claim. But the truth was
that until the present claimant there had not, since 1756, been any descendant who had been
in a position to enable him to aspire to a seat in their Lordships' House. He was quite aware that
with regard to the extinction of the Gardiners' branch of the descendants, the evidence might 
not be held to be sufficient, and therefore it was that he had prayed, that if the committee
should not be of opinion that the barony had devolved absolutely upon the present claimant,
then that they would be of opinion that the barony was in abeyance between the claimant and
such descendant of the said Jemima Duke.
'The Lord Chancellor considered this last point to have been clearly made out at all events - 
namely, that the claimant was co-heir to the barony. The question in this form was then under-
stood to be put by the noble chairman of the committee, and that a report to that effect be
made to the House, and to be unanimously carried.'
Sir Brook Bridges had, therefore, been found to be a co-heir to the barony of Fitzwalter. This 
was a long way short of being found to be the sole heir, and he never became the holder of the
ancient peerage. However, in 1868, he was created Baron Fitzwalter of Woodham Walter, but
this title became extinct on his death in 1875
More successful was Sir Brook Bridges' great-nephew, in whose favour the abeyance was 
terminated in 1924. His petition for the termination of the abeyance was reported in "The Times"
of 27 May 1924:-
'A petition has been presented by Henry Fitzwalter Plumptre, of Goodnestone Park, Canterbury,
claiming to be Baron Fitzwalter in the peerage of England, or in the alternative a co-heir to the
barony, and asking that any abeyance in existence may be determined in his favour. The petition
has been referred to the Committee for Privileges to consider and report.
'Unlike many of the baronies by writ which have been called out of abeyance during the last 100
years, the Barony of Fitzwalter, which dates from 1295, was actually enjoyed by a number of 
successive generations of holders who were summoned to Parliament and sat as lords 1295-1325,
1340-1360, 1369-1385, 1390-1404, and 1429-1430. The widow of the third lord, Philippa de 
Mohun, married the second Duke of York, who was killed at Agincourt. The fourth [sixth] lord was 
carried off as a slave by Barbary pirates. With the death of the fifth [seventh] lord in 1431 the
direct male line of the original Sir Robert Fitzwalter, of Woodham Walter, came to an end and the
barony passed to John Radcliffe, son of Elizabeth, daughter of the fifth [seventh] lord, who had
married the son of Sir John Radcliffe, K.G. He was summoned to Parliament as a baron in 1485
and sat until attainted for high treason in connexion with Perkin Warbeck's claim to the Throne
in 1495. He was beheaded at Calais in 1496. His son obtained a reversal of his father's attainder
in 1506 and was summoned as seventh [tenth] lord in 1511. He was created Viscount Fitzwalter
in 1525 and Earl of Sussex in 1529, and, except for the years 1553-1557, when the son of second
earl was summoned in his father's barony to the House of Lords, the Barony of Fitzwalter was
merged in the Earldom of Sussex until the death of the fifth earl in 1629, when it passed to the
descendants of the Lady Frances, daughter of the second earl, who had married Sir Thomas 
Mildmay.
'Her son, Sir Henry Mildmay, claimed the barony in 1641 and 1645, but the times were disturbed
and unpropitious for his case [being during the English Civil War], and his grandson Henry, a 
minor, who claimed it after the Restoration, died in 1662, before any decision had been reached.
Henry's brother Benjamin renewed the claim and was summoned to Parliament as Lord Fitzwalter
in 1670. The barony was merged in the Viscountcy of Harwich in 1730 and in the Earldom of
Fitzwalter in 1735 [sic - the Earldom was created at the same time as the Viscountcy in 1730],
but when those became extinct in 1756 it fell into abeyance between the descendants of Mary,
sister of Benjamin, the 14th [17th] lord, who had married her kinsman Henry Mildmay. Their
great-great-grandson, Sir Brook William Bridges, claimed the barony in 1841 and obtained a
favourable decision from the Committee for Privileges in 1844. It was not, however, called out
of abeyance, but, by way of consolation, Mr. Disraeli induced Queen Victoria to confer a Barony
of Fitzwalter of Woodham in the Peerage of the United Kingdom upon the unsuccessful claimant
in 1868. The new creation became extinct in 1875, and Mr. Henry Fitzwalter Plumptre, great-
nephew of the late peer, is now claiming the original barony, with its precedence of 1295.'
Plumptre's petition was successful, and the abeyance was terminated on 30 September 1924.
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