Peerage of England

Peerage of Scotland

Peerage of Great Britain and Ireland

Peerage of United Kingdom and Ireland

Sources

Notes

The British Peerage in 1818: the Dukedoms

By Stephen Millar

The title of duke ranks the highest in the British peerage, preceeding the titles of marquess, earl, viscount and baron. It is the least common title to be created by the monarch; the only non-Royal dukedom created by King George III during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Eras was the dukedom of Wellington (in the peerage of the United Kingdom and Ireland) on 11.05.1814.

During this period, however, five non-Royal ducal peerages became extinct - Chandos (29.09.1789), Montagu (23.05.1790), Bolton (25.12.1794), Bridgwater (08.03.1803), and Ancaster and Kesteven (08.02.1809).

The dukedom of Chandos was created by King George I on 29.04.1719 in the peerage of Great Britain. The title was last held by James Brydges, 3^rd Duke of Chandos (16.12.1731-29.09.1789). He inheirited it from his father, Henry Brydges, 2^nd Duke of Chandos (01.08.1708-28.11.1771). The dukedom of Buckingham and Chandos was created by King George IV for James Brydges' son-in-law, Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville (20.03.1776-15.05.1836) in 1822.

Re-created by King George III on 05.11.1766 in the peerage of Great Britain, the dukedom of Montagu was given to George Brudenell, 4^th Earl of Cardigan (26.07.1712-23.05.1790). Brudenell had married Lady Mary Montagu, the youngest daughter of John Montagu, 2^nd Duke of Montagu, on 07.07.1730. The 2^nd Duke died on 05.07.1749 with no male heirs; Brudenell legally changed his name to George Montagu ten days later. As his only son had died on 11.04.1770, the title created for George Montagu in 1766 became extinct at his death in 1790.

Created by King William III on 09.04.1689 in the peerage of England, the dukedom of Bolton was last held by Admiral Harry Paulet, 6^th Duke of Bolton (06.11.1720-25.12.1794). He inheirited the title from his unmarried brother, Sir Charles Paulet, 5^th Duke of Bolton (1718-05.07.1765), who committed suicide in London.

The dukedom of Bridgwater was created by King George I on 18.06.1720 in the peerage of Great Britain. The title was last held by Francis Egerton, 3^rd Duke of Bridgwater (21.05.1736-08.03.1803). He inheirited it from his unmarried brother, John Egerton, 2^nd Duke of Bridgwater (29.04.1727-26.02.1747), who died of fever, aged 20.

The dukedom of Ancaster and Kesteven was created by King George I on 26.07.1715 in the peerage of Great Britain. The title was last held by Brownlow Bertie, 5^th Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven (01.05.1729-08.02.1809). He inheirited the title from his unmarried nephew, Robert Bertie, 4^th Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven (17.10.1756-08.07.1779), who had held the title for less than a year before dying of scarlet fever, aged 22.

In 1818, there were 28 non-Royal dukedoms; 11 in the peerage of England, 9 in the peerage of Scotland, 7 in the peerage of Great Britain and Ireland and 1 in the peerage of the United Kingdom and Ireland. There were three familes C Lennox, Hamilton and Montagu-Scott C holding double dukedoms, thus making at total of only 25 ducal houses.[1]

I. Peerage of England (until 1707)

One creation by King Richard III of England (22.06.1483-22.08.1485):

1. Norfolk (created 28.06.1483; England)

Bernard Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 12^th Duke of Norfolk (21.11.1765-16.03.1842), inheirited his title from his childless third cousin, Charles Howard, 11^th Duke of Norfolk, on 16.12.1815.

One creation by King Edward VI of England (28.01.1547-06.07.1553):

2. Somerset (created 16.02.1547; England)

Edward Adolphus Seymour, 11^th Duke of Somerset (24.02.1775-15.08.1855), inheirited his title from his father, Webb Seymour, 10^th Duke of Somerset, on 15.12.1793.

Four creations by King Charles II of England (08.05.1660-06.02.1685):

3. Richmond (created 09.08.1675; England) and 14. Lennox (created 09.09.1675; Scotland)

Sir Charles Lennox, 4^th Duke of Richmond and Lennox (09.12.1764-28.08.1819) inheirited his title from his uncle, Charles Lennox, 3^rd Duke of Richmond and Lennox, on 29.12.1806.[2]

4. Grafton (created 11.09.1675; England)

George Henry Fitzroy, 4^th Duke of Grafton (14.01.1760-28.09.1844), inheirited his title from his father, Augustus Henry Fitzroy, 3^rd Duke of Grafton, on 14.03.1811.[3]

5. Beaufort (created 02.12.1682; England)

Sir Henry Charles Somerset, 6^th Duke of Beaufort (22.12.1766-23.11.1835) inheirited his title from his father, Sir Henry Somerset, 5^th Duke of Beaufort, on 11.10.1803.

6. St. Albans (created 10.01.1684; England)

William Beauclerk, 8^th Duke of St. Albans (18.12.1766-17.07.1825), inheirited his title from his 10-month-old nephew, Aubrey Beauclerk, 7^th Duke of St. Albans, on 19.02.1816.[4]

Three creations by King William III of England (13.02.1689-08.03.1702):

7. Leeds (created 04.05.1694; England)

George William Frederick Osborne, 6^th Duke of Leeds (21.07.1775-10.07.1838) inheirited his title from his father, Francis Osborne, 5^th Duke of Leeds, on 31.01.1799.

8. Bedford (created 11.05.1694; England)

Sir John Russell, 6^th Duke of Bedford (06.07.1766-20.10.1839) inheirited his title from his older brother Francis Russell, 5^th Duke of Bedford, on 02.03.1802. Their father had been killed by a fall from his horse on 22.03.1767, aged 27.

9. Devonshire (created 12.05.1694; England)

William George Spencer Cavendish, 6^th Duke of Devonshire (21.05.1790-18.01.1858), inheirited his title from his father, William Cavendish, 5^th Duke of Devonshire, on 29.07.1811.

Two creations by Queen Anne of Great Britain (08.03.1702-01.08.1714):

10. Marlborough (created 14.12.1702; England)

Sir George Spencer, 4^th Duke of Marlborough (26.01.1739-29.01.1817) inheirited his title from his father, Sir Charles Spencer, 3^rd Duke of Marlborough, on 20.10.1758.

11. Rutland (created 29.03.1703; England)

John Henry Manners, 5^th Duke of Rutland (04.01.1778-20.01.1857), inheirited his title from his father, Charles Manners, 4^th Duke of Rutland, on 24.10.1787.

II. Peerage of Scotland (until 1707)

One creation by King Charles I of England (27.03.1625-30.01.1649):

12. Hamilton (created 12.04.1643; Scotland) and 21. Brandon (10.09.1711; Great Britain)

Archibald Douglas-Hamilton, 9^th Duke of Hamilton and 6^th Duke of Brandon (15.07.1740-16.02.1819) inheirited his titles from his nephew, James George Douglas-Hamilton, 8^th Duke of Hamilton and 5^th Duke of Brandon, on 02.08.1799.[5]

Four creations by King Charles II of England (08.05.1660-06.02.1685):

13. Buccleuch (created 20.04.1663; Scotland) and 16. Queensberry (created 03.11.1684; Scotland)

Sir Charles William Henry Montagu-Scott, 4^th Duke of Buccleuch and 6^th Duke of Queensberry (24.05.1772-20.04.1819) inheirited his titles from his father, Sir Henry Scott, 3^rd Duke of Buccleuch and 5^th Duke of Queensberry, on 11.01.1812.[6]

14. Lennox (created 09.09.1675; Scotland)

[see 3. Richmond above]

15. Gordon (created 03.11.1684; Scotland)

Sir Alexander Gordon, 4^th Duke of Gordon (18.06.1743-17.06.1827), inheirited his title from his father, Sir Cosmo George Gordon, 3^rd Duke of Gordon, on 05.08.1752.[7]

16. Queensberry (created 03.11.1684; Scotland)

[see 13. Buccleuch above]

One creation by King William III of England (13.02.1689-08.03.1702):

17. Argyll (created 23.06.1701; Scotland)

Sir George William Campbell, 6^th Duke of Argyll (22.09.1768-22.10.1839) inheirited his title from his father, Field-Marshal Sir John Campbell, 5^th Duke of Argyll, on 24.05.1806.[8]

Three creations by Queen Anne of Great Britain (08.03.1702-01.08.1714):

18. Atholl (created 30.06.1703; Scotland)

Sir John Murray, 4^th Duke of Atholl (30.06.1755-29.09.1830) inheirited his title from his father, Sir John Murray, 3^rd Duke of Atholl, on 05.11.1774.

19. Montrose (created 24.04.1707; Scotland)

James Graham, 3^rd Duke of Montrose (08.09.1755-30.12.1836) inheirited his title from his father, William Graham, 2^nd Duke of Montrose, on 23.09.1790.

20. Roxburghe (created 25.04.1707; Scotland)

After lying dormant for seven years after the 4^th Duke of Roxburghes death on 23.10.1805, the title was given to Sir James Innes (10.01.1736-19.07.1823), the great-grandson of a grand-daughter of the 1^st Earl of Roxburghe.[9]

III. Peerage of Great Britain and Ireland (1707-1801)

Four creations by King George I of Great Britain and Ireland (01.08.1714-11.06.1727):

21. Brandon (10.09.1711; Great Britain)

[see 12. Hamilton above]

22. Portland (created 06.07.1716; Great Britain)

William Henry Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, 4^th Duke of Portland (24.06.1768-27.03.1854) inheirited his title from his father, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3^rd Duke of Portland C and former Prime Minister (02.04.1783-18.12.1783 and 31.03.1807-04.10.1809) C on 30.10.1809.

23. Manchester  (created 28.04.1719; Great Britain)

William Montagu, 5^th Duke of Manchester (21.10.1771-18.03.1843), inheirited his title from his father, George Montagu, 4^th Duke of Manchester, on 02.09.1788.

24. Dorset (created 17.06.1720; Great Britain)

Charles Sackville-Germain, 5^th Duke of Dorset (27.08.1767-29.07.1843), inheirited his title from his cousins son, George John Frederick Sackville, 4^th Duke of Dorset, on 14.12.1815. Charles Sackville-Germain had succeeded his father as 2^nd Viscount Sackville on 26.08.1785.

One creation by King George II of Great Britain and Ireland (11.06.1727-25.10.1760):

25. Newcastle-under-Lyme (created 17.11.1756; Great Britain)

Henry Pelham Pelham-Clinton, 4^th Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyme (30.01.1785-12.01.1851) inheirited his title from his father, Thomas Pelham-Clinton, 3^rd Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyme, on 18.05.1795.[10]

Two creations by King George III of Great Britain and Ireland (25.10.1760-29.01.1820):

26. Northumberland (created 22.10.1766; Great Britain)

Hugh Percy, 3^rd Duke of Northumberland (20.04.1795-11.02.1847) inheirited his title from his father, General Hugh Percy, 2^nd Duke of Northumberland, on 10.07.1817.

27. Leinster (created 26.11.1766; Ireland)

Augustus Frederick FitzGerald, 3^rd Duke of Leinster (21.08.1791-10.08.1874) inheirited his title from his father, William Robert FitzGerald, 2^nd Duke of Leinster, on 20.10.1804.

IV. Peerage of United Kingdom and Ireland (1801-present)

One creation by King George III of Great Britain and Ireland (25.10.1760-29.01.1820):

28. Wellington (created 11.05.1814; United Kingdom)

King George III created this dukedom for Field-Marshal Sir Arthur Wellesley, 1^st Marquess of Wellington (01.05.1769-14.09.1852).

Sources:

http://www.thepeerage.com/p1741.htm#i17410

http://www.freewebs.com/peerage/

http://www.stirnet.com/HTML/genie/british/bb4fz/brydges02.htm

http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/WilliamPaulet(1MWinchester).htm

http://library.wellcome.ac.uk/doc_WTL039920.html

http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/families/johnstones.htm

http://www.chinet.com/~laura/html/titles02.html

http://worldroots.com/foundation/britain/williamdouglasdesc1634.htm

http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/person.asp?LinkID=mp03685

http://www.boughtonhouse.org.uk/htm/others/houses.htm

http://www.victorianweb.org/history/pms/portland.html

http://pages.prodigy.net/ptheroff/gotha/st_albans.html

http://www.hq69.dial.pipex.com/Pages/h_earl.html

http://www.catholicity.com/encyclopedia/n/norfolk,catholic_dukes_of.html

http://www3.dcs.hull.ac.uk/public/genealogy/royal/gedx.html

Notes:

Placed on the Napoleon Series: May 2006; updated July 2006

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