PEERAGE
Last updated 10/06/2025
Date Rank Order Name Born Died  Age
FITZWILLIAM
24 Jun 1295 B 1 Ralph Fitzwilliam Nov 1315
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Fitzwilliam 24 Jun 1295
Nov 1315 2 Robert Fitzwilliam 1275 1317 42
1317 3 Ralph de Greystock
He was summoned to Parliament as Lord
Greystock (qv) in 1321
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1 Dec 1620 B[I] 1 William Fitzwilliam 6 Jan 1644
Created Baron Fitzwilliam 1 Dec 1620
6 Jan 1644 2 William Fitzwilliam c 1609 21 Feb 1658
21 Feb 1658 3 William Fitzwilliam 29 Apr 1643 28 Dec 1719 76
21 Jul 1716 E[I] 1 Created Viscount Milton and Earl 
Fitzwilliam 21 Jul 1716
MP for Peterborough 1667-1679 and 1681-1685
28 Dec 1719 2 John Fitzwilliam c 1681 28 Aug 1728
MP for Peterborough 1710-1728
28 Aug 1728 3 William Fitzwilliam 15 Jan 1719 10 Aug 1756 37
6 Sep 1746 E 1 Created Baron Fitzwilliam 19 Apr 1742,
and Viscount Milton and Earl
Fitzwilliam 6 Sep 1746
MP for Peterborough 1741-1742. PC [I] 1746
10 Aug 1756 4 William Fitzwilliam 30 May 1748 8 Feb 1833 84
2 Lord President of the Council 1794 and
1806. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1795. Lord
Lieutenant W Riding Yorkshire 1798-1819
PC 1794
8 Feb 1833 5 Charles William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam 4 May 1786 4 Oct 1857 71
3 MP for Malton 1806-1807, Yorkshire 1807-
1830, Peterborough 1830, Northamptonshire
1831-1832 and Northamptonshire North 1832-
1833. KG 1851
4 Oct 1857 6 William Thomas Spencer Wentworth-
4 Fitzwilliam 12 Oct 1815 20 Feb 1902 86
MP for Malton 1837-1841 and 1846-1847,
and Wicklow 1847-1857. Lord Lieutenant W
Riding Yorkshire 1857-1892.  KG 1862
20 Feb 1902 7 William Charles de Meuron Wentworth-
5 Fitzwilliam 25 Jul 1872 15 Feb 1943 70
MP for Wakefield 1895-1902
For further information on this peer and his
father,Viscount Milton, see the notes at the
foot of this page
15 Feb 1943 8 William Henry Lawrence Peter Wentworth-
6 Fitzwilliam 31 Dec 1910 13 May 1948 37
For further information on the death of this peer,
see the note at the foot of this page
13 May 1948 9 Eric Spencer Wentworth-Fitzwilliam 4 Dec 1883 3 Apr 1952 68
7
3 Apr 1952 10 William Thomas George Wentworth-
to     8 Fitzwilliam 28 May 1904 21 Sep 1979 75
21 Sep 1979 Peerages extinct on his death
For further information on the Fitzwilliam
legitimacy case of 1951,see the note at the
foot of this page
FITZWILLIAM OF MERYON
5 Aug 1629 V[I] 1 Thomas Fitzwilliam 1581 c 1650
Created Baron Fitzwilliam of
Thorncastle and Viscount Fitzwilliam of
Meryon 5 Aug 1629
c 1650 2 Oliver Fitzwilliam,later [1661] 1st Earl of Tyrconnel 11 Apr 1667
11 Apr 1667 3 William Fitzwilliam c 1670
c 1670 4 Thomas Fitzwilliam 20 Feb 1704
20 Feb 1704 5 Richard Fitzwilliam c 1677 6 Jun 1743
MP for Fowey 1727-1734. PC [I] 1715
6 Jun 1743 6 Richard Fitzwilliam 24 Jul 1711 25 Apr 1776 64
PC 1746  PC [I] 1766
25 Apr 1776 7 Richard Fitzwilliam 22 Aug 1745 4 Feb 1816 70
MP for Wilton 1790-1806
4 Feb 1816 8 John Fitzwilliam 21 Oct 1752 Oct 1830 78
Oct 1830 9 Thomas Fitzwilliam 3 Sep 1755 Jan 1833 77
to     Peerage extinct on his death
Jan 1833
FITZWILLIAM OF THORNCASTLE
5 Aug 1629 B[I] 1 Thomas Fitzwilliam 1581 c 1650
Created Baron Fitzwilliam of
Thorncastle and Viscount Fitzwilliam of
Meryon 5 Aug 1629
See "Fitzwilliam of Meryon"
FLATHER
11 Jun 1990 B[L] 1 Shreela Flather 13 Feb 1934 6 Feb 2024 89
to Created Baroness Flather for life 11 Jun 1990
6 Feb 2024 Peerage extinct on her death
FLECK
3 Feb 1961 B 1 Sir Alexander Fleck 11 Nov 1889 6 Aug 1968 78
to     Created Baron Fleck 3 Feb 1961
6 Aug 1968 Peerage extinct on his death
FLEET
18 Sep 2020 B 1 Veronica Judith Colleton Wadley, C.B.E. 28 Feb 1952
     Created Baroness Fleet 18 Sep 2020
FLEMING
c 1445 B[S] 1 Robert Fleming 1494
Created Lord Fleming c 1445
1494 2 John Fleming 1 Nov 1524
1 Nov 1524 3 Malcolm Fleming c 1494 10 Sep 1547
10 Sep 1547 4 James Fleming c 1535 15 Dec 1558
15 Dec 1558 5 John Fleming 6 Sep 1572
6 Sep 1572 6 John Fleming
Created Lord Fleming and Cumbernauld
and Earl of Wigtoun (qv) in 1606
FLETCHER
9 Jul 1970 B[L] 1 Sir Eric George Molyneux Fletcher 26 Mar 1903 9 Jun 1990 87
to     Created Baron Fletcher for life 9 Jul 1970
9 Jun 1990 MP for Islington East 1945-1970.  Minister without 
Portfolio 1964-1966. PC 1967
Peerage extinct on his death
FLIGHT
13 Jan 2011 B[L] 1 Howard Emerson Flight 16 Jun 1948
Created Baron Flight for life 13 Jan 2011
MP for Arundel & South Downs 1997-2005
FLOREY
4 Feb 1965 B[L] 1 Sir Howard Walter Florey 24 Sep 1898 21 Feb 1968 69
to     Created Baron Florey for life 4 Feb 1965
21 Feb 1968 Nobel Prize for Medicine 1945.  OM 1965
Peerage extinct on his death
FLOWERS
20 Feb 1979 B[L] 1 Sir Brian Hilton Flowers 13 Sep 1924 25 Jun 2010 85
to     Created Baron Flowers for life 20 Feb 1979
25 Jun 2010 Peerage extinct on his death
FOLEY
1 Jan 1712 B 1 Thomas Foley 8 Nov 1673 22 Jan 1733 59
Created Baron Foley 1 Jan 1712
MP for Stafford 1694-1712
22 Jan 1733 2 Thomas Foley 1703 8 Jan 1766 62
to     Peerage extinct on his death
8 Jan 1766
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20 May 1776 B 1 Thomas Foley 8 Aug 1716 18 Nov 1777 61
Created Baron Foley 20 May 1776
MP for Droitwich 1741-1747 and 1754-1768, and
Herefordshire 1768-1776
18 Nov 1777 2 Thomas Foley 24 Jun 1742 2 Jul 1793 51
MP for Herefordshire 1767-1774 and
Droitwich 1774-1777. Postmaster General
1783
2 Jul 1793 3 Thomas Foley 22 Dec 1780 16 Apr 1833 52
Lord Lieutenant Worcester 1831-1833.  PC 1830
16 Apr 1833 4 Thomas Henry Foley 11 Dec 1808 20 Nov 1869 60
MP for Worcestershire 1830-1832 and
Worcestershire West 1832-1833  PC
Lord Lieutenant Worcester 1837-1839
20 Nov 1869 5 Henry Thomas Foley 4 Dec 1850 17 Dec 1905 55
17 Dec 1905 6 Fitzalan Charles John Foley 27 Sep 1852 14 Feb 1918 65
14 Feb 1918 7 Gerald Henry Foley 15 Apr 1898 3 Apr 1927 28
3 Apr 1927 8 Adrian Gerald Foley 9 Aug 1923 12 Feb 2012 88
12 Feb 2012 9 Thomas Henry Foley 1 Apr 1961
FOLIOT
23 Jun 1295 B 1 Jordan Foliot 2 May 1299
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Foliot 23 Jun 1295
2 May 1299 2 Richard Foliot 1284 c 1314
c 1314 3 Richard Foliot 1326
to     On his death the peerage fell into abeyance
1326
FOLKESTONE
29 Jun 1747 V 1 Sir Jacob Bouverie,3rd baronet 14 Oct 1694 17 Feb 1761 66
Created Baron Longford and Viscount
Folkestone 29 Jun 1747
MP for Salisbury 1741-1747
17 Feb 1761 2 William Bouverie 26 Feb 1725 28 Jan 1776 50
He was created Earl of Radnor (qv) in 1765
with which title this peerage then merged
FOLLIOTT
22 Jan 1620 B[I] 1 Henry Folliott 1568 10 Nov 1622 54
Created Baron Folliot 22 Jan 1620
10 Nov 1622 2 Thomas Folliott 1613 1697 84
1697 3 Henry Folliott 1662 17 Oct 1716 54
to     Peerage extinct on his death
17 Oct 1716
FOOKES
30 Sep 1997 B[L] 1 Dame Janet Evelyn Fookes 21 Feb 1936
Created Baroness Fookes for life 30 Sep 1997
MP for Merton and Morden 1970-1974 and
Plymouth Drake 1974-1997
FOOT
29 Nov 1967 B[L] 1 John Mackintosh Foot 17 Feb 1909 11 Oct 1999 90
to     Created Baron Foot for life 29 Nov 1967
11 Oct 1999 Peerage extinct on his death
FORBES (IRELAND)
27 Feb 1724 B[I]   George Forbes 21 Oct 1685 19 Jun 1765 79
Summoned to the Irish House of Lords by a
Writ of Acceleration as Baron Forbes
27 Feb 1724
He succeeded as 3rd Earl of Granard (qv) in 1734
FORBES (SCOTLAND)
1445 B[S] 1 Sir Alexander Forbes c 1380 1448
Created Lord Forbes 1445
1448 2 James Forbes c 1461
c 1461 3 William Forbes by 1488
by 1488 4 Alexander Forbes c 1491
c 1491 5 Arthur Forbes c 1496
c 1496 6 John Forbes 1547
1547 7 William Forbes 1593
1593 8 John Forbes c 1608
c 1608 9 Arthur Forbes after 1634
after 1634 10 Alexander Forbes 20 Apr 1672
20 Apr 1672 11 William Forbes 1691
1691 12 William Forbes c 1656 25 Jul 1716
Lord Lieutenant Aberdeen and Kincardine
1715
25 Jul 1716 13 William Forbes 26 Jun 1730
26 Jun 1730 14 Francis Forbes 19 Dec 1721 8 Aug 1734 12
8 Aug 1734 15 James Forbes 1689 20 Feb 1761 71
20 Feb 1761 16 James Forbes c 1725 29 Jul 1804
29 Jul 1804 17 James Ochancar Forbes 7 Mar 1765 4 May 1843 78
4 May 1843 18 Walter Forbes 29 May 1798 1 May 1868 69
1 May 1868 19 Horace Courtenay Gammell Forbes 24 May 1829 23 Jun 1914 85
For information on the death of this peer,see
the note at the foot of this page
23 Jun 1914 20 Atholl Monson Forbes 15 Feb 1841 31 Jan 1916 74
31 Jan 1916 21 Atholl Laurence Cunyngham Forbes 14 Sep 1882 26 Nov 1953 71
26 Nov 1953 22 Nigel Ivan Forbes 19 Feb 1918 5 Mar 2013 95
5 Mar 2013 23 Malcolm Nigel Forbes 6 May 1946
FORBES OF PITSLIGO
24 Jun 1633 B[S] 1 Alexander Forbes 26 Oct 1636
Created Lord Forbes of Pitsligo
24 Jun 1633
26 Oct 1636 2 Alexander Forbes c 1690
c 1690 3 Alexander Forbes c 1655 Dec 1690
Dec 1690 4 Alexander Forbes 21 Dec 1762
to     He was attainted and the peerage
1746 forfeited
FORD
5 Jun 2006 B[L] 1 Margaret Anne Ford 16 Dec 1957
Created Baroness Ford for life 5 Jun 2006
FORDWICH
18 Mar 1718 V 1 William Cowper,1st Baron Cowper c 1665 10 Oct 1723
Created Viscount Fordwich and Earl 
Cowper 18 Mar 1718
See "Cowper"
FORESTER
17 Jul 1821 B 1 Cecil Weld-Forester 7 Apr 1767 23 May 1828 61
Created Baron Forester 17 Jul 1821
MP for Wenlock 1790-1820
23 May 1828 2 John George Weld Weld-Forester 9 Aug 1801 10 Oct 1874 73
MP for Wenlock 1826-1828.  PC 1841
10 Oct 1874 3 George Cecil Weld Weld-Forester 10 May 1807 14 Feb 1886 78
MP for Wenlock 1828-1874.  PC 1852
14 Feb 1886 4 Orlando Watkin Weld Weld-Forester 18 Apr 1813 22 Jun 1894 81
22 Jun 1894 5 Cecil Theodore Weld-Forester 3 Aug 1842 20 Nov 1917 75
MP for Wenlock 1874-1885
20 Nov 1917 6 George Cecil Beaumont Weld-Forester 9 Sep 1867 10 Oct 1932 65
10 Oct 1932 7 Cecil George Wilfred Weld-Forester 12 Jul 1899 4 Jan 1977 77
4 Jan 1977 8 George Cecil Brooke Weld-Forester 20 Feb 1938 4 Feb 2004 65
4 Feb 2004 9 Charles Richard George Weld-Forester 8 Jul 1975
FORFAR
2 Oct 1661 E[S] 1 Archibald Douglas 3 May 1653 11 Dec 1712 59
Created Earl of Forfar 2 Oct 1661
11 Dec 1712 2 Archibald Douglas 25 May 1692 8 Dec 1715 23
to     On his death the peerage became either
8 Dec 1715 extinct or dormant
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10 Mar 2019  E 1 HRH Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis   10 Mar 1964
  Earl of Wessex, Viscount Severn          
Created Earl of Forfar 10 March 2019.
See "Edinburgh"
FORMARTINE
30 Nov 1682 V[S] 1 George Gordon  3 Oct 1637 20 Apr 1720 82
Created Lord Haddo,Methlick,Tarves
and Kellie,Viscount of Formartine and
Earl of Aberdeen  30 Nov 1682
See "Aberdeen"
FORRES
19 Jun 1922 B 1 Sir Archibald Williamson,1st baronet 13 Sep 1860 29 Oct 1931 71
Created Baron Forres 19 Jun 1922
MP for Elgin and Nairn 1906-1918 and
Moray and Nairn 1918-1922.  PC 1918
29 Oct 1931 2 Stephen Kenneth Guthrie Williamson 20 Mar 1888 26 Jun 1954 66
26 Jun 1954 3 John Archibald Harford Williamson 30 Oct 1922 22 Sep 1978 55
22 Sep 1978 4 Alastair Stephen Grant Williamson 16 May 1946 12 Apr 2025 78
12 Apr 2025 5 George Archibald Mallam Williamson 16 Aug 1972
FORREST
8 Feb 1918 B 1 John Forrest 22 Aug 1847 3 Sep 1918 71
to     Created Baron Forrest 8 Feb 1918
3 Sep 1918 No Letters Patent were ever issued and, on
his death, the peerage, if indeed one had ever
been created, became extinct.
FORRESTER
23 Jul 1633 B[S] 1 Sir George Forrester,1st baronet 1654
Created Lord Forrester 23 Jul 1633
1654 2 James Baillie 29 Oct 1629 26 Aug 1679 49
26 Aug 1679 3 William Baillie 12 Dec 1632 May 1681 48
May 1681 4 William Baillie 1705
1705 5 George Forrester 23 Mar 1688 17 Feb 1727 38
17 Feb 1727 6 George Forrester 10 Jul 1724 26 Jun 1748 23
26 Jun 1748 7 William Forrester Nov 1763
Nov 1763 8 Caroline Cockburn 25 Feb 1784
25 Feb 1784 9 Anna Maria Cockburn 3 Dec 1808
3 Dec 1808 10 James Walter Grimston,4th Viscount Grimston 26 Sep 1775 17 Nov 1845 70
He was created Earl of Verulam (qv) in 1815
with which title this peerage then merged and
still remains so
FORSTER
12 Dec 1919 B 1 Henry William Forster 31 Jan 1866 15 Jan 1936 69
to     Created Baron Forster 12 Dec 1919
15 Jan 1936 MP for Sevenoaks 1892-1918 and Bromley
1918-1919. Governor General of Australia
1920-1925.  PC 1917
Peerage extinct on his death
FORSTER OF HARRABY
16 Jul 1959 B 1 Sir John Forster 15 Sep 1888 24 Jul 1972 83
to     Created Baron Forster of Harraby
24 Jul 1972 16 Jul 1959
Peerage extinct on his death
FORSYTH OF DRUMLEAN
14 Jul 1999 B[L] 1 Sir Michael Bruce Forsyth 16 Oct 1954
Created Baron Forsyth of Drumlean for life
14 Jul 1999
MP for Stirling 1983-1997. Minister of 
State,Scotland 1990-1992. Minister of
State,Employment 1992-1994. Minister of
State,Home Office 1994-1995. Sec of State
for Scotland 1995-1997. PC 1995
FORTE
2 Feb 1982 B[L] 1 Sir Charles Forte 26 Nov 1908 28 Feb 2007 98
to     Created Baron Forte for life 2 Feb 1982
28 Feb 2007 Peerage extinct on his death
FORTESCUE
5 Jul 1746 B 1 Hugh Fortescue,14th Lord Clinton 1696 2 May 1751 54
Created Baron Fortescue of Castle Hill and
Earl Clinton 5 Jul 1746
For details of the special remainder included in the
creation of the barony, see the note at the 
foot of this page
On his death the Earldom of Clinton became 
extinct,and the barony of Fortescue devolved,via
the special remainder,to:-
2 May 1751 2 Matthew Fortescue 31 Mar 1719 10 Jul 1785 66
10 Jul 1785 3 Hugh Fortescue 12 Mar 1753 16 Jun 1841 88
1 Sep 1789 E 1 Created Viscount Ebrington and Earl
Fortescue 1 Sep 1789
MP for Beaumaris 1784-1785.  Lord
Lieutenant Devon 1788-1839
16 Jun 1841 2 Hugh Fortescue 13 Feb 1783 14 Sep 1861 78
MP for Barnstaple 1804-1807, St.Mawes
1807-1809, Buckingham 1812-1817, Devon
1818-1820, Tavistock 1820-1830, Devon
1830-1832 and Devon North 1832-1839.
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1839-1841. Lord
Lieutenant Devon 1839-1861  PC 1839  KG 1856
He was summoned to Parliament by a Writ of
Acceleration as Baron Fortescue 28 Feb 1839
14 Sep 1861 3 Hugh Fortescue 4 Apr 1818 10 Oct 1905 87
MP for Plymouth 1841-1842 and Marylebone
1854-1859
He was summoned to Parliament by a Writ of
Acceleration as Baron Fortescue 5 Dec 1859
10 Oct 1905 4 Hugh Fortescue 16 Apr 1854 29 Oct 1932 78
MP for Tiverton 1881-1885 and Tavistock
1885-1892. Lord Lieutenant Devon 1904-1928
29 Oct 1932 5 Hugh William Fortescue 14 Jun 1888 14 Jun 1958 70
Lord Lieutenant Devon 1936-1958. KG 1951
PC 1952
14 Jun 1958 6 Denzil George Fortescue 13 Jun 1893 1 Jun 1977 83
1 Jun 1977 7 Richard Archibald Fortescue 14 Apr 1922 7 Mar 1993 70
7 Mar 1993 8 Charles Hugh Richard Fortescue 10 May 1951
FORTESCUE OF CREDAN
15 Aug 1746 B[I] 1 John Fortescue-Aland 7 Mar 1670 19 Dec 1746 76
Created Baron Fortescue of
Credan 15 Aug 1746
MP for Midhurst 1715-1716
19 Dec 1746 2 Dormer Fortescue-Aland 1723 9 Mar 1781 57
to     Peerage extinct on his death
9 Mar 1781
FORTEVIOT
4 Jan 1917 B 1 Sir John Alexander Dewar,1st baronet 6 Jun 1856 23 Nov 1929 73
Created Baron Forteviot 4 Jan 1917
MP for Inverness-shire 1900-1916
23 Nov 1929 2 John Dewar 17 Mar 1885 24 Oct 1947 62
24 Oct 1947 3 Henry Evelyn Alexander Dewar 23 Feb 1906 25 Mar 1993 87
25 Mar 1993 4 John James Evelyn Dewar 5 Apr 1938
FORTH
27 Mar 1642 E[S] 1 Patrick Ruthven 2 Feb 1651
to     Created Baron Ruthven of Ettrick
2 Feb 1651 1639, Earl of Forth 27 Mar 1642 and
Earl of Brentford 27 May 1644
Peerages extinct on his death
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12 Aug 1686 V[S] 1 John Drummond c 1650 25 Jan 1715
to     Created Lord Drummond of Gilstoun 
2 Jul 1695 and Viscount of Melfort 14 Apr 1685,
and Lord Drummond of Riccartoun,
Viscount of Forth and Earl of 
Melfort 12 Aug 1686
See "Melfort"
FORTROSE
Although not a peerage, the title "Lord Fortrose"
was used as a courtesy title by the Earls of
Seaforth between 1623 and 1716
                   ********************
3 Dec 1771 V[I] 1 Kenneth Mackenzie 15 Jan 1744 Aug 1781 37
to     Created Baron of Ardelve and
Aug 1781 Viscount Fortrose 18 Nov 1766, and
Earl of Seaforth 3 Dec 1771
Peerages extinct on his death
FOSTER OF AGHADRUMSEE
9 Nov 2022 B[L] 1 Dame Arlene Isabel Foster, DBE, PC 17 Jul 1970
Created Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee for life 9 Nov 2022
First Minister of Northern Ireland 2020-2021
FOSTER OF BATH
7 Oct 2013 B[L] 1 Donald Michael Ellison Foster 31 Mar 1947
Created Baron Foster of Bath for life 7 Oct 2013
MP for Bath 1992-2015. PC 2010
FOSTER OF BISHOP AUCKLAND
16 Jun 2005 B[L] 1 Derek Foster 25 Jun 1937 5 Jan 2019 81
to Created Baron Foster of Bishop Auckland
5 Jany 2019 for life 16 Jun 2005
MP for Bishop Auckland 1979-2005. PC 1993
Peerage extinct on his death
FOSTER OF OXTON
29 Jan 2021 B[L] 1 Dame Jacqueline Foster, DBE. 30 Dec 1947
Created Baroness Foster of Oxton for life 29 Jan 2021
FOSTER OF THAMES BANK
19 Jul 1999 B[L] 1 Sir Norman Robert Foster 1 Jun 1935
Created Baron Foster of Thames Bank
for life 19 Jul 1999
OM 1997
FOULKES OF CUMNOCK
16 Jun 2005 B[L] 1 George Foulkes 21 Jan 1942
Created Baron Foulkes of Cumnock for life
16 Jun 2005
MP for Ayrshire South 1979-1983 and Carrick,
Cumnock and Doon Valley 1983-2005. PC 2002
FOWLER
3 Jul 2001 B[L] 1 Sir (Peter) Norman Fowler 2 Feb 1938
Created Baron Fowler for life 3 Jul 2001
MP for Nottingham South 1970-1974 and 
Sutton Coldfield 1974-2001. Minister of
Transport 1979-1981. Sec of State for
Transport 1981. Sec of State for Social
Services 1981-1987. Sec of State for
Employment 1987-1990. PC 1979
FOX
11 Sep 2014 B[L] 1 Christopher Francis Fox 27 Sep 1957
Created Baron Fox for life 11 Sep 2014
FOX OF BUCKLEY
17 Sep 2020 B[L] 1 Claire Regina Fox 5 Jun 1960
Created Baron Fox for life 17 Sep 2020
FOXFORD
11 Aug 1815 B 1 Edmond Henry Pery,1st Earl of Limerick 8 Jan 1758 7 Dec 1844 86
Created Baron Foxford 11 Aug 1815
See "Limerick"
FRAMLINGHAM
14 Jan 2011 B[L] 1 Sir Michael Nicholson Lord 17 Oct 1938
Created Baron Framlingham for life 14 Jan 2011
MP for Suffolk Central 1983-1997 and Suffolk
Central and Ipswich North 1997-2010
FRANCIS-WILLIAMS
13 Apr 1962 B[L] 1 Edward Francis Williams 10 Mar 1903 5 Jun 1970 67
to     Created Baron Francis-Williams  for life
5 Jun 1970 13 Apr 1962
Peerage extinct on his death
FRANKFORT DE MONTMORENCY
22 Jan 1816 V[I] 1 Lodge Evans de Montmorency 26 Jan 1747 21 Sep 1822 75
Created Baron Frankfort de 
Montmorency 31 Jul 1800 and Viscount
Frankfort de Montmorency 22 Jan 1816
PC [I] 1796
21 Sep 1822 2 Lodge Raymond de Montmorency 24 Nov 1806 25 Dec 1889 83
For further information on this peer, see the
note at the foot of this page.
25 Dec 1889 3 Raymond Harvey de Montmorency 21 Sep 1835 7 May 1902 66
For information on this peer's son and heir,see 
the note at the foot of this page
7 May 1902 4 Willoughby John Horace de Montmorency 3 May 1868 5 Jul 1917 49
to     Peerages extinct on his death
5 Jul 1917
FRANKS
10 May 1962 B[L] 1 Sir Oliver Shewell Franks 16 Feb 1905 15 Oct 1992 87
to     Created Baron Franks for life 10 May 1962
15 Oct 1992 PC 1949  OM 1977
Peerage extinct on his death
FRASER
29 Jun 1633 B[S] 1 Andrew Fraser 10 Dec 1636
Created Lord Fraser 29 Jun 1633
10 Dec 1636 2 Andrew Fraser c 1657
c 1657 3 Andrew Fraser 22 May 1674
22 May 1674 4 Charles Fraser 1662 12 Oct 1720 54
to     On his death the peerage became dormant
12 Oct 1720 For information on his trial for high treason in 1693,
see the note at the foot of this page
FRASER OF ALLANDER
30 Dec 1964 1 Sir Hugh Fraser,1st baronet 15 Jan 1903 6 Nov 1966 63
Created Baron Fraser of Allander
30 Dec 1964
6 Nov 1966 2 Hugh Fraser 18 Sep 1936 5 May 1987 50
to     He disclaimed the peerage for life 1966.
5 May 1987 Peerage extinct on his death
FRASER OF CARMYLLIE
10 Feb 1989 B[L] 1 Peter Lovat Fraser 29 May 1945 23 Jun 2013 68
to     Created Baron Fraser of Carmyllie for life
23 Jun 2013 10 Feb 1989
MP for Angus South 1979-1983 and Angus
East 1983-1987. Solicitor General for
Scotland 1982-1989. Lord Advocate 1989-
1992.  PC 1989
Peerage extinct on his death
FRASER OF CORRIEGARTH
31 Aug 2016 B[L] 1 Alexander Andrew Macdonnell Fraser Dec 1946 6 Feb 2021 74
to Created Baron Fraser of Corriegarth for life
6 Feb 2021 31 Aug 2016
Peerage extinct on his death
FRASER OF CRAIGMADDIE
29 Jan 2021 B[L] 1 Stephanie Mary Fraser 4 Sep 1968
Created Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie for life
29 Jan 2021
FRASER OF KILMORACK
11 Jun 1974 B[L] 1 Sir Richard Michael Fraser 28 Oct 1915 1 Jul 1996 80
to     Created Baron Fraser of Kilmorack for life
1 Jul 1996 11 Jun 1974
Peerage extinct on his death
FRASER OF LONSDALE
1 Aug 1958 B[L] 1 Sir William Jocelyn Ian Fraser 30 Aug 1897 19 Dec 1974 77
to       Created Baron Fraser of Lonsdale for life
19 Dec 1974 1 Aug 1958
MP for St.Pancras 1924-1929 and 1931-1937,
Lonsdale 1940-1950 and Morecambe and Lonsdale
1950-1958  CH 1953
Peerage extinct on his death
FRASER OF NORTH CAPE
19 Sep 1946 B 1 Sir Bruce Austin Fraser 5 Feb 1888 12 Feb 1981 93
to     Created Baron Fraser of North
12 Feb 1981 Cape 19 Sep 1946
Admiral of the Fleet 1948
Peerage extinct on his death
FRASER OF TULLYBELTON
13 Jan 1975 B[L] 1 Walter Ian Reid Fraser 3 Feb 1911 17 Feb 1989 78
to     Created Baron Fraser of Tullybelton
17 Feb 1989 for life 13 Jan 1975
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1975-1985
PC 1974
Peerage extinct on his death 
FREEMAN
29 Oct 1997 B[L] 1 Roger Norman Freeman 27 May 1942 2 Jun 2025
to Created Baron Freeman for life 29 Oct 1997
2 Jun 2025 MP for Kettering 1983-1997. Minister of
State,Transport 1990-1994. Minister of
State,Defence 1994-1995. Chancellor of 
the Duchy of Lancaster 1995-1997. PC 1993
Peerage extinct on his death 
FREEMAN OF STEVENTON
5 Jun 2024 B[L] 1 Alexandria Lee Jessica Freeman, DPhil Mar 1974
Created Baroness Freeman of Steventon for life 5 Jun 2024
FRENCH
1 Jan 1916 V 1 John Denton Pinkstone French 28 Sep 1852 22 May 1925 72
Created Viscount French 1 Jan 1916
He was subsequently created Earl of Ypres
in 1922 (qv)
FRENDRAUGHT
29 Aug 1642 V[S] 1 James Crichton c 1620 by Aug 1665
Created Lord Crichton and Viscount
of Frendraught 29 Aug 1642
by Aug 1665 2 James Crichton by Jan 1675
by Jan 1675 3 William Crichton by Aug 1686
by Aug 1686 4 Lewis Crichton 26 Nov 1698
to     The peerage was forfeited in 1690
14 Jul 1690 For information on a possible claim to this peerage
made in 1901, see the note at the foot of this page
FRENE
29 Nov 1336 B 1 Hugh de Frene c 1290 Dec 1336
to     Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Dec 1336 Frene 29 Nov 1336
Peerage extinct on his death
FRESCHEVILLE
16 Mar 1665 B 1 John Frescheville 4 Dec 1607 31 Mar 1682 74
to     Created Baron Frescheville 16 Mar 1665
31 Mar 1682 MP for Derbyshire 1661-1665
Peerage extinct on his death
FREUD
27 Jun 2009 B[L] 1 David Freud 24 Jun 1950
Created Baron Freud for life 27 Jun 2009
PC 2015
FREYBERG
16 Oct 1951 B 1 Sir Bernard Cyril Freyberg VC 21 Mar 1889 4 Jul 1963 74
Created Baron Freyberg 16 Oct 1951
Governor General of New Zealand 1946-
1952
For further information on this peer and VC
winner, see the note at the foot of this page
4 Jul 1963 2 Paul Richard Freyberg 27 May 1923 26 May 1993 69
26 May 1993 3 Valerian Bernard Freyberg  [Elected hereditary 15 Dec 1970
peer 1999-]
FRITCHIE
31 May 2005 B[L] 1 Dame Irene Tordoff [Rennie] Fritchie 29 Apr 1942
Created Baroness Fritchie for life 31 May 2005  
FROST OF ALLENTON  
12 Aug 2020 B[L] 1 David George Hamilton Frost 21 Feb 1965
Created Baron Frost of Allenton in the County of Derbyshire for life 12 Aug 2020  
FULLBROOK OF DOGMERSFIELD
7 Sep 2020 B[L] 1 Lorraine Fullbrook 28 Jul 1959
Created Baroness Fullbrook of Dogmersfield for life 7 Sep 2020
 
FULLER
8 Mar 2024 B[L] 1 John Charles Fuller 6 Jun 1968
Created Baron Fuller for life 8 Mar 2024
FULTON
19 Jan 1966 B[L] 1 Sir John Scott Fulton 27 May 1902 14 Mar 1986 83
to     Created Baron Fulton for life 19 Jan 1966
14 Mar 1986 Peerage extinct on his death
FURNEAUX
28 Nov 1922 E 1 Frederick Edwin Smith 12 Jul 1872 30 Sep 1930 58
Created Viscount Furneaux and Earl of
Birkenhead 28 Nov 1922
See "Birkenhead"
FURNESS
19 Jul 1910 B 1 Christopher Furness 23 Apr 1852 10 Nov 1912 60
Created Baron Furness 19 Jul 1910
MP for Hartlepool 1891-1895 and 1900-1910
10 Nov 1912 2 Marmaduke Furness 29 Oct 1883 6 Oct 1940 56
16 Jan 1918 V 1 Created Viscount Furness 16 Jan 1918
For information on his eldest son and heir, see 
the note at the foot of this page
6 Oct 1940 2 William Anthony Furness 31 Mar 1929 1 May 1995 66
to     Peerages extinct on his death
1 May 1995
FURNIVAL OF MALAHIDE
8 May 1839 B 1 Richard Wogan Talbot,2nd Baron Talbot
to     of Malahide 29 Oct 1849
29 Oct 1849 Created Baron Furnival of Malahide 8 May 1839
Peerage extinct on his death
FURNIVALL
23 Jun 1295 B 1 Thomas de Furnivall 3 Feb 1332
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Furnivall 23 Jun 1295
25 Aug 1318 2 Thomas de Furnivall 1301 13 Oct 1339 38
3 Feb 1332 Summoned to Parliament (during the life
of his father) as Lord Furnivall 25 Aug 1318
13 Oct 1339 3 Thomas de Furnivall 1322 c 1364
c 1364 4 William de Furnivall 12 Apr 1383
12 Apr 1383 5 Joane Nevill c 1401
She married Thomas Nevill who was 
summoned to parliament as Lord Furnivall
in her right. He died 14 Mar 1407
14 Mar 1407 6 Maud Talbot by 1433
She married John Talbot who was 
summoned to Parliament as Lord Furnivall
in her right. He was later created Earl of
of Shrewsbury 1442 (qv) and died 
20 Jul 1453
20 Jul 1453 7 John Talbot,2nd Earl of Shrewsbury 1413 10 Jul 1460 47
10 Jul 1460 8 John Talbot,3rd Earl of Shrewsbury 12 Dec 1448 28 Jun 1473 24
28 Jun 1473 9 George Talbot,4th Earl of Shrewsbury c 1469 26 Jul 1541
26 Jul 1541 10 Francis Talbot,5th Earl of Shrewsbury 1500 21 Sep 1560 60
21 Sep 1560 11 George Talbot,6th Earl of Shrewsbury by 1528 18 Nov 1590
18 Nov 1590 12 Gilbert Talbot,7th Earl of Shrewsbury 20 Nov 1552 8 May 1616 43
to     On his death the peerage fell into 
8 May 1616 abeyance
1651 13 Alathea Howard 24 May 1654
She became sole heir in 1651 when the 
abeyance was terminated
24 May 1654 14 Thomas Howard,5th Duke of Norfolk 9 Mar 1627 13 Dec 1677 50
13 Dec 1677 15 Henry Howard,6th Duke of Norfolk 12 Jul 1628 11 Jan 1684 55
11 Jan 1684 16 Henry Howard,7th Duke of Norfolk 11 Jan 1655 2 Apr 1701 46
2 Apr 1701 17 Thomas Howard,8th Duke of Norfolk 11 Dec 1683 23 Dec 1732 49
23 Dec 1732 18 Edward Howard,9th Duke of Norfolk 5 Jun 1686 20 Sep 1777 91
to     On his death the peerage again fell into 
20 Sep 1777 abeyance
3 May 1913 19 Mary Frances Katherine Dent [nee Petre] 27 May 1900 24 Dec 1968 68
to     Abeyance terminated in her favour.
24 Dec 1968 On her death the peerage again fell 
into abeyance
For information on the termination of this abeyance,
see the note at the foot of this page
FYFE OF DORNOCH
20 Jul 1962 B 1 David Patrick Maxwell Fyfe,1st Viscount Kilmuir 29 May 1900 27 Jan 1967 66
to     Created Baron Fyfe of Dornoch and and Earl
27 Jan 1967 of Kilmuir 20 Jul 1962
Peerages extinct on his death - see "Kilmuir"
FYFE OF FAIRFIELD
16 May 2000 B[L] 1 George Lennox Fyfe 10 Apr 1941 1 Feb 2011 69
to     Created Baron Fyfe of Fairfield for life
1 Feb 2011 16 May 2000
Peerage extinct on his death
FYVIE
4 Mar 1598 B[S] 1 Alexander Seton 16 Jun 1622
Created Lord Fyvie 4 Mar 1598 and 
Earl of Dunfermline 4 Mar 1605
See "Dunfermline"
William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, Viscount Milton, son of the 6th Earl Fitzwilliam and 
father of the 7th Earl Fitzwilliam
The 6th Earl Fitzwilliam (1815-1902) had 14 children - 8 sons and 6 daughters. Each of the
sons was, confusingly, named William, so apart from the eldest son, they were known by their 
middle names. The eldest son was known by the courtesy title of Viscount Milton.
In 2007, Catherine Bailey's book "Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty" was
published by Penguin Books in London. The book is an in-depth study of the Fitzwilliam family
between the birth of Viscount Milton in 1839 and the extinction of the earldom in 1979. I found
it to be a fascinating story and I have no hesitation in recommending it to others who are
interested in the Fitzwilliam family. The following notes on Viscount Milton, and the 7th and 8th
Earls Fitzwilliam are based on information contained in this book.
The eldest son, William Fitzwilliam, was born 27 July 1839 and, in the ordinary course of events, 
would have succeeded his father in the earldom had he not died, aged only 37, in 1877. Based
on Catherine Bailey's history of the family, however, his death, far from being viewed as a 
family tragedy, was viewed as a relief. Milton was an epileptic at a time when the condition 
was misunderstood. In the mid-nineteenth century, epilepsy was viewed as a form of madness, 
caused by melancholy, morbid terror and excessive masturbation. Milton's father appears to 
have been a proud but ignorant man, who while initially seeking the best treatment for his son, 
later came to view him as placing the family's future in jeopardy, since any stigma of perceived
madness in the Fitzwilliam family would threaten the family's ability to contract advantageous
marriages with other great aristocratic families. Bailey provides a number of examples of the
total exclusion of Milton from his family - for example, it was traditional that the heir's 21st
birthday was celebrated in a lavish fashion. In 1807, when Milton's grandfather, the 5th Earl,
had come of age, the family gave a party for 10,000 guests. In 1860, when Milton reached the
age of 21, his birthday was not celebrated at all by the family.
In April 1861, Milton announced his engagement to a niece of the Marquess of Donegall. His
father was horrified and behind Milton's back he wrote to Donegall, telling him that "My son
suffers from fits which cause at times great mental excitement sometimes followed by 
considerable depression of spirits." The engagement was immediately broken off.
In June 1862, Milton, together with a young doctor named William Cheadle, was sent into exile
to the wilds of Canada. There, determined to prove himself to his father, Milton and Cheadle
set off on an epic expedition of exploration during which they succeeded in mapping a route 
across Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific. When he returned to England and published
his book "The North-West Passage by Land," Milton was treated as a conquering hero. At the
general election in 1865, Milton was returned for the constituency of Yorkshire West Riding
South which he represented until 1872.
After an ill-fated pursuit of Lady Mary Butler, daughter of the Marquess of Ormonde (who was
similarly warned off), Milton married Laura Beauclerk, niece of the Duke of St. Albans, in 
August 1867. His new wife was never welcomed into her husband's family, with the result that
the young couple spent much of their time in self-imposed exile in the Allegheny Mountains
in Virginia. In July 1872, their son, also William, who was to become the 7th Earl Fitzwilliam,
was born in Canada - see the following note for more details. 
Milton's health continued to deteriorate until he died in France on 17 January 1877, aged 37.
William Charles de Meuron Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 7th Earl Fitzwilliam
As mentioned in the note above, the 7th Earl Fitzwilliam was born in Canada in 1872. The
first intimation of this birth is to be found in 'The Times' of 5 September 1872 where it is
stated that "a son and heir to the noble house of Fitzwilliam has been born on the banks of
the Kaministiquia River, on the north shore of Lake Superior. It may be remembered that some
time since, Lord Milton, resigning his seat in Parliament, came to this continent with Lady
Milton and a young family [2 young daughters], and attended also by a physician. There, near
Fort William, and on the borders of civilization…..now sojourn the young couple and their family."
The name of the actual place where the future 7th Earl was born is Pointe de Meuron, north-
west of what was then called Fort William, but is today named Thunder Bay. At that time,
this area was a very isolated spot, in the middle of Indian territory. The name of his birthplace
was incorporated into the 7th Earl's name. No valid reason has ever been discovered as to why 
Viscount Milton had caused his son to be born in such an isolated place.
The rest of his family, however, were convinced that they knew the reason for this place of
birth. It was obvious, they said, that the baby was a changeling who had been substituted
at birth for Milton's real child, a daughter. They alleged that Lady Milton had been rendered
unconscious by the use of chloroform and the babies had been switched. In this way, the
'taint' of epilepsy could be removed from future generations. By the time these allegations
surfaced, in 1896, both parents were dead and William was now the heir to the earldom. No
documents, including his birth certificate, could be found and William was forced to retain a
private detective to investigate the circumstances of his birth. He tracked down the doctor
and the midwife who had been present at the birth, and both categorically refuted the 
allegations. It would seem that this was the end of the matter - both the doctor and the 
midwife pointed out that the obtaining of another white child as a substitute would have
been impossible in an area which was occupied solely by Indians - but some years later the
private detective and William fell out, with the eventual result that William went to great
lengths to silence the private detective. Bailey speculates that the private detective may
have been in possession of information about William's birth that William was desperate to
suppress. We will never know, however, as all of the family's private documents have been
destroyed.
The following anecdote is not included in Catherine Bailey's book, but is still deserving of note.
Before he succeeded to the title in 1902, Fitzwilliam was known by his courtesy title of
Viscount Milton. In 1896, he had the dubious privilege of reading his own premature obituary.
On 31 January 1896, a number of newspapers published reports that Milton had been riding
his horse over a railway bridge near Swinton, in Yorkshire, when he had been thrown off the
horse onto the railway tracks below, and had been killed. A number of newspapers rushed into
print in their evening editions, containing biographical articles about the supposedly dead 
Viscount, and deploring his untimely death. Fortunately for Lord Milton, these reports proved
to be totally incorrect. The young Viscount subsequently was quoted as saying; "I do not
know how the report got about. I was riding a horse which does not carry me very well, and
I got a long way behind. Whether that constitutes the alleged fall I do not know. I was never
better in my life." Due to the title he used at the time, the affair was quickly dubbed 'Milton's
Paradise Lost.'
William Henry Lawrence Peter Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 8th Earl Fitzwilliam
 
The 8th Earl succeeded his father in 1943. He had previously, in 1933, married Olive Plunket,
daughter of the Bishop of Meath.  In June 1946, he met Katherine, Marchioness of Hartington,
widow of the Marquess of Hartington, heir to the dukedom of Devonshire, whom she had
married in May 1944. The marriage ended only four months later when Hartington was killed
in action while serving in Belgium during WW2. Katherine, who was better known as 'Kick', was
the daughter of Joseph Kennedy and therefore sister of John F. Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy and 
Edward Kennedy.
Before long, Kick was Fitzwilliam's mistress, and were planning to wed once Fitzwilliam had 
divorced his wife, Olive.
On 13 May 1948, Fitzwilliam hired a private plane to fly him and Kick to the south of France.
The plane landed in Paris, where Fitzwilliam arranged an impromptu lunch with some Parisian 
friends. The lunch dragged on for far longer than anticipated and by the time the plane took
off for Cannes, the weather had markedly deteriorated. All commercial flights had been
cancelled, but Fitzwilliam insisted that his plane take off. About an hour and a half into the 
flight, the plane ran into a severe thunderstorm and the pilot lost control and the plane went
into a steep dive. In a desperate attempt to halt the dive, the pilot pulled back on the control
column, but the plane could not withstand the g-force thus created and the plane broke up in
mid-air. All aboard the plane were killed instantly when the fuselage landed vertically on a
mountain ridge.
The Fitzwilliam Legitimacy Case of 1951
In 1951, the 9th Earl of Fitzwilliam was in his late 60s, and had no male children to inherit the
Earldom. The next heir to the titles was to be found amongst the descendants of the younger
brothers of the 6th Earl who had died in 1902. The next younger brother of the 6th Earl was
George Wentworth Fitzwilliam, MP for Richmond in 1841 and for Peterborough 1841-1859. He
in turn had a son George Charles Wentworth Fitzwilliam (1866-1935) who married Daisy
Evelyn Lyster (d 1925). According to Burke's Peerage, this couple were married on 31 December
1888, and the son born of this marriage in 1904 became the 10th Earl Fitzwilliam on the death 
of the 9th Earl in 1952.
Burke's does not mention any other offspring of the marriage of George and Daisy. However, a
son, George James Charles Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, was born on 17 May 1888. But was George a
legitimate son? - in March 1951, the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court
of Justice sat to decide this matter.
The case was brought about by a petition in which George sought to be declared that he was
from the date of his birth the lawful child of George and Daisy, and that his parents had lawfully
married on a date unknown to him between 1 September 1886 and 18 May 1888. He further
stated that, although the place of marriage was unknown to him, he would contend that if, as
he believed, the marriage was celebrated in Scotland, it was lawful according to the law of 
that country.
At this point it is worth quoting two points of law. The first is from 'An Act for amending the
law of marriage in Scotland 1856,' commonly known as 'Lord Brougham's Act.'  This Act states 
that "After December 31, 1856, no irregular marriage contracted in Scotland by declaration,
acknowledgment, or ceremony shall be valid, unless one of the parties had at the date thereof
his or her usual place of residence there, or had lived in Scotland for 21 days next
preceding such marriage; any law, custom, or usage to the contrary notwithstanding." [My
emphasis]. In addition, the Legitimacy Act of 1926 states that "Nothing in this Act shall affect
the succession to any dignity or title of honour or render any person capable of succeeding 
to or transmitting a right to succeed to any such dignity or title."
It was shown in evidence that George and Daisy first met in the northern spring of 1886. 
Daisy, who was generally known as 'Evie,' was a chorus girl. George and Evie soon fell in
love. In her role as chorus girl, Evie went to Scotland as part of a touring company whose
performance opened in Glasgow on 20 September 1886.  From there, the company toured
other places in Scotland, returning to England on 2 October. George accompanied Evie on this
tour; they were known as Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam, and occupied the same bedroom.
On their return from Scotland, George and Evie continued their relationship. George, the
petitioner, was born on 17 May 1888. On 31 December 1888, his parents were married by
special licence at St. George's, Hanover Square. By this time George, the father, had been
commissioned in the Royal Horse Guards. At that time, it was recognised that it would be
a disgrace for a Guards officer to marry an actress, and thus news of the wedding was kept
secret. However, the fact of the marriage became known, and George was forced to
resign his commission in May 1889.
The judge trying the petition summed up the petitioner's position as follows - because the
onus of proof was on the petitioner, he had to be able to satisfy the Court that, early during
their stay in Scotland, his parents went through a ceremony which, though informal, was
equivalent to a declaration that they wished, or were doing their best, to get married and,
although the ceremony was invalid, since neither party was resident in Scotland, Scottish law
required that the marriage be recognised if the parties thereafter remained on Scottish soil
for a period of more than 21 days, believing themselves to be validly married.
In the final judgment of this case, it was held that the petitioner had not proved that his
parents had contracted, or had attempted to contract, a marriage prior to the birth of the
petitioner. In any event, the judge stated that he had grave doubts whether the petitioner's
parents had spent the required 21 days in Scotland . As a result, the petition was dismissed
and, on the death of the 9th Earl a little over a year later, George's younger brother, William
Thomas George Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, succeeded as the 10th Earl. When he died in 1979
the peerage became extinct.
It should be emphasised that, at no stage, was this case a 'battle' between George and his
younger brother. There appears to have been absolutely no ill-feeling between the two,
with both parties recognising that it was important for this matter to be resolved.
Horace Courtenay Gammell Forbes, 19th Lord Forbes
Lord Forbes committed suicide in June 1914. The report below appeared in the 'Manchester 
Guardian' of 24 June 1914.
'Early this morning Lord Forbes, the premier baron of Scotland, was found dead in his room at a
Dundee hotel. According to the Press Association he was found with his throat cut. Lord Forbes
was 85 years of age.
'Our Dundee correspondent, telephoning at three o'clock this morning, says:- Lord Forbes came 
to the Dundee hotel a month ago. He had stayed there before. He was in his usual good health,
but, as was his practice at this hotel, he took his meals in his bedroom. Yesterday he was out
and about, and seemed to be in good spirits. At night he retired to his room comparatively early.
'About half an hour after midnight the proprietor of the hotel made his customary round of the
building to see that all was right. He noticed that the light was still on in Lord Forbes' room. This
was so unusual that after knocking several times in vain he opened the room and entered. Lord
Forbes was lying on the floor in a pool of blood close to his bed. A doctor summoned pronounced
life to be extinct.'
The special remainder to the Barony of Fortescue created in 1746
From the "London Gazette" of 1 July 1746 (issue 8550, page 5):-
'The King has been pleased to grant unto the Right Hon. Hugh Baron Clinton, the Dignities of a
Baron and Earl of the Kingdom of Great Britain, by the Name, Stile and Title of Baron Fortescue
of Castle Hill in the County of Devon, and Earl Clinton; and in Default of Issue Male, then the said
Title of Baron Fortescue to descend to Matthew Fortescue, Brother to the said Hugh Baron 
Clinton, and the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten.'
Lodge Raymond de Montmorency, 2nd Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency
After the death of the 2nd Viscount, a contemporary newspaper cautiously commented that 
"there has always been a certain degree of doubt as to whether the 2nd Viscount was 
altogether sane or not."
In September 1843, the Viscount caused the following 'memorial' to be printed and a copy
sent to every member of the House of Lords:-
'……..[the Viscount] has to complain of a long series of continuous and most aggravated
grievances and injuries which for several years past have seriously interfered with, and in
some instances fatally destroyed, his domestic arrangements, placed him at variance with his
family connections, made considerable inroads on his pecuniary resources, depreciated his
property, endangered his health by various and repeated contrivances against, and attacks
upon his constitution, through the means of corrupted domestics, and by all the means which
active, vindictive, powerful and opulent persecutors can bring into operation, tormented your
memorialist to the utmost limits of human endurance, without absolutely sinking under the
baneful effects - and for which, notwithstanding all your memorialist's exertions, he has not
hitherto been able to obtain either attention or redress from those he imagined were the proper
authorities to whom an application ought in such case to be made.'
The memorial continues for a number of paragraphs, containing many references to 'nefarious
transactions', 'disgraceful outrages' and 'abuses of authority.' In the end, nothing appears to
have been done regarding any of the Viscount's accusations, which appear to have been
paranoid delusions.
In September 1847, the Viscount appeared before the Middlesex Sessions, charged with 
assaulting one Robert Hall, who deposed that, while walking down New Bond Street, the
Viscount stopped him and accused Hall of spitting in the Viscount's face. When Hall denied that
he had done so, the Viscount spat in Hall's face and dared him to repeat his action. Hall then
spat in the Viscount's face, upon which the Viscount assaulted Hall with a heavy walking-stick.
The Viscount's lowpoint occurred in August 1852, when he was tried at Bow Street for the
defamation and libel of a number of members of the aristocracy, and, in particular, Lord Henry 
Gordon Lennox, son of the Duke of Richmond. The libels were contained in a circular and in a
letter. The first two paragraphs of the circular read:-
'Some portion of the public may be astonished to learn that a most demoralizing system has
long existed , in an atrocious degree of perfection, by which the integrity of families has been
broken up, and the repose of their establishments destroyed, by a sort of 'secret police,' of a
higher and far more mischievous organisation than has ever been suspected to prevail, and 
conducted under the auspices of a 'secret committee,' of which the 'chairman' and his principal
colleagues are well known, though not at present sufficiently appreciated. One of the first 
steps is to pretend that certain parties, and principally females, who are pursued for the worst
purposes, are applied to, to give information which they are told is required by an important
portion of the state, before a supposed committee of which body they are conducted, and led
to believe the ceremony of making a species of sworn deposition has been legalised, and that 
they are then bound to consider themselves for ever under an intimidating and coercive judicial
superintendence.
'The system is then applied to enforce the requisite inquiries as to the properties, feelings,
affections, politics, state of mind and any other peculiar positions of their husbands, families
and friends. These parties are then visited from time to time by the chairman and two other
members of the committee, one of whom styles himself a distinguished diplomatist, and other
agents of the system, to make what are called confidential communications, but which are
in truth only so many snares to obtain private information on matters that may be publicly
abused. Intimate friends, confidential servants, and known advisers of families, are tampered
with in a similar manner; and all means employed to convert the most harmless expressions
into the most injurious accusations. To effect more readily these wretched purposes, the
Italian school of poisoning chemistry has been ransacked to produce the most debilitating
effects upon the mental and bodily system; and by these means have the brightest
loveliness of woman, and the highest honour of manhood been outraged; while the highest
estates have been seriously injured by calumnies, perjuries, forgeries, and fines illegally
imposed, to an extent which only the abominations of the Star Chamber can furnish any
adequate idea.'
These two paragraphs are quite lucid when compared to the remainder of the circular, which
degenerates into a series of wild accusations, including the accusation that 'they [the 
committee] are also employed to turn the inhabitants of this country into cannibals, and take
even children of rank out of their graves; but the workhouse deadhouse is the principal
depot of supply.'
As part of the same proceedings, Lord Frankfort de Montmorency was charged with a further
libel, after one of his female servants had been taken into custody on her way to the Post
Office at which she had been instructed to post 50 similar letters, addressed for the most
part to various clergymen, and which purported to come from, among others, Lord Henry
Gordon Lennox. The letter read as follows:-
'Mr Macbeath presents his duty to the peeresses and the daughters of the nobility and gentry,
and informs them that he continues to arrange assignations with the most perfect impunity and
safety. Having been trained by Mr Harris, he now acts directly under President and Director-
General of Assignations Phipps. Mr M. begs to call the attention of the ladies to his long-
established mode of transacting business. He himself waits upon them at dusk, sending up his
card in a tissue envelope; always seeing the parties himself, and arranging personally with them
for the reception of the Lothario of the evening, at one o'clock at night; when is enabled by
the peculiar system to keep the husband insensibly asleep, while the parties are amorously
engaged in the drawing-room. P.S. He guarantees to married women half their husband's 
fortune, or more, if they are found out, and will put him in the ecclesiastical courts, which are
an appendage to his establishment. To spinsters he promises husbands, whom he puts into
madhouses, and gets all the fortune for the wives. His predecessor broke one baronet's neck,
for his wife's sake; and having got rid of another, is now endeavouring to destroy his will.'
Contrary to the more cautious position taken by the newspaper quoted in the opening 
paragraph of this note, the newspaper from which details of the second libel have been taken
(the Liverpool Standard) is somewhat more forthright, stating that 'the course of life which this 
unfortunate man has pursued for a long time is a disgrace to manhood, and an outrage on
public morality. The most charitable construction that can be put on his proceedings is, that
they are dictated by a disordered brain. That he is a fit subject for a lunatic asylum can
hardly be doubted; but that his disease of mind has been induced by depraved habits is
abundantly evident.'
No contemporary newspaper that I've been able to find contains a report of the sentence 
meted out to the Viscount. A report in a newspaper published nearly 50 years later states that
he received 12 months' hard labour in Pentonville Prison.
Raymond Hervey Lodge Joseph de Montmorency VC, son of the 3rd Viscount Frankfort
de Montmorency (5 Feb 1867-23 Feb 1900)
De Montmorency was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry during the Sudan Campaign in 
1898. His citation reads:- "At the battle of Khartoum on September 2, 1898, Lieutenant de
Montmorency, after the charge of the 21st Lancers, returned to assist Second Lieutenant
R.G. Grenfell, who was lying surrounded by a large body of Dervishes. Lieutenant de Montmorency
drove the Dervishes off, and finding Lieutenant Grenfell dead, put the body on his horse, which
then broke away. Captain Kenna and Corporal Swarbrick then came to his assistance and enabled
him to rejoin the regiment which had begun to open a heavy fire on the enemy." [Kenna also
received a Victoria Cross for his actions that day].
De Montmorency was later killed in action at the Battle of Stromberg during the Second Boer War.
Charles Fraser, 4th Lord Fraser
In 1693 Fraser was charged with high treason, for proclaiming that the exiled King James II was
the true King, rather than William III. The following [edited] account of his trial appeared in "A 
Collection and Abridgement of Celebrated Criminal Trials in Scotland" by Hugo Arnot [Edinburgh 
1785].
'It was charged against the prisoner, that, contrary to his allegiance, he, in the month of June
or July 1692, went with his accomplices to the market-cross of Fraserburgh, stepped upon the
cross, and, after three several O yes's, did three several times proclaim the late King James, and
the pretended Prince of Wales, to be righteous and lawful King of this Kingdom, and successor to
the same, and that they cursed all who would say the contrary: Then they drank, and caused to
be drank, King James's good health, and that of the Prince of Wales, and cursed King William and
all his adherents; drank to his confusion; uttered reproachful speeches of him, calling him Burgar,
and Burgar-Master of the Hague, and saying that he was only Prince of Orange: That, for the
greater solemnity, they fired guns and pistols from the Cross on the occasion, and forced some 
of his Majesty's subjects to drink treasonable healths: By all which the prisoner testified his
rebellion against his Majesty's person and authority, and his treasonable intentions to depose
the King; and did disown the King's title to the crown, and did all that in him lay to incite the
people to take arms" For which contempts and treasons he ought to be punished with death,
and the forfeiture of his estate.'
Numerous witnesses were called, but none of them stated that Lord Fraser had been the man
who actually spoke the words contained in the indictment. The witnesses agreed that Fraser
was seen drinking the health of King James, but stated that the words in the indictment were
spoken by one of Fraser's servants. 
'The jury...all in one voice found it not proved that the prisoner either actually proclaimed, or
caused proclaim, of the late King James, and the pretended Prince of Wales; but found it proved
that he was present at the proclamation. Found, by a plurality of voices, that a proclamation
was made at the Cross of Fraserburgh, of the late King James and the Prince of Wales; but not
in terms of the indictment, viz as being righteous and lawful King of this kingdom, and lawful
successor therein. The assize, all in one voice, found it not proved, that the prisoner and his
accomplices cursed all those who would say to the contrary. They found it proved, that the
prisoner drank King James's  health, and that of the Prince of Wales: But found his cursing King
William, and drinking to his confusion, and uttering reproachful speeches of him, and forcing
people to drink treasonable healths, not proved. They found that pistols were fired; but did not
find that it was by the prisoner's order........On the 16th of May the Court pronounced sentence
on Lord Fraser, fining him in L. 200 Sterling.'
The Viscountcy of Frendraught
The following article, which appeared in the "Aberdeen Journal" on 1 June 1901, discusses a
possible claim to be made for this peerage. Given that the claim appears to have had no merit
whatsoever, it is not surprising that the claim does not appear to have been prosecuted.
"There is a rumour that the new Laird of Lathrisk, Lieutenant Maitland-Makgill-Crichton, 
purposes claiming the title of Viscount of Frendraught, which, it is said, has been in abeyance
since 1690. It may be interesting to readers both in Fifeshire and the north to learn something
about the Viscounts of Frendraught, and the relation of the claimant to the Crichtons of other
days. The Laird of Lathrisk is lineally descended from William Crichton, the famous Lord High
Chancellor of Scotland, during the reigns of James I and James II, who was created Lord Crichton
in 1445. James Crichton, son of the Chancellor, obtained the barony of Frendraught through his
marriage in 1430 with Lady Janet Dunbar, eldest daughter of the Earl of Moray, and founded the
family of Crichton of Frendraught. William Crichton, son of this marriage, became third Lord 
Crichton on the death of his father in 1469 [c 1455?]; but as he joined with his two brothers in 
the Duke of Albany's rebellion against James III he forfeited his title as Baron Crichton and the
estates of his brothers were confiscated. As the third Lord Crichton was married to a sister of 
the King, the Royal clemency was extended to him, so that the estate of Frendraught remained 
to his posterity. But the title of Lord Crichton has since remained extinct.
'The next member of the family who came into prominence was James Crichton of Frendraught,
fifth in descent from the last Baron Crichton. His father made over the family estate to him while
he was alive - a precaution frequently taken in unsettled times - and James Crichton was married
in February, 1619, to Lady Elizabeth Gordon, daughter of John, twelfth Earl of Sutherland, then 
one of the most powerful noblemen in the north of Scotland. He was acknowledged as the heir
male of Lord Crichton, and his eldest son, James Crichton of Frendraught, was advanced to the 
peerage during the father's lifetime, with the title of Viscount Frendraught, with limitation to "his
heirs male and successors." The patent of nobility is dated 29th August, 1642. Lord Frendraught
took a leading part with the Marquess of Montrose in his last expedition. He was with him on the
fatal field of Invercarron, when [Archibald] Strachan prevailed over "the Great Marquess" in 
1650. It is related that during the battle, when the horse of Montrose was shot under him, 
Frendraught dismounted and insisted that his leader should take his charger, and flee from the 
field. With the aid thus generously offered Montrose made his escape, though he was afterwards
treacherously captured. Frendraught was made prisoner and carried off to Edinburgh. The story
has long been current that the Viscount took the defeat of Montrose so much to heart that he
starved himself to death in Edinburgh Castle; but there seems to be no truth in this tale, as
Frendraught was certainly at the "true funerals" of Montrose in 1661, eleven years after his
supposed death. He was twice married. By his first wife, Lady Margaret Leslie, daughter of the
Earl of Leven, he had one daughter, Janet, who was married in 1665 to Sir James Makgill of
Rankeillour, and was the ancestress of the present laird of Lathrisk. To her story we shall return.
Meanwhile it is necessary to trace the male line of Frendraught. The second wife of the viscount
was Marion, daughter of Sir Alexander Irvine of Drum, whom he married in 1642, and by whom he
had two sons. The elder son, James, became second viscount. He had one son, William, third
viscount, who died, unmarried, in his minority, when the title fell to his uncle Lewis, fourth 
viscount. Lewis was a confirmed Jacobite, and accompanied James II to France when that 
monarch abdicated. He was attainted by Parliament in July, 1690, and was present with James II
in Ireland. He died without children in November, 1698, and as he was under ban as a traitor the
title became extinct, and even though he had legitimate progeny they could not have succeeded.
"Return now to Janet Crichton, daughter of the first viscount and wife of Sir James Makgill. She
had one son, David Makgill of Rankeillour, whose daughter, Isabella Makgill, married the Rev. 
William Dick, minister of Cupar. Margaret Dick, granddaughter and heiress of this minister, was
married to the Hon. Frederick Maitland, sixth son of the Earl of Lauderdale, who assumed the
additional name of Makgill. The eldest son of this marriage, Charles Maitland-Makgill of 
Rankeillour, was married in August, 1794, to Mary, daughter of David Johnstone of Lathrisk.
Their eldest son, David Maitland Makgill Crichton of Rankeillour, was born in 1801, and succeeded
his grandmother in 1827. He was served "heir of line" of the first Viscount Frendraught on his
application in June, 1839. He survived till 1851, and his grandson (the son of his son) is the 
present lieutenant. David Maitland-Makgill-Crichton succeeded to the estate of Lathrisk in 
January last. It is said that he now claims the title of Viscount Frendraught.
"In examining this claim, it is necessary first to notice that there is no such title as Viscount
Frendraught in existence. The fourth viscount was the legitimate holder of the title, and it was
attainted in his person. Even if it had not been so, the title appears to have been confined to
"heirs male," and the Makgill branch could only claim through an heir-female, viz. Janet Crichton.
At least, this point should be cleared up by reference to the original patent, for, unless it confers
the succession to the title on "heirs whatsoever" - a very unusual circumstance - there can be
absolutely no claim to the title, even were it in existence. These matters must all have been
carefully considered in 1839, when David Maitland-Makgill-Crichton was retoured [i.e. confirmed
as an heir] as "heir general" of the first viscount; and had the claim to the title been well founded
it would have unquestionably been preferred at that time. Unless some new documents have
been found bearing upon the destination of the title, the claim could have no effect now. And
even though it had, there would have to be a petition presented to the King, asking him to
restore the forfeited title, which has not been in abeyance, but actually extinct since 1690. It
is quite possible that the late Mr Johnstone of Lathrisk may have discovered some documentary
evidence unknown in 1839; and, in any case, it will be extremely interesting to watch the
progress of this peerage claim, if claim there be."
Bernard Cyril Freyberg VC, 1st Baron Freyberg
Freyberg was a Captain and temporary Lieutenant-Colonel in the Queen's (Royal West Surrey)
Regiment when he won a Victoria Cross for his actions on 13 November 1916 during the final
stages of the Battle of the Somme at Beaucourt-sur-Ancre in France.
The official citation, published in the London Gazette of 15 December 1916, reads as follows:-
"By his splendid personal gallantry he carried the initial attack straight through the enemy's
front system of trenches. Owing to mist and heavy fire of all descriptions, Lieutenant-Colonel
Freyberg's command was much disorganised after the capture of the first objective. He
personally rallied and re-formed his men, including men from other units who had become
intermixed.
"He inspired all with his own contempt of danger. At the appointed time he led his men to the
successful assault of the second objective - many prisoners being captured.
"During this advance he was twice wounded. He again rallied and re-formed all who were with
him, and although unsupported in a very advanced position, he held his ground for the 
remainder of the day, and throughout the night, under heavy artillery and machine gun fire.
When reinforced on the following morning, he organised the attack on a strongly fortified
village and showed a fine example of dash in personally leading the assault, capturing the
village and five hundred prisoners. In this operation he was again wounded.
"Later in the afternoon, he was again wounded severely, but refused to leave the line until
he had issued final instructions.
"The personality, valour and utter contempt of danger on the part of this single Officer enabled
the lodgement in the most advanced objective of the Corps to be permanently held, and on this
point d'appui [point of support] the line was eventually formed."
In April 1917 Freyberg was promoted to the rank of temporary Brigadier, making him the
youngest general officer in the British Army at that time. The only younger general officer in
the British Army during the Great War (or, indeed, in modern times) was Roland Boys Bradford 
VC, who was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in November 1917, aged just 25. He was
killed in action 10 days after receiving this promotion.
Freyberg was subsequently Governor General of New Zealand between 1946 and 1952.
The following biography of Freyberg appeared in the Australian monthly magazine "Parade" in its
issue for October 1960:-
'In the blackness of the night of April 24, 1915, a six-foot, athletic figure stood on the deck of a
British destroyer off Turk-held Gallipoli. He was naked. His body was daubed with oil and painted
black. To whispered good wishes, he went over the side and, swimming strongly, propelled a 
small raft shorewards. A few hours later, in the dawn of a new day, thousands of Australian, New
Zealand and British troops stormed ashore. Many more lives would have been lost in those gallant
Gallipoli landings, but for the lone swimmer from the lurking destroyer.
'The swimmer was young New Zealand-bred Bernard Freyberg. Freyberg swam ashore with flares
in a diversionary feint that fooled the Turks into thinking a large-scale landing was coming far 
from the actual invasion beaches. Many Turkish units, which would have opposed the Anzacs, 
were pinned further north waiting for an attack that never came. 
'Freyberg is now Baron Freyberg, V.C., G.C.M.G., K.C.B., K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. and three
bars, renowned the world over as one of the most romantic modern fighting men. In World War I
he was wounded nine times. At 27 he was the youngest brigadier-general in the British Army. At 
44 he was the youngest major-general. In World War II he commanded the New Zealand
Expeditionary Force through Greece, Crete, Africa and Italy.
'Bernard Cyril Freyberg was born near London in 1889. At two he was taken to New Zealand,
where his father was a government timber expert. He grew into a husky young athlete. His bulk
earned him the nickname "Tiny." Freyberg excelled at football, boxing, yachting and particularly
swimming. He one went for a sail in the harbour in a small boat and ended up at Lyttelton, 100
miles away. At swimming, all distances came alike. He was the idol of Wellington College as he
swept victoriously through championships against rivals four or five years his senior. When he
went sailing he grew impatient if the boat made slow progress in heavy seas. "Tiny" Freyberg
would then leap overboard and swim home in a race with the boat.
'Freyberg qualified in dentistry at Otago University. In his 20s, he worked as a dentist's assistant
in a small New Zealand country town. He chafed at the dull grind of pulling teeth and making
dentures. His grandfather and two great uncles had marched to Moscow and back with Napoleon.
To young Bernard Freyberg, life should be as they lived it.
'Freyberg stayed with his drills and forceps till war flared in 1914. He could not wait to join New
Zealand's own Expeditionary Force. A week later he was on a ship for England. To raise his fare
he sold the cups and medals he won in amateur swimming events. In England he joined the Army,
the boldly pulled up Winston Churchill in the street to ask for a commission in the Royal Naval
Division.  This was a land force hastily formed from reserve stokers and seamen to throw into
Belgium to stem the Hun advance.
Churchill was First Lord of the Admiralty. The Royal Naval Division was his own personal baby
and was known as "Winston's Own." Winston liked the look of the rangy New Zealand with the
fighting set of his shoulders and pugnacious jaw. He commissioned Bernard Freyberg a temporary
lieutenant and bundled him off to Antwerp to see his first fighting action. The Naval Division did
not save Antwerp. Bernard Freyberg hardly distinguished himself. He got tangled up in electric 
wire and was nearly electrocuted. His own men, seeing him crawling through the wire, mistook
him for a German and opened fire. Only their bad marksmanship, for which he wrathfully slated
them, averted a permanent interruption to Freyberg's career. "I know you blundered in taking me
for a Hun," he told them. "But infinitely worse was missing me when 50 of you had me square in
your sights. Don't let it happen again."
'The Naval Division was pulled out and sent to the Dardanelles. Just before the scheduled Gallipoli
landing, Freyberg heard of a plan to land a platoon on the Gulf of Saros and bamboozle the Turks
into thinking a full-scale attack was pending there. Freyberg begged the chance to do the job
alone. His superiors agreed that one hot-headed New Zealander could be better spared than a
whole platoon. 
'The night before the operation (April 23) Freyberg helped bury the famous poet Rupert Brooke, 
so he got no sleep. Also made an officer in the Naval Division by Winston Churchill, Rupert Brooke
died on a hospital ship from blood poisoning. Freyberg and others dug his grave on the island of
Scyros and strewed it with white marble. Freyberg got no rest next day. He was too busy
building his raft and loading it with calcium flares. 
'Freyberg's job was to get the flares ashore without being seen. Then he had to set them off at
different points along the beaches to draw the attention of the Turks - while the Anzacs made 
the real attack further south. Though chances of returning alive were slender, "Tiny" Freyberg
was unworried as he left the destroyer about two miles offshore. He was naked and painted
black from head to toe. He went over the side where the waiting raft bobbed, and set off with
a strong side stroke, pushing it towards the distant beach. He took an hour and a quarter to
reach land. He crawled ashore in the dense blackness and wriggled to the shelter of some 
bushes. Freyberg lit his first bunch of flares, sprinted back to the water and pushed off his raft.
Bullets plopped round him in the darkness as he made for another point along the coast.
'Within an hour he had set off half a dozen more batches of flares. He then abandoned the raft
and swam out to the spot where he hoped the destroyer was waiting. The sea was bitterly cold.
He was suffering from cramp. He swam two hours in agony and was on the verge of exhaustion
when he heard the splash of oars and good round English oaths. They came from a cutter 
manned by his own men searching for him.
'Freyberg's action, for which he received the D.S.O., immobilized large Turkish forces. They were
convinced a heavy sea-borne attack was coming at the Gulf of Saros. Whole units were bottled
up there for days instead of being flung against the Anzacs tenaciously digging in at Gallipoli.
Freyberg then went in with the British invasion force and was twice wounded. He was still there
and mentioned in despatches during the final evacuation on January 9, 1916.
'Back in France in November, 1916, Freyberg, then a colonel and commanding the Hood Battalion
of the Naval Division, won his V.C. for "conspicuous bravery and brilliant leadership" in the final
phases of the Battle of the Somme round Beaucourt. Next year, at 27, Freyberg became the
youngest brigadier-general in the British Army. Before the war was over he collected two bars
to his D.S.O. After World War I, Freyberg stayed in the British Army in various staff jobs until
1937. He was by then a major-general - the youngest in the Army.
'In the years between the wars, Freyberg made four attempts to swim the English Channel. They
failed through bad luck with tides and wind and recurring trouble from his war wounds. Once he
was taken out of the water after 17 hours - when only half a mile from his goal.
'In World War II Lieut.-General Sir Bernard Freyberg commanded the New Zealand Division in some
of the hardest fighting of the war. The division fought a rearguard action in Greece. It went to
Crete and battled valiantly beside the Australians before being evacuated to Egypt. The division
finally became part of Montgomery's victorious Eighth Army. It did its share in turning the tide at
Alamein and pursued Rommel's panzers to Tunisia. It Italy, it was among the spearheads in the
bloody battles of the Sangro, the Orsogna and Cassino. It ended one of the most gallant 
campaigns of the war in Trieste in 1945.
'After the war Freyberg was elevated to the peerage as Baron Freyberg, of Wellington. He served
as Governor-General of New Zealand for several terms till he retired to live in England in 1952.'
Christopher Furness VC, son of the 1st Viscount Furness (17 May 1912-c 24 May 1940)
When the 1st Viscount Furness died in October 1940, he would have been, in the normal
course of events, succeeded by his son Christopher. However, Christopher had not been seen
or heard of since 24 May of that year, having almost certainly been killed while fighting the
Germans.
In April 1941, the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice heard an
application for leave to presume that Christopher was dead. The result of this application was
reported in 'The Times' on 8 April 1941:-
'This was an application for leave to swear that Lieutenant the Hon. Christopher Furness, of
Burrough Court, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, died on or since May 24, 1940.
'Mr. Victor Russell, for the applicant, said it appeared from War Office records that Mr. Furness
died in action either in France or Belgium on or about that date, but a declaration of the Court
was deemed to be necessary. Nothing had been seen nor heard of him since May 24. In a
letter to Mr. Furness's father, the colonel commanding the battalion of the Welsh Guards, in 
which Mr. Furness was an officer said:-
"Dick (Mr. Furness) was covering the withdrawal of some transport when some men of another
regiment said that German infantry were close in a wood nearby. Instantly Dick went off to
reconnoitre with a view to attack. Suddenly fire was opened on him by a concealed German
anti-tank gun. Several carriers were destroyed, including Dick's. I am told he charged straight
at the gunner and shot him before he fell himself. His action was the most gallant possible."
'A lance-corporal wrote that he saw Mr. Furness spread-eagled across the top of a carrier with
a Bren gun in front of him, and added: "Mr. Furness must have known then the very slender
chances of his returning from such a hell."
Another officer who saw Mr. Furness's Bren carrier, easily recognizable by the fighting cock
engraved on its side, go into action single-handed, said it was "an extremely gallant action," 
which saved an entire column from destruction.
'Leave [to presume death] was granted as prayed.'
After the war, Christopher's gallantry was recognised by the award of a posthumous Victoria
Cross. The citation states that "between May 17 and 24, when his battalion formed part of the
garrison of Arras, Lieutenant Furness displayed the highest qualities of leadership and dash in
many local actions with the enemy and imbued his platoon with a magnificent offensive spirit.
On May 23 he was wounded, but refused to be evacuated.
"By this time the enemy had encircled the town on three sides and Lieutenant Furness's carrier
platoon, together with a small force of light tanks, were ordered to cover the withdrawal by
night of the transport, consisting of over forty vehicles. An enemy attack, however, with very
heavy small arms and anti-tank gunfire, blocked the whole column and placed it in serious 
jeopardy.
'Immediately Lieutenant Furness decided to attack the enemy, who were located in a strongly
entrenched position behind wire. He advanced with three carriers supported by the light tanks. 
The enemy opened up with very heavy fire and the light tanks were put out of action, but
Lieutenant Furness continued to advance. He reached the enmy position and circled it several
times at close range, inflicting heavy losses.
'All three carriers were hit and most of their crews killed or wounded. His own carrier was disabled
and the driver and Bren gunner killed. He then engaged the enemy in persona; hand-to-hand
combat until he was killed. This magnificent act of self-sacrifice made the enemy withdraw for
the time being and enabled the large column of vehicles to get clear unmolested and covered 
the evacuation of some of the wounded of his own carrier platoon and the light tanks."
The termination of the abeyance of the barony of Furnivall in favour of Mary Frances 
Katherine Petre (later Dent), 19th Baroness Furnivall in her own right
The London "Daily Telegraph" of 4 December 1912 reported that:-
  'The Committee for Privileges of the House of Lords proceeded to hear arguments in the claim of
Lady Petre, the widow of Lord Petre, as mother and next friend of the Hon. Mary Frances
Katherine Petre, 12 years of age, that the abeyance now existing on the barony of Furnivall
might be determined in her favour. 
'The case on behalf of the petitioner set out that at the death of Edward, [9th] Duke of Norfolk,
in 1777, the various baronies in fee which had accumulated in the line of the Howard family, fell
into abeyance between the lines represented by the Lords Stourton and the Lords Petre. Among
the twenty or more peerages to which claims might be put forward, amongst those represented
entirely by the Lords Stourton and Lords Petre jointly were the baronies of Mowbray, Segrave,
Howard, Talbot, Furnivall, and Strange.
'Both co-heirs being already peers, there was little to be gained save precedence, as, until the
death of the late Lord Petre on June 16, 1908, every person who was at any time a co-heir to 
any of the peerages mentioned was already a peer or peeress. Alfred Joseph Lord Stourton
having petitioned her late Majesty Queen Victoria, the abeyances existing in the baronies of
Mowbray and Segrave were determined in his favour in 1878, and his son, Lord Mowbray, 
Segrave and Stourton, at present the only other co-heir, now consented to and concurred in 
the present position. 
'The only issue of the marriage of the late Lord Petre being his daughter, the Hon. Mary Francis
Katherine Petre, who could not succeed to the Barony of Petre, which was limited to heirs male,
the late Lord Petre intended himself to petition that the abeyance of some one of the baronies
to which he was co-heir might be determined in his favour, so that his daughter might subsequ-
ently inherit it. His untimely decease frustrated his intention of himself proceeding in the matter.
Of all the baronies for which a petition might have been lodged the Barony of Furnivall was 
chosen, inasmuch as there was no existing peerage with which that designation conflicts. The
exact origin of the barony could not be given.
'Lord R[obert] Cecil [later Viscount Cecil of Chelwood], who appeared in support of the claim,
dealt with the summoning by writ of Thomas de Furnivall to a Parliament convened by Edward I
[in 1283] to be held at Shrewsbury to deal with the treacheries of David ap Griffith. This 
  summons showed that Thomas de Furnivall was a peer being summoned to this Parliament.
Thomas de Furnivall was also summoned to the Parliament which confirmed the Charter of 
Liberties, and in 1300 a letter of the barons to the Pope, repudiating his superiority over 
Scotland, was signed by him as "Lord of Sheffield."
The next day, 5 December 1912, the "Daily Telegraph" revealed that:-
'Mr. Fox-Davies [for the petitioner] put in a series of documents, in copy, necessary to establish
that the petitioner was one of the co-heirs to the barony. He said he had intended to call the
Baroness Petre, but unfortunately she was very seriously ill. The Committee thereupon agreed to
accept the entries in the journal of their lordships' House, showing that the present Lord Petre 
took his seat in succession, and Mr. Coutts, a solicitor, gave evidence as to the steps in that
succession, and testified also that shortly before his death the late Lord Petre had consulted him
as to petitioning for the removal of the abeyance of the Furnivall barony in favour of the present
petitioner.
'Mr. Raymond Asquith [son of Herbert Asquith, Prime Minister and later Earl of Oxford and Asquith
who was killed in action in 1916], who stated the case for the Crown, alluded to the discussion 
which took place over the Strathbolgi [i.e. Strabolgi] barony. The conclusion, he said, which
emerged from that discussion was that where they found there had been a writ of summons to 
an ancestor, and subsequently a sitting in Parliament by a descendant of that ancestor, their
lordships might, if the surrounding circumstances warranted it, say that the attendance of the
descendant at a Parliament might be regarded as proof that the peerage dated from the date of
the writ, and not from the date of the sitting. But he argued that principle did not apply in the
present case. Counsel then called the Committee's attention to the table of pedigree showing
the descent of the barony of Furnivall. Thomas Nevill, who was summoned to Parliament as a 
peer of the realm, and sat as Lord Furnivall, was the husband of Joane, daughter of the fourth
Lord Furnivall. Supposing this Thomas Nevill had been a son instead of a son-in-law of the fourth
Lord Furnivall, and had sat in Parliament, their lordships would have been justified in referring
back to the writ issued to the ancestor to attend the 1295 Parliament. But Nevill was not a
descendant of any of the Furnivalls who had previously been summoned. If there was a barony
vested in Joane, wife of Nevill, he quite admitted that her husband might have been summoned in
respect of that barony. That he did not deny, but the point here was, was there a barony vested
in Joane at that time? Nevill had two wives and two daughters, and as he had no male issue the
dignity fell into abeyance between his two daughters. He suggested that there was the creation
of a new peerage to John Talbot.
'Lord Ashbourne said Nevill married the Furnivall heiress, and was summoned to Parliament in
right of his wife. There was no question of abeyance.
'The Earl of Desart said if it was a new creation it was remarkable that this man, a man of great
distinction, should, without any apparent reason, select for the name of his peerage a name
from his wife's family.
'Mr. Asquith said there was no doubt that he had his wife's lands, which were very extensive,
and it was not unnatural that he should take the title of his peerage from his wife's family.
"The Times" of 10 December 1912 summed up the evidence given so far in the hearings, and 
reported that:-
  'Lord Ashbourne said there was no doubt about the pedigree: this was a peerage by writ, and 
there was evidence of the writ and sitting. There was no difficulty about the writ and the sitting.
It had been contended that the fifth lord was made a peer, but Lord Robert Cecil had shown
conclusively that the first, second, third, and fourth Lords Furnivall had been summoned and had
sat in Parliament. One of them had signed a proxy and expressed his wish to attend, and the 
great probability was that he took part in the proceedings at Carlisle, and the circumstances 
pointed to an actual sitting. But he was unable to hold that the creation of the peerage could
have been of an earlier date than 1295.
'Lord Shaw thought that his Majesty would be graciously pleased to call the peerage out of 
abeyance in favour of the petitioner. On the substantial merits of the case there was no contra-
versy. The sole question was one of date. It was first suggested that the date should be 1283,
but he was unable to accept that date, and thought that the earliest period assignable was 
1295. Lord Robert Cecil had adduced a number of circumstances, each slight in itself, but
cumulatively of considerable weight, in favour of the conclusion that Thomas Neville Lord 
Furnivall sat in right of his wife, and he could not bring his mind to believe that there was any 
new peerage in 1283, but the position of Lord Furnivall's name in the Parliament Roll and other 
circumstances showed that at the end of the thirteenth century Lord Furnivall was a peer of 
Parliament. He concurred in the motion that the prayer of the petition might be granted, and 
that the date thereof should be assigned to 1295.'
The Committee reported accordingly, and the London Gazette of 20 May 1913 [issue 28720, 
page 3590] contained a notice stating that the abeyance had been terminated by writ dated 3
May 1913.
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