PEERAGE
Last updated 12/12/2011
Date
Rank
Order
Name
Born
Died
Age
STRATHEARN
29 Apr 2011
E
1
HRH Prince William of Wales (William Arthur
Philip Louis)
21 Jun 1982
Created Baron Carrickfergus,Earl of Strathearn
and Duke of Cambridge 29 Apr 2011
See "Cambridge"
STRATHEDEN
22 Jan 1836
B
1
Mary Elizabeth Campbell
29 Apr 1796
25 Mar 1860
63
Created Baroness Stratheden
22 Jan 1836
25 Mar 1860
2
William Frederick Campbell
15 Oct 1824
21 Jan 1893
68
MP for Cambridge 1847-1852 and Harwich
1859-1860.
He succeeded to the barony of
Campbell of St.Andrews (qv) in 1861
21 Jan 1893
3
Hallyburton George Campbell
18 Oct 1829
26 Dec 1918
89
26 Dec 1918
4
Alaistair Campbell
21 Nov 1899
12 Dec 1981
82
12 Dec 1981
5
Gavin Campbell
28 Aug 1901
29 Oct 1987
86
29 Oct 1987
6
Donald Campbell
4 Apr 1934
STRATHERNE
c 1115
E[S]
1
Malise
c 1160
he was witness to the Charter of
Scone in 1115 as Earl of Stratherne
c 1160
2
Ferquhard
1171
1171
3
Gilbert
c 1150
1223
1223
4
Robert
c 1244
c 1244
5
Malise
1271
1271
6
Malise
c 1257
c 1313
c 1313
7
Malise
by 1329
by 1329
8
Malise
after 1332
to
He was attainted and the peerage forfeited
1332
---------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
9 Feb 1344
E[S]
1
Maurice Moray
17 Oct 1346
to
Created Earl of Stratherne 9 Feb 1344
17 Oct 1346
Peerage extinct on his death
---------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------
Nov 1357
E[S]
1
Robert Stewart
2 Mar 1316
13 Apr 1390
74
to
Created Earl of Stratherne Nov 1357
22 Feb 1371
He succeeded to the throne as Robert II of
Scotland in 1371 when the peerage merged
with the Crown
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
26 Mar 1371
E[S]
1
David Stewart
after 1355
Mar 1390
Created Earl of Stratherne 26 Mar 1371
Mar 1390
2
Eupheme Graham
c 1415
c 1415
3
Malise Graham
c 1410
after 1427
to
He was deprived on the peerage before 1427
by 1427
---------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
22 Jul 1427
E[S]
1
Walter Stewart
26 Mar 1437
to
Created Earl of Stratherne 22 Jul 1427
26 Mar 1437
He was attainted and the peerage forfeited
STRATHMORE AND KINGHORNE
10 Jul 1606
E[S]
1
Patrick Lyon,Lord Glamis
1575
1 Sep 1616
41
Created Lord Lyon and Glamis and
Earl of Kinghorne 10 Jul 1606
1 Sep 1616
2
John Lyon
13 Aug 1596
12 May 1647
50
12 May 1647
3
Patrick Lyon
29 May 1643
15 May 1695
51
The designation of the peerage was changed
in 1677 to "Strathmore and Kinghorne"
15 May 1695
4
John Lyon
8 May 1663
10 May 1712
49
10 May 1712
5
John Lyon
27 Apr 1690
13 Nov 1715
25
13 Nov 1715
6
Charles Lyon
12 Jul 1699
11 May 1728
28
For further information on the death of this peer,
and the subsequent history of his widow, see the
notes at the foot of this page
11 May 1728
7
James Lyon
24 Dec 1702
4 Jan 1735
32
4 Jan 1735
8
Thomas Lyon
6 Jul 1704
18 Jan 1753
48
MP for Forfar 1734-1735
18 Jan 1753
9
John Lyon (later Bowes from 1767)
17 Jul 1737
7 Mar 1776
38
For further information on this peer's wife, see
the note at the foot of this page.
7 Mar 1776
10
John Bowes
14 Apr 1769
3 Jul 1820
51
Created Baron Bowes of Streatlam
Castle and Lunedale 7 Aug 1815
3 Jul 1820
11
Thomas Lyon-Bowes
3 May 1773
27 Aug 1846
73
For further information on this peer's alleged eldest
grandson, see the note at the foot of this page.
27 Aug 1846
12
Thomas George Lyon-Bowes
28 Sep 1822
13 Sep 1865
42
13 Sep 1865
13
Claud Bowes-Lyon
21 Jul 1824
16 Feb 1904
79
Created Baron Bowes of Streatlam
Castle and Lunedale 1 Jul 1887
Lord Lieutenant Angus (Forfar) 1874-1904
16 Feb 1904
14
Claude George Bowes-Lyon
14 Mar 1855
7 Nov 1944
89
1 Jun 1937
E
1
Created Earl of Strathmore and
Kinghorne 1 Jun 1937
Lord Lieutenant Angus (Forfar) 1904-1936.
KT 1928
KG 1937
7 Nov 1944
15
Patrick Bowes-Lyon
22 Sep 1884
25 May 1949
64
2
25 May 1949
16
Timothy Bowes-Lyon
18 Mar 1918
13 Sep 1972
54
3
13 Sep 1972
17
Fergus Michael Claude Bowes Lyon
31 Dec 1928
18 Aug 1987
58
4
18 Aug 1987
18
Michael Fergus Bowes Lyon
7 Jun 1957
5
STRATHNAIRN
31 Jul 1866
B
1
Hugh Henry Rose
6 Apr 1801
16 Oct 1885
84
to
Created Baron Strathnairn 31 Jul 1866
16 Oct 1885
Field Marshal 1877. PC [I] 1865
Peerage extinct on his death
STRATHNAVER
Although not a peerage,the title of Lord
Strathnaver has been used as a courtesy title
since the late 16th century by the Earls
of Sutherland
STRATHSPEY
14 Aug 1858
B
1
John Charles Ogilvie Grant,Earl of
Seafield
4 Sep 1815
18 Feb 1881
65
Created Baron Strathspey 14 Aug 1858
18 Feb 1881
2
Ian Charles Ogilvie Grant,Earl of
to
Seafield
7 Oct 1851
31 Mar 1884
32
31 Mar 1884
Peerage extinct on his death
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
17 Jun 1884
B
1
James Ogilvy Grant,Earl of Seafield
27 Dec 1817
5 Jun 1888
70
Created Baron Strathspey 17 Jun 1884
5 Jun 1888
2
Francis William Ogilvy Grant,Earl of
Seafield
9 Mar 1847
3 Dec 1888
41
3 Dec 1888
3
James Ogilvy Grant,Earl of Seafield
18 Apr 1876
12 Nov 1915
39
12 Nov 1915
4
Trevor Grant
2 Mar 1879
11 Nov 1948
69
11 Nov 1948
5
Donald Patrick Trevor Grant
18 Mar 1912
27 Jan 1992
79
27 Jan 1992
6
James Patrick Trevor Grant
9 Sep 1943
STRATHTAY AND STRATHARDLE
30 Jun 1703
E [S]
1
John Murray,Marquess of Atholl
24 Feb 1659
14 Nov 1724
65
Created Lord Murray,Viscount
Glenalmond and Earl of Tullibardine
for life 27 Jul 1696 and Lord Murray,
Balvenie and Gask,Viscount of
Balwhidder,Glenalmond and Glenlyon,
Earl of Strathtay and Strathardle,
Marquess of Tullibardine and Duke of
Atholl 30 Jun 1703
See "Atholl"
STRAUSS
9 Jul 1979
B[L]
1
George Russell Strauss
18 Jul 1901
5 Jun 1993
91
to
Created Baron Strauss 9 Jul 1979
5 Jun 1993
MP for Lambeth North 1929-1931 and
1934-1950 and Vauxhall 1950-1979.
Minister of Supply 1947-1951.
PC 1947
Peerage extinct on his death
STRICKLAND
19 Jan 1928
B
1
Gerald Strickland
24 May 1861
22 Aug 1940
79
to
Created Baron Strickland 19 Jan 1928
22 Aug 1940
Governor of Leeward Islands 1902-1904,
Tasmania 1904-1909, Western Australia
1909-1913 and New South Wales 1913-1917.
MP for Lancaster 1924-1928. Prime Minister
of Malta 1927-1930.
Peerage extinct on his death
STRIVELYN
25 Feb 1342
B
1
Sir John de Strivelyn
15 Aug 1378
to
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
15 Aug 1378
Strivelyn 25 Feb 1342
Peerage extinct on his death
STUART DE DECIES
10 May 1839
B
1
Henry Villiers-Stuart
8 Jun 1803
23 Jan 1874
70
to
Created Baron Stuart de Decies
23 Jan 1874
10 May 1839
MP for Waterford 1826-1830 and Banbury
1830-1831. Lord Lieutenant Waterford 1831-
1874. PC [I] 1837
Peerage extinct on his death
STUART DE ROTHESAY
22 Jan 1828
B
1
Sir Charles Stuart
2 Jan 1779
6 Nov 1845
66
to
Created Baron Stuart de Rothesay
6 Nov 1845
22 Jan 1828
PC
Peerage extinct on his death
STUART OF CASTLE STUART
4 Jun 1796
B
1
Francis Stuart,Earl of Moray
11 Jan 1737
28 Aug 1810
73
Created Baron Stuart of Castle Stuart
4 Jun 1796
See "Moray"
STUART OF FINDHORN
20 Nov 1959
V
1
James Gray Stuart
9 Feb 1897
20 Feb 1971
74
Created Viscount Stuart of Findhorn
20 Nov 1959
MP for Moray and Nairn 1923-1959.
Secretary of State for Scotland 1951-1957
PC 1939
CH 1957
20 Feb 1971
2
David Randolph Moray Stuart
20 Jun 1924
24 Nov 1999
75
24 Nov 1999
3
James Dominic Stuart
25 Mar 1948
STUART OF LEIGHTON BROMSWOLD
7 Jun 1619
B
1
Esme Stuart
1579
30 Jul 1624
45
Created Baron Stuart of Leighton
Bromswold and Earl of March
7 Jun 1619
See "Lennox" - extinct 1672
STUART OF NEWBURY
10 Dec 1645
B
1
Charles Stuart
7 Mar 1640
12 Dec 1672
32
to
Created Baron Stuart of Newbury and
12 Dec 1672
Earl of Lichfield 10 Dec 1645
Succeeded to the Dukedom of Richmond (qv)
in 1660 - peerages extinct 1672
STUART OF TRAQUAIR
19 Apr 1628
B[S]
1
Sir John Stewart
c 1600
27 Mar 1659
Created Lord Stewart of Traquair
19 Apr 1628 and Lord Linton and
Caberston and Earl of Traquair
23 Jun 1633
See "Traquair"
STUART OF WORTLEY
1 Jan 1917
B
1
Charles Beilby Stuart-Wortley
15 Sep 1851
24 Apr 1926
74
to
Created Baron Stuart of Wortley
24 Apr 1926
1 Jan 1917
MP for Sheffield 1880-1885 and Hallam
1885-1916.
PC 1896
Peerage extinct on his death
SUDBURY
16 Aug 1672
B
1
Henry Fitzroy
2 Sep 1663
9 Oct 1690
27
Created Baron Sudbury,Viscount
Ipswich,Earl of Euston 16 Aug 1672
and Duke of Grafton 11 Sep 1675
See "Grafton"
SUDELEY
29 Dec 1299
B
1
John de Sudeley
c 1257
1336
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Sudeley 29 Dec 1299
1336
2
John de Sudeley
1340
1340
3
John de Sudeley
c 1337
11 Aug 1367
to
On his death the peerage fell into abeyance
11 Aug 1367
1380
4
Thomas Boteler
1355
20 Sep 1398
43
He became sole heir in 1380
20 Sep 1398
5
John Boteler
1417
1417
6
Ralph Boteler
2 May 1473
10 Sep 1441
B
1
Created Baron Sudeley 10 Sep 1441
to
Lord High Treasurer 1444-1447.
KG 1440
2 May 1473
On his death the Barony of 1441 became
extinct and the Barony of 1299 fell into
abeyance
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
12 Jul 1838
B
1
Charles Hanbury-Tracy
28 Dec 1778
10 Feb 1858
79
Created Baron Sudeley 12 Jul 1838
MP for Tewkesbury 1807-1812 and 1832-
1837. Lord Lieutenant Montgomery 1848-1858
10 Feb 1858
2
Thomas Charles Hanbury-Tracy
5 Feb 1801
19 Feb 1863
62
MP for Wallingford 1831-1832. Lord
Lieutenant Montgomery 1858-1863
19 Feb 1863
3
Sudeley Charles George Hanbury-Tracy
9 Apr 1837
28 Apr 1877
40
Lord Lieutenant Montgomery 1863-1877
28 Apr 1877
4
Charles Douglas Richard Hanbury-Tracy
3 Jul 1840
9 Dec 1922
82
MP for Montgomery 1863-1877
PC 1886
9 Dec 1922
5
William Charles Frederick Hanbury-Tracy
19 Aug 1870
5 Sep 1932
62
5 Sep 1932
6
Richard Algernon Frederick Hanbury-Tracy
20 Apr 1911
26 Aug 1941
30
26 Aug 1941
7
Merlin Charles Sainthill Hanbury-Tracy
17 Jun 1939
SUDLEY
15 Aug 1758
V[I]
1
Sir Arthur Gore
17 Apr 1773
Created Baron Saunders and Viscount
Sudley 15 Aug 1758 and Earl of
Arran 12 Apr 1762
See "Arran"
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
7 Nov 1884
B
1
Arthur Saunders Gore,Earl of Arran
6 Jan 1839
14 Mar 1901
62
Created Baron Sudley 7 Nov 1884
See "Arran"
SUFFIELD
21 Aug 1786
B
1
Sir Hardbord Harbord,2nd baronet
Jan 1734
4 Feb 1810
76
Created Baron Suffield 21 Aug 1786
MP for Norwich 1756-1786
4 Feb 1810
2
William Assheton Harbord
21 Aug 1766
1 Aug 1821
54
MP for Ludgershall 1790-1796 and Plympton Erle
1807-1810. Lord Lieutenant Norfolk 1808-1821
1 Aug 1821
3
Edward Harbord
10 Nov 1781
6 Jul 1835
53
MP for Yarmouth 1806-1812 and
Shaftesbury 1820-1821
6 Jul 1835
4
Edward Vernon Harbord
19 Jun 1813
22 Aug 1853
40
22 Aug 1853
5
Charles Harbord
2 Jan 1830
9 Apr 1914
84
PC 1886
9 Apr 1914
6
Charles Harbord
14 Jun 1855
10 Feb 1924
68
10 Feb 1924
7
Victor Alexander Charles Harbord
12 Sep 1897
11 Jun 1943
45
11 Jun 1943
8
John Harbord
1 Jul 1907
23 Jun 1945
37
23 Jun 1945
9
Geoffrey Walter Harbord
12 Nov 1861
23 May 1946
84
23 May 1946
10
Richard Morden Harbord-Hamond
24 Aug 1865
2 Feb 1951
85
2 Feb 1951
11
Anthony Philip Harbord-Hamond
19 Jun 1922
8 Dec 2011
89
8 Dec 2011
12
Charles Anthony Assheton Harbord-Hamond
3 Dec 1953
SUFFOLK
16 Mar 1337
E
1
Robert de Ufford
9 Aug 1298
4 Nov 1369
71
Created Earl of Suffolk 16 Mar 1337
KG c 1348
4 Nov 1369
2
William de Ufford
13 Feb 1382
to
KG 1375
13 Feb 1382
On his death the peerage reverted to the
Crown
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
6 Aug 1385
E
1
Michael de la Pole,Lord de la Pole
c 1330
5 Sep 1389
to
Created Earl of Suffolk 6 Aug 1385
Feb 1388
Lord Chancellor 1383-1386
He was attainted and the peerages forfeited
1397
2
Michael de la Pole
c 1367
14 Sep 1415
Restored to the peerage 1397
14 Sep 1415
3
Michael de la Pole
c 1394
25 Oct 1415
25 Oct 1415
4
William de la Pole
16 Oct 1396
2 May 1450
53
2 Jul 1448
D
1
Created Marquess of Suffolk
14 Sep 1444 and Duke of Suffolk
2 Jul 1448
KG 1421
2 May 1450
5
John de la Pole
27 Sep 1442
1492
49
2
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1478-1479
KG c 1473
1492
6
Edmund de la Pole
c 1471
5 Apr 1513
to
3
KG 1496
Jan 1504
He surrendered the Dukedom and
Marquessate 26 Feb 1493. He was attainted
and the Earldom forfeited Jan 1504
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
1 Feb 1514
D
1
Charles Brandon,1st Viscount L'Isle
c 1484
22 Aug 1545
Created Duke of Suffolk 1 Feb 1514
Lord President of the Council 1530-1545
KG 1513
22 Aug 1545
2
Henry Brandon
14 Jul 1551
14 Jul 1551
3
Charles Brandon
14 Jul 1551
to
Peerage extinct on his death - he enjoyed
14 Jul 1551
the peerage for only half an hour
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
11 Oct 1551
D
1
Henry Grey,Marquess of Dorset
23 Feb 1554
to
Created Duke of Suffolk 11 Oct 1551
23 Feb 1554
He was attainted and the peerages forfeited
---------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------
21 Jul 1603
E
1
Thomas Howard,1st Lord Howard de Walden
24 Aug 1561
28 May 1626
64
Created Earl of Suffolk 21 Jul 1603
Lord Lieutenant Cambridge 1598, Suffolk
1605 and Dorset 1613. Lord High Treasurer
1614-1619.
KG 1597
28 May 1626
2
Theophilus Howard
13 Aug 1584
3 Jun 1640
55
MP for Maldon 1605-1610. Lord Lieutenant
Cumberland,Westmorland and
Northumberland 1614 and Cambridge,
Suffolk and Dorset 1626. Lord Warden of
the Cinque Ports 1628.
KG 1627
He was summoned to Parliament by a Writ of
Acceleration as Baron Howard de Walden
8 Feb 1610
3 Jun 1640
3
James Howard
10 Feb 1620
7 Jan 1689
68
Lord Lieutenant Suffolk 1642-1681 and
Cambridge 1660-1681
7 Jan 1689
4
George Howard
c 1625
21 Apr 1691
21 Apr 1691
5
Henry Howard
18 Jul 1627
10 Nov 1709
82
10 Nov 1709
6
Henry Howard
1670
19 Sep 1718
48
Created Baron Chesterford and Earl
of Bindon 30 Dec 1706
MP for Arundel 1694 and 1695-1698 and Essex
1705-1706. Lord Lieutenant Essex 1715-1718.
President of the Board of Trade 1715-1718
PC 1708
19 Sep 1718
7
Charles William Howard
9 May 1693
9 Feb 1722
28
Lord Lieutenant Essex 1718-1722
9 Feb 1722
8
Edward Howard
1672
22 Jun 1731
58
22 Jun 1731
9
Charles Howard
1675
28 Sep 1733
58
28 Sep 1733
10
Henry Howard
1 Jan 1706
22 Apr 1745
39
MP for Beeralston 1728-1733
22 Apr 1745
11
Henry Bowes Howard
1686
21 Mar 1757
70
He had previously succeeded to the Earldom
of Berkshire (qv) in 1706
21 Mar 1757
12
Henry Howard
16 May 1739
7 Mar 1779
39
Lord Privy Seal 1771. Secretary of State
1771.
PC 1771
KG 1778
8 Aug 1779
13
Henry Howard
8 Aug 1779
10 Aug 1779
-
10 Aug 1779
14
Thomas Howard
11 Jun 1721
3 Feb 1783
61
MP for Castle Rising 1747-1768,Malmesbury
1768-1774 and Mitchell 1774-1779
3 Feb 1783
15
John Howard
7 Mar 1739
23 Jan 1820
80
23 Jan 1820
16
Thomas Howard
18 Aug 1776
4 Dec 1851
75
MP for Arundel 1802-1806
4 Dec 1851
17
Charles John Howard
7 Nov 1804
14 Aug 1876
71
MP for Malmesbury 1832-1841
14 Aug 1876
18
Henry Charles Howard
10 Sep 1833
31 Mar 1898
64
MP for Malmesbury 1859-1868
31 Mar 1898
19
Henry Molyneux Paget Howard
13 Sep 1877
21 Apr 1917
39
21 Apr 1917
20
Charles Henry George Howard
2 Mar 1906
12 May 1941
35
For further information on this peer, see the
note at the foot of this page.
12 May 1941
21
Michael John James George Robert Howard
27 Mar 1935
SUGAR
20 Jul 2009
B[L]
1
Sir Alan Michael Sugar
24 Mar 1947
Created Baron Sugar for life 20 Jul 2009
SUMMERHILL
19 Feb 1766
B[I]
1
Elizabeth Ormsby Rowley
1713
18 Dec 1791
78
Created Baroness Summerhill and
Viscountess Langford 19 Feb 1766
See "Langford"
SUMMERSKILL
4 Feb 1961
B[L]
1
Edith Clara Summerskill
19 Apr 1901
4 Feb 1980
78
to
Created Baroness Summerskill for life
4 Feb 1980
4 Feb 1961
MP for Fulham West 1938-1955 and
Warrington 1955-1961. Minister of National
Insiurance 1950-1951.
PC 1949
CH 1966
Peerage extinct on her death
SUMNER
31 Jan 1927
V
1
John Andrew Hamilton
3 Feb 1859
24 May 1934
75
to
Created Baron Sumner 20 Oct 1913
24 May 1934
and Viscount Sumner 31 Jan 1927
Lord Justice of Appeal 1912-1913. Lord
of Appeal in Ordinary 1913-1930
PC 1912
Peerages extinct on his death
SUNBURY
19 Oct 1714
V
1
Charles Montague
16 Apr 1661
19 May 1715
54
to
Created Baron Halifax 13 Dec 1700 and
19 May 1715
Viscount Sunbury and Earl of Halifax
19 Oct 1714
Viscountcy and Earldom extinct on his death
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
14 Jun 1715
V
1
George Montague,Baron Halifax
9 May 1739
Created Viscount Sunbury and Earl of
Halifax 14 Jun 1715
See "Halifax"
SUNDERLAND
19 Jun 1627
E
1
Emanuel Scrope,Baron Scrope of Bolton
30 May 1630
to
Created Earl of Sunderland
30 May 1630
19 Jun 1627
Peerage extinct on his death
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
8 Jun 1643
E
1
Henry Spencer,Baron Spencer of
Wormleighton
23 Nov 1620
20 Sep 1643
22
Created Earl of Sunderland 8 Jun 1643
20 Sep 1643
2
Robert Spencer
1640
28 Sep 1702
62
Secretary of State 1679-1681,1683 and
1685-1688. Lord President of the Council
1685-1688. Lord Lieutenant Stafford 1679-
1681 and Warwick 1683-1686 and 1687-
1689.
PC 1679
KG 1687
28 Sep 1702
3
Charles Spencer
23 Apr 1675
19 Apr 1722
46
MP for Tiverton 1695-1702. Secretary of
State 1706-1710 and 1717-1718. Lord Privy
Seal 1715-1716. Lord President of the
Council 1718-1719. Prime Minister 1718-
1721.
PC 1706
KG 1719
19 Apr 1722
4
Robert Spencer
24 Oct 1701
15 Sep 1729
27
15 Sep 1729
5
Charles Spencer
He succeeded to the Dukedom of
Marlborough (qv) in 1733 with which title
this peerage then merged
SUNDERLIN
30 Jun 1785
B[I]
1
Richard Malone
1737
14 Apr 1816
78
21 Nov 1797
B[I]
1
Created Baron Sunderlin 30 Jun 1785
to
and 21 Nov 1797
14 Apr 1816
Peerages extinct on his death
SUNDON
2 Jun 1735
B[I]
1
William Clayton
9 Nov 1671
29 Apr 1752
80
to
Created Baron Sundon 2 Jun 1735
29 Apr 1752
MP for Woodstock 1716-1722, St.Albans
1722-1727, Westminster 1727-1741,
Plympton Erle 1742-1747 and St.Mawes
1747-1752
Peerage extinct on his death
SUNDRIDGE
22 Dec 1766
B
1
John Campbell
Jun 1723
24 May 1806
82
Created Baron Sundridge 22 Dec 1766
See "Argyll"
SURREY
1088
E
1
William de Warenne
24 Jun 1099
Created Earl of Surrey 1088
24 Jun 1099
2
William de Warenne
11 May 1138
11 May 1138
3
William de Warenne
c 1119
19 Jan 1148
19 Jan 1148
4
Isabel de Warenne
13 Jul 1199
13 Jul 1199
5
William de Warenne
27 May 1240
27 May 1240
6
John de Warenne
1231
27 Sep 1305
74
He was created Earl of Sussex (qv) c 1282
27 Sep 1305
7
John de Warenne
29 Jun 1286
30 Jun 1347
61
30 Jun 1347
8
Richard Fitzalan,Earl of Arundel
c 1313
24 Jan 1376
24 Jan 1376
9
Richard Fitzalan,Earl of Arundel
1346
18 Sep 1397
to
He was attainted and the peerages forfeited
18 Sep 1397
but see below
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
29 Sep 1397
D
1
Thomas de Holand,Earl of Kent
c 1371
6 Jan 1400
to
Created Duke of Surrey 29 Sep 1397
1399
He was degraded from the Dukedom 1399
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
Oct 1400
10
Thomas Fitzalan
13 Oct 1381
13 Oct 1415
34
to
Restored to the Earldoms of Surrey and
13 Oct 1415
Arundel Oct 1400. On his death the peerages
reverted to the crown
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
24 Mar 1451
E
1
John Mowbray
18 Oct 1444
17 Jan 1476
31
to
Created Earl of Surrey 24 Mar 1451
17 Jan 1476
He later succeeded to the Dukedom of
Norfolk in 1461
Peerages extinct on his death
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
28 Jun 1483
E
1
Thomas Howard
21 May 1524
Created Earl of Surrey 28 Jun 1483
Later restored to the Dukedom of Norfolk (qv) 1514
21 May 1524
2
Thomas Howard,Duke of Norfolk
1473
25 Aug 1554
81
25 Aug 1554
3
Thomas Howard,Duke of Norfolk
10 Mar 1536
2 Jun 1572
36
to
He was attainted and the peerages forfeited
2 Jun 1572
1604
4
Thomas Howard
7 Jul 1585
4 Oct 1646
61
Restored to the Earldoms of Surrey,
Arundel and Norfolk 1604
4 Oct 1646
5
Henry Frederick Howard
15 Aug 1608
17 Apr 1652
43
17 Apr 1652
6
Thomas Howard
He was restored to the Dukedom of Norfolk
in 1660 with which title this peerage then
merged
SUSSEX
1141
E
1
William de Albini
4 Oct 1176
Created Earl of Sussex 1141
4 Oct 1176
2
William de Albini
24 Dec 1193
24 Dec 1193
3
William de Albini
Mar 1221
Mar 1221
4
William de Albini
Aug 1224
Aug 1224
5
William de Albini
12 May 1243
to
On his death the peerage reverted to the
12 May 1243
crown
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
c 1282
E
1
John de Warenne
1231
27 Sep 1305
74
Created Earl of Sussex c 1282
27 Sep 1305
2
John de Warenne
29 Jun 1286
30 Jun 1347
61
to
On his death the peerage reverted to the
30 Jun 1347
crown
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
8 Dec 1529
E
1
Robert Radclyffe
c 1483
27 Nov 1542
Created Viscount Fitzwalter 18 Jun
1525 and Earl of Sussex 8 Dec 1529
Lord Lieutenant Lancashire 1537. KG 1524
27 Nov 1542
2
Henry Radclyffe
c 1507
17 Feb 1557
KG 1554
17 Feb 1557
3
Thomas Radclyffe
c 1525
9 Jun 1583
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1556-1558,1559-
1560 and 1560-1565. Lord Lieutenant
Norfolk and Suffolk 1557. KG 1557
He was summoned to Parliament by a Writ of
Acceleration as Baron Fitzwalter 24 Aug 1553
9 Jun 1583
4
Henry Radclyffe
c 1532
14 Dec 1593
MP for Maldon 1555, Hampshire 1571 and
Portsmouth 1572-1583. Lord Lieutenant
Hampshire 1585. KG 1589
14 Dec 1593
5
Robert Radclyffe
12 Jun 1573
22 Sep 1629
56
Lord Lieutenant Essex 1603.
KG 1599
22 Sep 1629
6
Edward Radclyffe
c 1559
Aug 1643
to
MP for Petersfield 1586-1587, Bedford
Aug 1643
1588-1589,1601 and 1604-1612 and
Portsmouth 1592-1593.
Peerage extinct on his death
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
25 May 1644
E
1
Thomas Savile
14 Sep 1590
c 1659
Created Baron of Castlebar and
Viscount Savile 11 Jun 1628 and Earl
of Sussex 25 May 1644
MP for Yorkshire 1624-1625. Lord
Lieutenant Yorkshire 1641
c 1659
2
James Savile
1647
Oct 1671
24
to
Peerages extinct on his death
Oct 1671
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
5 Oct 1674
E
1
Thomas Lennard,Lord Dacre
30 Oct 1715
to
Created Earl of Sussex 5 Oct 1674
30 Oct 1715
Peerage extinct on his death
---------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------
26 Feb 1717
E
1
Talbot Yelverton,Viscount de Longueville
2 May 1690
27 Oct 1731
41
Created Earl of Sussex 26 Feb 1717
PC 1727
27 Oct 1731
2
George Augustus Yelverton
27 Jul 1727
8 Jan 1758
30
8 Jan 1758
3
Henry Yelverton
7 Jul 1728
22 Apr 1799
70
to
Peerage extinct on his death
22 Apr 1799
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
27 Nov 1801
D
1
Augustus Frederick
27 Jan 1773
21 Apr 1843
70
to
Created Baron of Arklow,Earl of
21 Apr 1843
Inverness and Duke of Sussex
27 Nov 1801
Sixth son of George III. President of the
Royal Society 1830-1838.
KG 1786
PC 1804
KT 1830
Peerages extinct on his death
For further information on this peer and his
marriages, and details of the claim made to the
peerages in 1844, see the note at the foot of
this page
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
24 May 1874
E
1
Arthur William Patrick Albert
1 May 1850
16 Jan 1942
91
Created Earl of Sussex and Duke of
Connaught & Strathearn 24 May 1874
See "Connaught and Strathearn"
SUTHERLAND
1235
E[S]
1
William Sutherland
1248
Created Earl of Sutherland 1235
1248
2
William Sutherland
Sep 1307
Sep 1307
3
William Sutherland
Dec 1330
Dec 1330
4
Kenneth Sutherland
19 Jul 1333
19 Jul 1333
5
William Sutherland
c 1370
c 1370
6
Robert Sutherland
c 1427
c 1427
7
John Sutherland
1460
1460
8
John Sutherland
1508
1508
9
John Sutherland
Jun 1514
Jun 1514
10
Elizabeth Sutherland
Sep 1535
She married Adam Gordon who was
considered to be Earl in her right. He died
17 Mar 1537
17 Mar 1537
11
John Gordon
1525
23 Jun 1567
41
23 Jun 1567
12
Alexander Gordon
1552
4 Dec 1594
42
4 Dec 1594
13
John Gordon
20 Jul 1576
11 Sep 1615
39
11 Sep 1615
14
John Gordon
4 Mar 1609
14 Oct 1679
70
Lord Privy Seal [S] 1641
14 Oct 1679
15
George Gordon
2 Nov 1633
4 Mar 1703
69
4 Mar 1703
16
John Sutherland
2 Mar 1661
27 Jun 1733
72
KT 1716
PC 1721
27 Jun 1733
17
William Sutherland
2 Oct 1708
7 Dec 1750
42
MP for Sutherland 1727-1733
7 Dec 1750
18
William Sutherland
29 May 1735
16 Jun 1766
31
16 Jun 1766
19
Elizabeth Sutherland
24 May 1765
29 Jan 1839
72
She married George Granville Leveson-
Gower who was created Duke of Sutherland
in 1833 (see below)
29 Jan 1839
20
George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-
Gower,Duke of Sutherland
8 Aug 1786
28 Feb 1861
74
28 Feb 1861
21
George Granville William Sutherland-
Leveson-Gower,Duke of Sutherland
19 Dec 1828
22 Sep 1892
63
22 Sep 1892
22
Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower,
Duke of Sutherland
20 Jul 1851
27 Jun 1913
61
27 Jun 1913
23
George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-
Gower,Duke of Sutherland
29 Aug 1888
1 Feb 1963
74
1 Feb 1963
24
Elizabeth Millicent Sutherland
30 Mar 1921
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
28 Jan 1833
D
1
George Granville Leveson-Gower,2nd Marquess
9 Jan 1758
19 Jul 1833
75
of Stafford
He was summoned to Parliament by a Writ of
Acceleration as Baron Gower 25 Feb 1799.
Created Duke of Sutherland 28 Jan 1833
MP for Newcastle under Lyne 1778-1784
and Staffordshire 1787-1799. Lord Lieutenant
Stafford 1799-1801 and Sutherland 1794-1830
PC 1790
KG 1806
19 Jul 1833
2
George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-
Gower
8 Aug 1786
28 Feb 1861
74
MP for St.Mawes 1808-1812, Newcastle
under Lyne 1812-1815 and Staffordshire
1815-1820. Lord Lieutenant Sutherland
1830-1861 and Shropshire 1839-1845.
KG 1841
He was summoned to Parliament by a Writ of
Acceleration as Baron Gower 25 Nov 1826
28 Feb 1861
3
George Granville William Sutherland-
Leveson-Gower
19 Dec 1828
22 Sep 1892
63
MP for Sutherland 1852-1861. Lord
Lieutenant Cromarty 1853-1892 and Sutherland
1861-1892.
KG 1864
For information on the Duke's second wife,
see the note at the foot of this page
22 Sep 1892
4
Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower
20 Jul 1851
27 Jun 1913
61
MP for Sutherland 1874-1886. Lord
Lieutenant Sutherland 1892-1913. KG 1902
27 Jun 1913
5
George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-
Gower
29 Aug 1888
1 Feb 1963
74
Lord Lieutenant Sutherland 1913-1945.
Paymaster General 1925-1928.
KT 1929
PC 1936
1 Feb 1963
6
John Sutherland Egerton
10 May 1915
21 Sep 2000
85
21 Sep 2000
7
Francis Ronald Egerton
18 Feb 1940
SUTHERLAND OF HOUNDWOOD
29 Jun 2001
B[L]
1
Stewart Ross Sutherland
25 Feb 1941
Created Baron Sutherland of Houndwood
29 Jun 2001
KT 2002
SUTTON
27 Jan 1332
B
1
John de Sutton
24 Jun 1270
24 Sep 1338
68
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Sutton 27 Jan 1332
24 Sep 1338
2
John de Sutton
3 May 1356
3 May 1356
3
Thomas de Sutton
after 1356
to
On his death the peerage fell into abeyance
after 1356
SWANBOROUGH
22 Sep 1958
B[L]
1
Stella Isaacs
6 Jan 1894
22 May 1971
77
to
Created Baroness Swanborough
22 May 1971
22 Sep 1958
Peerage extinct on her death
SWANN
16 Feb 1981
B[L]
1
Michael Meredith Swann
1 Mar 1920
22 Sep 1990
70
to
Created Baron Swann for life 16 Feb 1981
22 Sep 1990
Peerage extinct on his death
SWANSEA
9 Jun 1893
B
1
Sir Henry Hussey Vivian,1st baronet
6 Jul 1821
28 Nov 1894
73
Created Baron Swansea 9 Jun 1893
MP for Truro 1852-1857, Glamorgan 1857-
1885 and Swansea District 1885-1893
28 Nov 1894
2
Ernest Ambrose Vivian
11 Feb 1848
17 Jul 1932
74
17 Jul 1932
3
Odo Richard Vivian
22 Apr 1875
16 Nov 1934
59
16 Nov 1934
4
John Hussey Hamilton Vivian
1 Jan 1925
24 Jun 2005
80
24 Jun 2005
5
Richard Anthony Hussey Vivian
24 Jan 1957
SWAYTHLING
18 Jul 1907
B
1
Sir Samuel Montagu,1st baronet
21 Dec 1832
12 Jan 1911
78
Created Baron Swaythling 18 Jul 1907
MP for Whitechapel 1885-1900
12 Jan 1911
3
Louis Samuel Montagu
10 Dec 1869
11 Jun 1927
57
11 Jun 1927
3
Stuart Albert Montagu
19 Dec 1898
5 Jan 1990
91
5 Jan 1990
4
David Charles Samuel Montagu
6 Aug 1928
1 Jul 1998
69
1 Jul 1998
5
Charles Edgar Samuel Montagu
20 Feb 1954
SWILLINGTON
3 Dec 1326
B
1
Adam Swillington
Jun 1328
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Swillington 3 Dec 1326
Jun 1328
2
Adam Swillington
after 1328
after 1328
3
Robert Swillington
c 1380
c 1380
4
Thomas Swillington
after 1405
after 1405
5
Elizabeth Swillington
c 1405
after 1430
to
Nothing further is known of this peerage
after 1430
SWINFEN
1 Nov 1919
B
1
Charles Swinfen Eady
31 Jul 1851
15 Nov 1919
68
Created Baron Swinfen 1 Nov 1919
Lord Justice of Appeal 1913. Master of the
Rolls 1918-1919.
PC 1913
15 Nov 1919
2
Charles Swinfen Eady
22 Feb 1904
19 Mar 1977
73
19 Mar 1977
3
Roger Mynors Swinfen Eady
14 Dec 1938
SWINTON
5 May 1955
E
1
Philip Cunliffe-Lister
1 May 1884
27 Jul 1972
88
Created Viscount Swinton
29 Nov 1935 and Earl of Swinton
5 May 1955
MP for Hendon 1918-1935. President of the
Board of Trade 1922-1924, 1924-1929 and
1931. Secretary of State for Colonies
1931-1935. Secretary of State for Air
1935-1938. Minister of Civil Aviation 1944-
1945. Chancellor of the Duchy of
Lancaster and Minister of Materials 1951-
1952. Secretary of State for Commonwealth
Relations 1952-1955. PC 1922
CH 1943
27 Jul 1972
2
David Yarburgh Cunliffe-Lister
21 Mar 1937
26 Mar 2006
69
26 Mar 2006
3
Nicholas John Cunliffe-Lister
4 Sep 1939
SWYNERTON
23 Apr 1337
B
1
Sir Roger Swynerton
Mar 1338
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Swynerton 23 Apr 1337
Mar 1338
2
Robert Swynerton
c 1312
1350
1350
3
Thomas Swynerton
Dec 1361
Dec 1361
4
Robert Swynerton
by 1396
to
On his death the peerage became dormant
by 1396
SYDENHAM
19 Aug 1840
B
1
Charles Edward Poulett-Thomson
13 Sep 1799
19 Sep 1841
42
to
Created Baron Sydenham 19 Aug 1840
19 Sep 1841
MP for Dover 1826-1830 and Manchester
1830-1839. Vice President of the Board of
Trade 1830. President of the Board of
Trade 1834 and 1835-1839. Governor
General of Canada 1839-1841.
PC 1830
Peerage extinct on his death
SYDENHAM OF COMBE
12 Feb 1913
B
1
George Sydenham Clarke
4 Jul 1848
7 Feb 1933
84
to
Created Baron Sydenham of Combe
7 Feb 1933
12 Feb 1913
Governor of Victoria 1901-1903 and
Bombay 1907-1913
Peerage extinct on his death
SYDNEY
13 May 1603
B
1
Robert Sydney
28 Nov 1563
13 Jul 1626
62
Created Baron Sydney 13 May 1603,
Viscount L'Isle 4 May 1605 and Earl of
Leicester 2 Aug 1618
See "Leicester"
*************
11 Jul 1689
Robert Sydney
1649
11 Nov 1702
53
He was summoned to Parliament by a Writ of
Acceleration as Baron Sydney 11 Jul 1689
He succeeded as Earl of Leicester (qv) in 1698
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
9 Apr 1689
V
1
Henry Sydney
c 1641
8 Apr 1704
to
Created Baron Milton and Viscount
8 Apr 1704
Sydney 9 Apr 1689 and Earl of Romney
14 May 1694
See "Romney"
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
14 Jul 1768
B[I]
1
Dudley Alexander Sydney Cosby
c 1730
17 Jan 1774
to
Created Baron Sydney 14 Jul 1768
17 Jan 1774
Peerage extinct on his death
---------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
11 Jun 1789
V
1
Thomas Townshend
24 Feb 1733
30 Jun 1800
67
Created Baron Sydney 6 Mar 1783
and Viscount Sydney 11 Jun 1789
MP for Whitchurch 1754-1783. Paymaster
General 1767-1768. Secretary at War
1782. Home Secretary 1782-1783 and 1783-
1789.
PC 1767
30 Jun 1800
2
John Thomas Townshend
21 Feb 1764
20 Jan 1831
66
MP for Newport 1786-1790 and Whitchurch
1790-1800
20 Jan 1831
3
John Robert Townshend
9 Aug 1805
14 Feb 1890
84
27 Feb 1874
E
1
Created Earl Sydney 27 Feb 1874
to
MP for Whitchurch 1826-1831. Lord
14 Feb 1890
Lieutenant Kent 1856-1890.
PC 1853
Peerages extinct on his death
SYMONS OF VERNHAM DEAN
7 Oct 1996
B[L]
1
Elizabeth Conway Symons
14 Apr 1951
Created Baroness Symons of Vernham
Dean 7 Oct 1996
PC 2001
SYSONBY
24 Jun 1935
B
1
Frederick Edward Grey Ponsonby
16 Sep 1867
30 Oct 1935
68
Created Baron Sysonby 24 Jun 1935
PC 1914
30 Oct 1935
2
Edward Gaspard Ponsonby
7 Jun 1903
21 Jan 1956
52
21 Jan 1956
3
John Frederick Ponsonby
5 Aug 1945
23 Oct 2009
64
to
Peerage extinct on his death
23 Oct 2009
Charles Lyon, 6th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne
Charles Lyon succeeded his brother, John, as 6th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne in 1715,
following John's death at the Battle of Sheriffmuir, which was fought between the followers of
the Old Pretender and those of George I as part of the Jacobite Uprising of that year.
On 25 July 1725, Charles married Lady Susan Cochrane. For more information on this lady, see
the separate note devoted to her below.
On 9 May 1728, Charles attended the funeral of the daughter of Mr. Carnegie, of Lour, in Forfar.
Also present at the funeral were a number of others, including Mr. James Carnegie, of Finhaven
(brother of Carnegie of Lour) and a Mr. Lyon of Bridgeton. After the funeral, Charles, Carnegie of
Finhaven and Lyon of Bridgeton visited a tavern, where a great deal of alcohol was consumed.
Leaving the tavern, Charles, followed by the others, visited the house of Carnegie's sister,
where Lyon of Bridgeton was extremely rude to both the lady and Carnegie of Finhaven. After
leaving the house, Bridgeton pushed Carnegie of Finhaven into a filthy ditch, leaving Finhaven
covered with filth. Finhaven drew his sword and ran after Bridgeton, intending to strike him,
but Charles pushed himself between Finhaven and Bridgeton, and was run through, dying two
days later.
The following account of Carnegie of Finhaven's trial appeared in the [London] Daily Journal of
10 August 1728:-
'Yesterday came on the Tryal of Mr. Carnegie, of Finhaven, who has been accused as guilty of
the Murder of the late Earl of Strathmore, at Forfar, on the 9th of May last. The Tryal lasted
from 9 in the Morning till near 1 o'Clock this Morning, when the Jury was inclosed, and this Day
at Noon, they returned their Verdict Not guilty. The Sum of the Evidence was, That the Defunct
and the Prisoner had been in Company together a great Part of that Day, conversing in a
familiar and friendly Manner without any Appearance of Enmity or Quarrel betwixt them. That
they both went from a Tavern in Forfar, where they had been drinking plentifully, to visit a
Lady in that Town, a common Relation of them both, where their mutual Civilities and
Demonstrations of Friendship continued without Interruption. That in this Place another
Gentleman in the Company, Mr. Lyon of Brigton, behaved very rudely towards the Prisoner, who
was then very drunk, and when the Company left that House, the deceased Earl, with one of
his Brothers, and the Lord Rosehill, walked up the Street, and left the Prisoner coming up behind
them; that as these two were coming by a nasty deep Channel, which was by the Side of the
Street, and received all the Filth of the Shambles, Brigton laid hold on the Prisoner, and flung
him violently backwards into the Channel, where he plunged till he was almost quite covered,
and the other walk'd off and left him there; that one of the deceased Earl's Servants took the
Prisoner out of the Channel, who immediately drew his Sword and ran after Brigton, and came
up with him just as he came up close behind the Earl, whose Sword he endeavour'd to draw;
that upon this the Earl turning about, perceived the Prisoner making at Brigton with his drawn
Sword, and to save him interposed himself, in the Instant the Prisoner was making a Pass at the
other, which the Earl unhappily received; that the Prisoner did not know, till he was in Custody,
that he had at all wounded the Earl; and when he heard it from the Minister of the Parish, who
went to visit the Prisoner, upon his first Commitment, fell into an Anguish, almost to a Pitch of
Distraction, crying out,
Good god! Have I wounded the Earl of Strathmore, whom I loved so
well, and had no Design against?
and that the Earl declared to his Physicians his Sense of the
Innocence of the Prisoner's Intention as to him.'
Until this case, the alternatives available to Scottish juries were verdicts of "proven" and "not
proven." However, in this case, even when the facts of the case were proven, the jury brought
in a verdict of "not guilty." As the Scottish legal system subsequently developed, the verdict of
"not proven" came to mean "we don't have sufficient evidence to prove that you did it, but we
also don't have sufficient evidence to prove that you are not guilty."
Susan Lyon, Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne (widow of the 6th Earl)
Susan was the second daughter of John Cochrane, 4th Earl of Dundonald and his wife, Lady
Anne Murray, daughter of the 1st Earl of Dunmore. She had two sisters - Lady Anne, who
married the 5th Duke of Hamilton, and Lady Catherine, who married the 6th Earl of Galloway.
She was born around 1707, and in July 1725, she married Charles Lyon, 6th Earl of Strathmore
and Kinghorne. After a marriage of only three years, her husband was killed in a drunken brawl,
the details of which are outlined in the preceding note. Susan therefore became a widow at
the age of about 20. Due to her youth and her wealth, there was no shortage of suitors for
her hand in marriage, but she refused them all. Instead, she spent the next seventeen years
devoting herself to good works.
In 1745, however, she became involved in a scandal. She was still on the right side of 40 years
old, and romance and passion still burned within her. The following story is extracted from
"Love Romances of the Aristocracy" by Thornton Hall (Werner Laurie, London, 1911).
'Among the Countess's many servants was one George Forbes, a young and strikingly handsome
groom, who had been taken on as a stable-boy by her late husband. Forbes was a simple,
manly fellow, a peasant's son, and with no ambition beyond the state of life to which he had
been born. He was proud of the fact that he had served his mistress well, and that she liked
him. That Lady Strathmore valued her groom was proved by the fact that she chose him as her
escort whenever she went riding, and that she promoted him to the charge of her stables - a
proof of confidence which no doubt he had earned. But that his high-placed mistress should
regard him otherwise than as a servant was an absurd idea which never entered his head.
'One day, however, the Countess summoned the groom to her presence, and, to his amazement
and embarrassment, told him that she had long grown to love him, and that she asked nothing
better of life than to become his wife. Overcome with surprise and confusion, Forbes protested
"But my lady, think of the difference between us. You are one of the greatest ladies of the
land, and I am no better than the earth you tread on." "You must not say that," the Countess
replied. "You are more to me than rank or riches. These I count as nothing, compared with the
happiness you have it in your power to bestow."
'In the face of such pleading, from one so beautiful and so reverenced, what could the poor
groom do but consent, fearful though he was of the consequences of such an ill-assorted union?
And thus strangely and romantically it was that, one April day in 1745, the Countess of
Strathmore, the descendant of dukes and kings, gave her hand at the altar to the ex-stable-lad
and peasant's son.
'What followed this singular union was precisely what was to be expected. The Countess was
disowned by her noble relatives; her friends with one consent gave her the cold shoulder; and,
unable to bear any longer the constant slights and her complete isolation, she was thankful to
escape with her low-born husband to the Continent.
'Here familiarity with the groom quickly, and naturally, perhaps, bred contempt and disillusion.
His coarseness offended every susceptibility; he was frankly impossible in such an intimate
relation; and after she had given birth to a daughter in Holland, she arranged a separation, for
which the groom was, at least, as grateful as herself. The child - the very sight of whom,
reminding her as she did of her father, she could not bear - was placed in a convent at Rouen,
where she was tenderly cared for by the abbess and nuns. As for the mother, weary and
disillusioned, she rambled aimlessly and miserably about the Continent until, after nine years
of unhappiness, death came to her at Paris as a merciful friend [23 June 1754]. Such was the
sordid close of a life that had opened as fairly as any that has fallen to the lot of woman.
'And what of the child who drew from her mother royal and ducal strains, and from her father
the blood of stablemen and peasants? At the Rouen convent she grew up to girlhood, perfectly
happy, among the nuns she learned to love. The sad and beautiful lady who had come once or
twice to see her, and who, she was told, was her mother, had become a dim memory of early
girlhood. Who the great lady was, and who was her father, she did not know. This knowledge
the nuns, in their wisdom, kept from her - if, indeed, they knew themselves.
'One day, in 1761, her days of childish happiness came to an abrupt and sensational end. A
rough seafaring man called at the convent with a letter from her father demanding the return of
his daughter. The bearer was sent by the captain of a merchant-vessel, who had instructions
to convey the girl from Rouen to Leith; and, after an affecting farewell to the abbess and nuns,
who had been so kind to her, Susan Janet Emilia (for that was the girl's name) started with her
strange escort on the long journey to a parent who she had never consciously seen. The father,
released by the death of the Countess, had married a second wife
of his own station, and had
settled as a livery-stable keeper at Leith, where, with his rapidly-growing family, he had now
made his home for some years.
'At last Emilia was handed over to the custody of her groom-father, who conducted her to his
home, which, as may be imagined, was a pitiful and sordid exchange for the peace and
happiness of her convent life. From the first day the new life was impossible. E,ilia was treated
by her stepmother with coarseness and brutality; she was daily taunted with her dependent
position, and shown in a hundred ways that her presence was unwelcome.
'Can one wonder that the proud spirit of the girl rebelled against such ignominy? It was better
far to trust to the mercy of the world than to bear the brutal treatment of her low-born step-
mother. And thus it came to pass that, early one morning, before the household was awake,
Emilia slipped stealthily away with a few shillings, all her wordly possessions, in her pocket.
Walking a few miles along the shore, she took the packet-boat, and crossed to the Fife coast,
thus placing a broad arm of the sea between herself and the house of misery and oppression
she had left for ever.
'For days this descendant of Scotland's proudest nobles tramped aimlessly through the country,
sleeping in barns or craving the shelter of the humblest cottage, and, when her money was
exhausted, even begging her bread from door to door.
'At last human nature reached its limit. Late one night, footsore and fainting from exhaustion
and hunger, she presented herself at a remote farmhouse, and begged piteously for a meal and
a night's rest. None but the hardest heart could have resisted such a pathetic appeal, and
Farmer Lauder and his good wife had hearts as large as their bodies. At last the waif had fallen
among good Samaritans. She was received with open arms; and instead of being sent away in
the morning, was cordially invitd to make her home with them.
'The rest of Emilia's strange life-story can be told in few words. After a few years of peaceful
and happy life in the hospitable farmhouse, she married the farmer's only son, an honest and
worthy young fellow who loved her dearly. She became the mother of many children, who in
their humble life knew nothing of the high-placed cousins, the Dukes and Earls of another world
than theirs.
'When, in the process of time, her husband died - many of her children had died young, the rest
were far from prosperous - Mrs. Lauder retired to spend her last days in a small cottage at St.
Ninian's, near Stirling, where for a time she lived in the utmost poverty. Then , when her life was
almost flickering out in destitution, a few of her great relatives condescended to acknowledge
her existence. The Earls of Galloway and Dunmore, the Duke of Hamilton, and Mrs. Stewart
Mackenzie combined to provide her with an annuity of £100; and, thus secure from want, the
old lady contrived to spin out the thread of her days a few years longer. Thus died, at the
advanced age of eighty-five, eating the bread of charity, the woman who had in her veins the
blood of Scotland's greatest men and her fairest women.'
Mary Eleanor Bowes, wife of the 9th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne
Mary's domestic affairs kept the public enthralled for 20 years of England's Georgian age. She
was born Mary Eleanor Bowes at Streatlam Castle in Durham on 24 February 1749, the only
daughter of George Bowes, who had amassed vast riches by developing the coal-mines and
iron-works on his ancestral estate. When he died in 1761, Mary, at age 12, found herself the
heiress to 43,000 acres of land and an annual income of D187225,000.
Pampered, pretty and precocious, Mary was one of the greatest matrimonial catches of the
day. At 14, she declared herself desparately in love with a brother of the Duke of Buccleuch,
whose proud family promptly packed him off to the army where he conveniently died of
smallpox. Other suitors flocked to Streatlam Castle but, after numerous passionate and
fleeting affairs, Mary was 17 before she chose John Lyon, 9th Earl of Strathmore, a young
man of such delicate good looks that he was somewhat contemptuously known as 'beautiful
Strathmore.' The Earl was consumptive, slow-witted and, despite his magnificent, but
dilapidated castle at Glamis, extremely poor.
However, Mary's fortune was more than enough to revive the ancient Strathmore splendours.
On Mary's 18th birthday in 1767, the ill-fated young couple were married. By an Act of
Parliament, the Earl assumed his wife's surname. The marriage lasted for nine years until the
Earl's death at sea from TB in 1776, during which time Mary bore her husband five children,
including the ancestor of the late Queen Mother and therefore the present-day Queen. Having
done her duty as a wife, Mary became no longer content to bury herself in the gloomy walls
of Glamis Castle, and by the early 1770s, Mary and the Earl were living almost continually
apart - she in a mansion in London's Grosvenor Square, he at Glamis or feverishly seeking to
restore his waning health at Bath. Mary was still in her 20s and with an amorous eye. How
many lovers she took no one could accurately count. Two of her lovers were respectable
Scottish squires, James Graham and his brother Robert Graham. Another was George Grey,
a swaggering blackguard of obscure background, who was rumoured to have acquired a
fortune in India by dubious means. By Grey, Mary had at least one child and, according to
rumour she 'suffered the degradation of abortion' when news of her liaison with Grey
threatened to reach the ears of the Strathmore family.
These diversions, however, paled into insignificance when an elegant and utterly ruthless
Irish adventurer, Andrew Robinson Stoney, burst into her life in the autumn of 1775. Not
until many years later did Mary learn of Stoney's past - how he had been kicked out of the
army and how he had squandered his wife's fortune before killing her by his cruelty. Stoney
set out to charm Mary and within a few weeks of their meeting she was infatuated with him.
Stoney and Mary now waited impatiently for the sickly Earl of Strathmore to quit his life, which
he did in February 1776. However, the Strathmore family immediately launched lawsuits to
rescue the Earl's children from her scandalous household. A series of anonymous letters in the
'Morning Post' had London society licking their lips at the lurid revelations contained in these
letters. To defend his mistress' honour, Stoney promptly challenged the newspaper's owner,
[Sir] Henry Bate Dudley (later 1st baronet) to a duel at the Adelphi Tavern. After a mysterious
affray in which both men were wounded, Stoney's enemies loudly claimed that, since Stoney
was a notorious coward, the fight had obviously been staged.
The jeers of the public left Mary unmoved, and she and Stoney were married on 17 January
1777, three days after the duel. Stoney changed his name to Andrew Stoney Bowes, it being
only fitting, he explained, that the controller of the Bowes fortune should bear the family name.
But, unknown to her husband, Mary had, on the evening before the wedding, executed a
legal deed tying up all of her property in trust for herself so that Stoney Bowes could not touch
a penny of it.
When he learned of the deed's existence, Bowes raged like a madman and for the first time Mary
realised that she had married a monster. Dragged from London to the seclusion of Streatlam
Castle, he was beaten, abused, half-starved and reduced to a trembling wreck. In May 1777,
terrified for her life, she signed a document revoking the trust deed, thereby giving Bowes full
control of her fortune. This, however, brought no cessation to Bowes' cruelty. He filled the
house in Grosvenor Square with a mob of gamblers, bullies and drunks. No female servant was
safe from his assaults. He boasted openly to Mary of having raped the kitchen maid in London
and the estate labourer's daughters at Streatlam.
For nine years, Mary endured a miserable life with Bowes. Then, in February 1786, she took
flight and vanished. She found shelter with friends in a house in Bloomsbury Square, from
where she appealed to the Ecclesiastical Court for a divorce from Bowes and also began the
legal process to nullify her revocation of the trust deed. Her husband, insane with rage, set
thugs to watch the door of her refuge day and night. On 10 November 1786, the gang swooped,
seizing her in Oxford Street and bundling her into a carriage which was driven to an inn at
Highgate where Bowes was waiting. She was then immediately driven north to Streatlam Castle
where she was imprisoned. After an unsuccessful attempt at rescue by a mob of coal-miners
from the nearby collieries, Bowes dragged his wife into flight again, hoping to lie low in Ireland.
But by now, a warrant had been issued for his arrest and the whole country was aroused. The
end came on 27 November, when he was seized by the village constables of Neasham in
Durham and sent to London in chains. Bowes spent most of the rest of his life in prison until his
death in 1810.
Mary still had another ordeal to face during her divorce proceedings, when Bowes called every
possible witness to vilify her reputation and dig up scurrilous details of her amorous career. In
the end, Mary was, however, successful, regaining her freedom and her property, before
retiring into rural seclusion in Hampshire until her death on 28 April 1800.
The Monster of Glamis
The Monster of Glamis was allegedly a deformed member of the Bowes-Lyon family who was kept
in seclusion during his lifetime in hidden chambers at Glamis Castle. The truth of the allegations
is not known, and probably never will be.
The alleged Monster has been identified with Thomas Bowes-Lyon, eldest son of Thomas George
Bowes-Lyon, Lord Glamis, son of the 11th Earl of Strathmore and father of the 12th Earl. In
'Burke's Peerage' he is shown as 'a son,
b
and
d
18 Oct 1821.'
Most of the details of the Monster come from the book 'The Queen Mother's Family Story' by
James Wentworth-Day (1967), although the legend had arisen shortly after the birth of the son
in 1821, when the midwife who was present at the birth and who had alleged the child to have
been healthy, became suspicious when the child's death was reported a day or two later.
According to Wentworth-Day, the Monster is described as having 'a chest like an enormous
barrel, hairy as a doormat; his head ran straight into his shoulders and his arms and legs were
toy-like.' Other accounts describe the Monster as 'an enormous flabby egg.' The Monster was
allegedly confined in a 10 ft by 15 ft secret chamber, the entrance to which was bricked up
after his death. He was fed daily through an iron grill in the door by a trusted servant and,
according to some of the stories, was taken for walks on dark nights on the Castle's
battlements. The secret of his existence was known only to the current Earl and the next heir,
who was informed of the secret on his 21st birthday.
Wentworth-Day describes a tale in which a workman carrying out renovations around the
early years of the 20th century accidentally found the secret chamber, resulting in the worker
being paid a fortune in hush money provided he emigrated to Australia. In another well-known
story, guests at the Castle once tried to identify secret rooms by hanging towels or cloths from
every window they could access. On surveying their work, they found a number of vacant
windows, thereby assuming that a number of secret chambers existed. The then Earl was
furious when he heard of this experiment and asked all the guests to leave immediately.
A number of other stories surround Glamis Castle and the Bowes-Lyon family. It was here that
Alexander Lindsay, 4th Earl of Crawford, was alleged to have sold his soul to the Devil during
a card-game in the middle of the 15th century, since when he has haunted a sealed chamber
in the west tower of the Castle. For further details, see the note at the foot of the page
containing details of the Earls of Crawford.
Some authors on the subject of Jack the Ripper have tried to prove that Prince Albert Victor,
Duke of Clarence and eldest son of Edward VII, was the Ripper. This is very easily disproved,
since Court Circulars and similar publications show that the Duke of Clarence was in Yorkshire,
in Scotland or at Sandringham when each of the murders occurred. In his book, 'The Ripper and
the Royals', Melvyn Fairclough makes the claim that Clarence did not die in 1892, but was
secretly secluded at Glamis Castle until the 1930s, and that the Bowes-Lyon family was
rewarded for their assistance by their daughter marrying the future King George VI. This all
sounds extremely unlikely to me.
On the other hand, a few eyebrows were raised when, in 1987, it was revealed that two
of the Queen Mother's nieces, Nerissa and Katherine Bowes-Lyon, who the family had told
'Burke's Peerage' had died in 1940 and 1961 respectively, had not died as stated. Rather, they
had both been incarcerated in the Royal Earlswood Mental Hospital since 1941, where they had
never received a single visit from any member of the Royal family.
Glamis Castle is not short on ghosts - indeed, according to various legends, it is infested with
them. Some of the better known include :-
* The Grey Lady - believed to be Janet, wife of 6th Lord Glamis, she can be regularly seen
praying in the Castle Chapel or walking in the Clock Tower. She was accused of witchcraft
and of conspiring to kill the King, James V. On 17 July 1537, she was burned at the stake on
Castle Hill in Edinburgh.
* The woman with no tongue - she walks the grounds tearing and gesturing wildly at her
mutilated face. Who she was in life is unknown.
* A young African boy, formerly a household servant, who haunts the entrance to the Queen's
Living Chamber, where he likes to trip up sightseers as they enter the room.
* The Ghosts of the Ogilvies - after a skirmish with the Lindsay family, a group of Ogilvies
sought shelter at Glamis. There they were locked in a room and left to starve to death.
* A woman servant caught drinking the blood of a victim, and was promptly bricked up in
a wall.
Charles Henry George Howard, 20th Earl of Suffolk