PEERAGE
Last updated 14/05/2025
     Date Rank Order Name Born Died  Age
POLWARTH
26 Dec 1690 B[S] 1 Patrick Hume 13 Jan 1641 2 Aug 1724 83
Created Lord Polwarth 26 Dec 1690
and again 23 May 1697
He was later created Earl of Marchmont
(qv) in 1697
2 Aug 1724 2 Alexander Hume-Campbell,2nd Earl of
Marchmont 1 Jan 1675 27 Feb 1740 65
27 Feb 1740 3 Hugh Hume-Campbell 15 Feb 1708 10 Jan 1794 85
On his death the creation of 1697 became
dormant, while the creation of 1690 
passed to -
10 Jan 1794 4 Anne Anstruther 11 Mar 1822
11 Mar 1822 5 Diana Scott 4 Jun 1735 20 Jul 1827 92
20 Jul 1827 6 Hugh Hepburne-Scott 10 Sep 1758 28 Dec 1841 83
MP for Berwick 1780-1784
28 Dec 1841 7 Henry Francis Hepburne-Scott 1 Jan 1800 16 Aug 1867 67
MP for Roxburghshire 1826-1832. Lord
Lieutenant Selkirk 1845-1867
16 Aug 1867 8 Walter Hugh Hepburne-Scott 30 Nov 1838 13 Jul 1920 81
Lord Lieutenant Selkirk 1878-1920
13 Jul 1920 9 Walter George Hepburne-Scott 7 Feb 1864 24 Aug 1944 80
Lord Lieutenant East Lothian 1937-1944
24 Aug 1944 10 Henry Alexander Hepburne-Scott 17 Nov 1916 4 Jan 2005 88
4 Jan 2005 11 Andrew Walter Hepburne-Scott 30 Nov 1947
POMFRET
27 Dec 1721 E 1 Thomas Fermor,2nd Baron Leominster 23 Mar 1698 8 Jul 1753 55
Created Earl of Pomfret 27 Dec 1721
8 Jul 1753 2 George Fermor 25 Jun 1722 9 Jun 1785 62
PC 1771
9 Jun 1785 3 George Fermor 6 Jan 1768 7 Apr 1830 62
7 Apr 1830 4 Thomas William Fermor 12 Oct 1770 29 Jun 1833 62
29 Jun 1833 5 George Richard William Fermor 31 Dec 1824 8 Jun 1867 42
to     Peerage extinct on his death
8 Jun 1867
PONSONBY
13 Mar 1806 B 1 William Ponsonby 15 Sep 1744 5 Nov 1806 62
Created Baron Ponsonby 13 Mar 1806
MP for Kilkenny Co. 1801-1806  PC [I] 1784
5 Nov 1806 2 John Brabazon Ponsonby 1770 21 Feb 1855 84
20 Apr 1839 V 1 Created Viscount Ponsonby 20 Apr 1839
to     On his death the Viscountcy became extinct
21 Feb 1855 whilst the Barony passed to -
21 Feb 1855 3 William Ponsonby 6 Feb 1816 2 Oct 1861 45
2 Oct 1861 4 William Brabazon Ponsonby 18 Aug 1807 10 Sep 1866 59
to     Peerage extinct on his death
10 Sep 1866
PONSONBY OF ROEHAMPTON
19 Apr 2000 B[L] 1 Frederick Matthew Thomas Ponsonby,4th Baron 27 Oct 1958
Ponsonby of Shulbrede
Created Baron Ponsonby of Roehampton
for life 19 Apr 2000
PONSONBY OF SHULBREDE
17 Jan 1930 B 1 Arthur Augustus William Harry Ponsonby 16 Feb 1871 24 Mar 1946 75
Created Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede
17 Jan 1930
MP for Stirling 1908-1918 and Brightside
1922-1930. Chancellor of the Duchy of
Lancaster 1931
24 Mar 1946 2 Matthew Henry Hubert Ponsonby 28 Jul 1904 29 Apr 1976 71
29 Apr 1976 3 Thomas Arthur Ponsonby 23 Oct 1930 13 Jun 1990 59
13 Jun 1990 4 Frederick Matthew Thomas Ponsonby 27 Oct 1958
Created Baron Ponsonby of Roehampton
2000
PONSONBY OF SYSONBY
12 Jun 1749 B 1 Brabazon Ponsonby,1st Earl of Bessborough 1679 4 Jul 1758 79
Created Baron Ponsonby of Sysonby
12 Jun 1749
See "Bessborough"
PONTEFRACT
1 Oct 1674 B 1 George Fitzroy 28 Dec 1665 3 Jul 1716 50
to     Created Baron of Pontefract,
3 Jul 1716 Viscount Falmouth and Earl of
Northumberland 1 Oct 1674 and Duke
of Northumberland 6 Apr 1683
Illegitimate son of Charles II. Lord
Lieutenant Surrey 1702-1714. KG 1684
PC 1713
Peerages extinct on his death
PONTYPRIDD
8 Feb 1912 B 1 Sir Alfred Thomas 16 Sep 1840 14 Dec 1927 87
to     Created Baron Pontypridd 8 Feb 1912
14 Dec 1927 MP for Glamorgan East 1885-Dec 1910
Peerage extinct on his death
POOLE
11 Jul 1958 B 1 Oliver Brian Sanderson Poole 11 Aug 1911 28 Jan 1993 81
Created Baron Poole 11 Jul 1958
MP for Oswestry 1945-1950.  PC 1963
28 Jan 1993 2 David Charles Poole 6 Jan 1945
POPAT
10 Jul 2010 B[L] 1 Dolar Amarshi Popat 14 Jun 1953
Created Baron Popat for life 10 Jul 2010
POPE
16 Oct 1628 B[I] 1 Sir William Pope 15 Oct 1573 2 Jun 1631 57
Created Baron Pope and Earl of
Downe 16 Oct 1628
See "Downe"
POPPLEWELL
6 Jun 1966 B[L] 1 Ernest Popplewell 10 Dec 1899 11 Aug 1977 77
to     Created Baron Popplewell for life 6 Jun 1966
11 Aug 1977 MP for Newcastle upon Tyne West 1945-
1966
Peerage extinct on his death
PORCHESTER
17 Oct 1780 B 1 Henry Herbert 20 Aug 1741 3 Jun 1811 69
Created Baron Porchester 17 Oct 1780
and Earl of Carnarvon 3 Jul 1793
See "Carnarvon"
PORRITT
5 Feb 1973 B[L] 1 Sir Arthur Espie Porritt, 1st baronet 10 Aug 1900 1 Jan 1994 93
to     Created Baron Porritt for life 5 Feb 1973
1 Jan 1994 Governor General of New Zealand 1967-1972
Peerage extinct on his death
PORTAL
1 Feb 1945 V 1 Wyndham Raymond Portal 9 Apr 1885 6 May 1949 64
to     Created Baron Portal 26 Jan 1935
6 May 1949 and Viscount Portal 1 Feb 1945
Minister of Works and Buildings 1942-1944
PC 1942. Lord Lieutenant Hampshire 1947-1949
Peerages extinct on his death
PORTAL OF HUNGERFORD
17 Sep 1945 B 1 Sir Charles Frederick Algernon Portal 21 May 1893 22 Apr 1971 77
28 Jan 1946 V 1 Created Baron Portal of Hungerford
to     17 Sep 1945 and Viscount Portal of
22 Apr 1971 Hungerford 28 Jan 1946
For details of the special remainder included in the
creation of the Barony of 1945,see the note at the 
foot of this page
Marshal of the Royal Air Force 1944
KG 1946  OM 1946
On his death the Viscountcy became extinct
whilst the Barony passed to -
22 Apr 1971 2 Rosemary Ann Portal 12 May 1923 29 Sep 1990 67
to     Peerage extinct on her death
29 Sep 1990
PORTARLINGTON
25 Nov 1692 B[I] 1 Henry Massue de Ruvigny 9 Apr 1648 3 Sep 1720 72
to     Created Baron Portarlington and
3 Sep 1720 Viscount Galway 25 Nov 1692,and
Earl of Galway 12 May 1697
PC 1715
Peerages extinct on his death
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21 Jun 1785 E[I] 1 John Dawson,2nd Viscount Carlow 23 Aug 1744 25 Nov 1798 54
Created Earl of Portarlington
21 Jun 1785
PC [I] 1795
25 Nov 1798 2 John Dawson 26 Feb 1781 28 Dec 1845 64
28 Dec 1845 3 Henry John Reuben Dawson-Damer 5 Sep 1822 1 Mar 1889 66
KP 1879
1 Mar 1889 4 Lionel Seymour William Dawson-Damer 7 Apr 1832 17 Dec 1892 60
MP for Portarlington 1857-1865 and
1868-1880
For an amusing anecdote relating to this peer,
see the note at the foot of this page
17 Dec 1892 5 George Lionel Henry Seymour
Dawson-Damer 19 Aug 1858 31 Aug 1900 42
31 Aug 1900 6 Lionel Arthur Henry Seymour
Dawson-Damer 26 Aug 1883 4 Jul 1959 75
4 Jul 1959 7 George Lionel Yuill Seymour 
Dawson-Damer 10 Aug 1938 6 Oct 2024 86 
6 Oct 2024 8 Charles GeorgeYuill Seymour Dawson-Damer 6 Oct 1965
PORTER
28 Mar 1938 B[L] 1 Sir Samuel Lowry Porter 7 Feb 1877 13 Feb 1956 79
to     Created Baron Porter for life 28 Mar 1938
13 Feb 1956 Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1938-1954
PC 1938
Peerage extinct on his death
PORTER OF FULWOOD
13 Feb 2024 B[L] 1 Ruth Oates Porter 1982
     Created Baroness Porter of Fulwood for life
PORTER OF LUDDENHAM
16 Jul 1990 B[L] 1 Sir George Hornidge Porter 6 Dec 1920 31 Aug 2002 81
to     Created Baron Porter of Luddenham for life
31 Aug 2002 16 Jul 1990
Nobel Prize for Chemistry 1967. OM 1989
Peerage extinct on his death
PORTER OF SPALDING
15 Oct 2015 B[L] 1 Gary Andrew Porter 8 Sep 1960
Created Baron Porter of Spalding for life
15 Oct 2015
PORTLAND
17 Feb 1633 E 1 Richard Weston 1 Mar 1577 13 Mar 1635 58
Created Baron Weston 13 Apr 1628
and Earl of Portland 17 Feb 1633
Chancellor of the Exchequer 1621. Lord
High Treasurer 1628-1635. Lord Lieutenant
Essex 1629 and Hampshire 1631.  KG 1630
13 Mar 1635 2 Jerome Weston 16 Dec 1605 17 Mar 1663 57
17 Mar 1663 3 Charles Weston 19 May 1639 3 Jun 1665 26
3 Jun 1665 4 Thomas Weston 9 Oct 1609 May 1688 78
to     Peerages extinct on his death
May 1688
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9 Apr 1689 E 1 William Bentinck 20 Jul 1649 23 Nov 1709 60
Created Baron Cirencester,Viscount
Woodstock and Earl of Portland 
9 Apr 1689
PC 1689  KG 1697
23 Nov 1709 2 William Henry Bentinck 17 Mar 1682 4 Jul 1726 44
6 Jul 1716 D 1 Created Marquess of Titchfield and
Duke of Portland 6 Jul 1716
MP for Southampton 1705-1708 and Hampshire
1708-1709. Governor of Jamaica 1721-1726
4 Jul 1726 3 William Bentinck 1 Mar 1709 1 May 1762 53
2 KG 1741
For information on this peer's possible involvement
in the "Great Bottle Hoax" of 1749,see the note
under "Montagu"
1 May 1762 4 William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck 14 Apr 1738 30 Oct 1809 71
3 MP for Weobly 1761-1762. Lord Lieutenant
of Ireland 1782. Prime Minister 1783 and
1807-1809. Home Secretary 1794-1801. 
Lord President of the Council 1801-1805. 
Lord Lieutenant Nottingham 1795-1809. PC 1765
KG 1794
30 Oct 1809 5 William Henry Cavendish Cavendish-
4 Scott-Bentinck 24 Jun 1768 27 Mar 1854 85
MP for Petersfield 1790-1791 and
Buckinghamshire 1791-1809. Lord 
Lieutenant Middlesex 1794-1841. Lord
Privy Seal 1827. Lord President of the
Council 1827-1828.  PC 1827
27 Mar 1854 6 William John Cavendish Cavendish-
5 Scott-Bentinck 17 Sep 1800 6 Dec 1879 79
MP for Kings Lynn 1824-1826
For further information on this peer, see the
note at the foot of this page.
6 Dec 1879 7 William John Arthur Charles James
6 Cavendish-Bentinck 28 Dec 1857 26 Apr 1943 85
Lord Lieutenant Caithness 1889-1919
Lord Lieutenant Nottingham 1898-1939
PC 1886  KG 1900
26 Apr 1943 8 William Arthur Henry Cavendish-Bentinck 16 Mar 1893 21 Mar 1977 84
7 MP for Newark 1922-1943. Lord Lieutenant
Nottingham 1939-1962.  KG 1948
21 Mar 1977 9 Ferdinand William Cavendish-Bentinck 4 Jul 1888 13 Dec 1980 92
8
13 Dec 1980 10 Victor Frederick William Cavendish-Bentinck 18 Jun 1897 30 Jul 1990 93
to     9 On his death the Dukedom became extinct
30 Jul 1990 whilst the Earldom passed to -
30 Jul 1990 11 Henry Noel Bentinck 2 Oct 1919 30 Jan 1997 77
30 Jan 1997 12 Timothy Charles Robert Noel Bentinck 1 Jun 1953
PORTLESTER
5 Mar 1462 B[I] 1 Rowland Fitzeustace 19 Dec 1496
to     Created Baron Portlester 5 Mar 1462
19 Dec 1496 Lord Treasurer [I] 1454-1492
Peerage extinct on his death
PORTMAN
28 Mar 1873 V 1 Edward Berkeley Portman 9 Jul 1799 19 Nov 1888 89
Created Baron Portman 27 Jan 1837 
and Viscount Portman 28 Mar 1873
MP for Dorset 1823-1832 and Marylebone
1832-1833. Lord Lieutenant Somerset
1839-1864
19 Nov 1888 2 Henry Berkeley Portman 12 Jul 1829 16 Oct 1919 90
MP for Shaftesbury 1852-1857 and Dorset
1857-1885
16 Oct 1919 3 Henry Berkeley Portman 16 Feb 1860 18 Jan 1923 62
18 Jan 1923 4 Claud Berkeley Portman 1 Nov 1864 6 Jun 1929 64
6 Jun 1929 5 Edward Claud Berkeley Portman 8 Jul 1898 14 Jul 1942 44
14 Jul 1942 6 Seymour Berkeley Portman 19 Feb 1868 2 Nov 1946 78
2 Nov 1946 7 Gerald Berkeley Portman 23 Jan 1875 3 Sep 1948 73
3 Sep 1948 8 Gerald William Berkeley Portman 20 Aug 1903 3 Nov 1967 64
3 Nov 1967 9 Edward Henry Berkeley Portman 22 Apr 1934 2 May 1999 65
2 May 1999 10 Christopher Edward Berkeley Portman 30 Jul 1958
PORTMORE
13 Apr 1703 E[S] 1 Sir David Colyear,2nd baronet c 1656 2 Jan 1730
Created Lord Portmore 1 Jun 1699 
and Lord Colyear,Viscount Milsington
and Earl of Portmore 13 Apr 1703
PC 1712  KT 1713
2 Jan 1730 2 Charles Colyear 27 Aug 1700 5 Jul 1785 84
MP for Wycombe 1726 and Andover 1727-1730.
KT 1732
5 Jul 1785 3 William Charles Colyear 1745 15 Nov 1823 78
15 Nov 1823 4 Thomas Charles Colyear 27 Mar 1772 18 Jan 1835 62
to     MP for Boston 1796-1802
18 Jan 1835 Peerages extinct on his death
PORTSEA
12 Jan 1934 B 1 Sir Bertram Godfrey Falle,1st baronet 21 Nov 1859 1 Nov 1948 88
to     Created Baron Portsea 12 Jan 1934
1 Nov 1948 MP for Portsmouth 1910-1918 and 
Portsmouth North 1918-1934
Peerage extinct on his death
PORTSMOUTH
19 Aug 1673 D[L] 1 Louise Renee de Penancort de Keroualle Sep 1649 14 Nov 1734 85
to     Created Baroness Petersfield,
14 Nov 1734 Countess of Fareham and Duchess of 
Portsmouth for life 19 Aug 1673
Mistress of Charles II
Peerages extinct on her death
For further information on this peeress,see the
note at the foot of this page
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11 Apr 1743 E 1 John Wallop 15 Apr 1690 22 Nov 1762 72
Created Baron Wallop and Viscount
Lymington 11 Jun 1720,and Earl of 
Portsmouth 11 Apr 1743
MP for Hampshire 1715-1720. Lord
Lieutenant Hampshire 1733-1742
22 Nov 1762 2 John Wallop 29 Jun 1742 16 May 1797 54
16 May 1797 3 John Charles Wallop 18 Dec 1767 14 Jul 1853 85
14 Jul 1853 4 Newton Wallop (Fellowes from 1794) 26 Jun 1772 9 Jan 1854 81
MP for Andover 1802-1820 and Devonshire
North 1832-1838
9 Jan 1854 5 Isaac Newton Wallop 11 Jan 1825 4 Oct 1891 66
4 Oct 1891 6 Newton Wallop 19 Jan 1856 4 Dec 1917 61
MP for Barnstaple 1880-1885 and 
South Molton 1885-1891
4 Dec 1917 7 John Fellowes Wallop 27 Dec 1859 7 Sep 1925 65
7 Sep 1925 8 Oliver Henry Wallop 13 Jan 1861 10 Feb 1943 82
10 Feb 1943 9 Gerard Vernon Wallop 16 May 1898 28 Sep 1984 86
MP for Basingstoke 1929-1934
28 Sep 1984 10 Quentin Gerard Carew Wallop 25 Jul 1954
POULETT
23 Jun 1627 B 1 John Poulett c 1585 20 Mar 1649
Created Baron Poulett 23 Jun 1627
MP for Somerset 1610-1611 and 1614, and
Lyme Regis 1621-1622
20 Mar 1649 2 John Poulett c 1615 15 Sep 1665
MP for Somerset 1640-1642
15 Sep 1665 3 John Poulett c 1641 Jun 1679
MP for Somerset 1662-1665. Lord 
Lieutenant Dorset 1674-1679
Jun 1679 4 John Poulett c 1663 25 May 1743
24 Dec 1706 E 1 Created Viscount Hinton of Hinton
St.George and Earl Poulett 
24 Dec 1706
Prime Minister 1710-1711. Lord Lieutenant
Devon 1702-1714.  PC 1702  KG 1712
25 May 1743 2 John Poulett 10 Dec 1708 5 Nov 1764 55
Lord Lieutenant Somerset 1744-1764
5 Nov 1764 3 Vere Poulett 18 May 1710 14 Apr 1788 77
MP for Bridgewater 1741-1747. Lord
Lieutenant Devon 1771-1788
14 Apr 1788 4 John Poulett 3 Apr 1756 14 Jan 1819 62
Lord Lieutenant Somerset 1792-1819
KT 1794
14 Jan 1819 5 John Poulett 5 Jul 1783 20 Jun 1864 80
20 Jun 1864 6 William Henry Poulett 22 Sep 1827 22 Jan 1899 71
For an interesting anecdote of a prophetic
dream,see the note at the foot of this page
22 Jan 1899 7 William John Lydston Poulett 11 Sep 1883 11 Jul 1918 34
For further information on the Poulett peerage
claim decided in 1903, see the note at the
foot of this page.
11 Jul 1918 8 George Amias Fitzwarrine Poulett 23 Jun 1909 1 Mar 1973 63
to     Peerages extinct on his death
1 Mar 1973
POWELL OF BAYSWATER
15 Feb 2000 B[L] 1 Sir Charles David Powell 6 Jul 1941
Created Baron Powell of Bayswater for life
15 Feb 2000
POWER
13 Sep 1535 B[I] 1 Richard Power 10 Nov 1539
Created Baron Power 13 Sep 1535
10 Nov 1539 2 Piers Power 16 Oct 1545
16 Oct 1545 3 John Power 1516 8 Nov 1592 76
8 Nov 1592 4 Richard Power 8 Aug 1607
8 Aug 1607 5 John Power c 1599 1661
1661 6 Richard Power,later [1673] 1st Earl of Tyrone 1630 14 Oct 1690 60
14 Oct 1690 7 John Power,2nd Earl of Tyrone 14 Oct 1693
14 Oct 1693 8 James Power,3rd Earl of Tyrone 19 Aug 1704
to     On his death the heir to the peerage was 
19 Aug 1704 under attainder and thus the peerage 
became extinct
For information on a claim to this peerage made in
1922,see the note at the foot of this page
POWERSCOURT
19 Feb 1618 V[I] 1 Richard Wingfield 9 Sep 1634
to     Created Viscount Powerscourt
9 Sep 1634 19 Feb 1618
Chief Governor of Ireland 1613-1614 and
1622-1625
Peerage extinct on his death
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22 Feb 1665 V[I] 1 Folliott Wingfield 2 Nov 1642 17 Feb 1717 74
to     Created Viscount Powerscourt
17 Feb 1717 22 Feb 1665
Peerage extinct on his death
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4 Feb 1744 V[I] 1 Richard Wingfield 19 Aug 1697 21 Oct 1751 54
Created Baron Wingfield and Viscount
Powerscourt 4 Feb 1744
PC [I] 1746
21 Oct 1751 2 Edward Wingfield 23 Oct 1729 6 May 1764 34
MP for Stockbridge 1756-1761
6 May 1764 3 Richard Wingfield 24 Dec 1730 8 Aug 1788 57
8 Aug 1788 4 Richard Wingfield 29 Aug 1762 19 Jul 1809 46
19 Jul 1809 5 Richard Wingfield 11 Sep 1790 9 Aug 1823 32
9 Aug 1823 6 Richard Wingfield 18 Jan 1815 11 Aug 1844 29
MP for Bath 1837-1841
 
11 Aug 1844 7 Mervyn Wingfield 13 Oct 1836 5 Jun 1904 67
27 Jun 1885 B 1 Created Baron Powerscourt 
27 Jun 1885
KP 1871. PC [I] 1897
5 Jun 1904 8 Mervyn Richard Wingfield 16 Jul 1880 21 Mar 1947 66
Lord Lieutenant Wicklow 1910-1922  KP 1916
21 Mar 1947 9 Mervyn Patrick Wingfield 22 Aug 1905 3 Apr 1973 67
3 Apr 1973 10 Mervyn Niall Wingfield 3 Sep 1935 25 Jul 2015 79
25 Jul 2015 11 Mervyn Anthony Wingfield 21 Aug 1963
POWIS
2 Apr 1629 B 1 William Herbert c 1573 7 Mar 1656
Created Baron Powis 2 Apr 1629
7 Mar 1656 2 Sir Percy Herbert,1st baronet c 1600 19 Jan 1667
MP for Shaftesbury 1621-1622
19 Jan 1667 3 William Herbert c 1629 2 Jun 1696
24 Mar 1687 M 1 Created Earl of Powis 4 Apr 1674 and
Viscount Montgomery and Marquess of
Powis 24 Mar 1687
PC 1686  Lord Lieutenant Cheshire 1688
2 Jun 1696 2 William Herbert c 1665 23 Oct 1745
23 Oct 1745 3 William Herbert c 1698 8 Mar 1748
to     Peerages extinct on his death
8 Mar 1748
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27 May 1748 E 1 Henry Arthur Herbert c 1703 10 Sep 1772
Created Baron Herbert of Chirbury
21 Dec 1743,Baron Powis,Viscount
Ludlow and Earl of Powis 27 May 1748
and Baron Herbert of Chirbury
16 Oct 1749
MP for Bletchingley 1724-1727 and
Ludlow 1727-1743. Lord Lieutenant
Montgomery 1761-1772 and Shropshire 1735-1761 
and 1764-1772.  PC 1761
10 Sep 1772 2 George Edward Henry Arthur Herbert 7 Jul 1755 16 Jan 1801 45
to     Lord Lieutenant Montgomery 1776-1801 and
16 Jan 1801 Shropshire 1798-1801
Peerage extinct on his death
 
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14 May 1804 E 1 Edward Clive,2nd Baron Clive of Plassey 7 Mar 1754 16 May 1839 85
Created Baron Clive of Walcot
13 Aug 1794 and Baron Powis,Baron
Herbert of Chirbury,Viscount Clive of
Ludlow and Earl of Powis 14 May 1804
MP for Ludlow 1774-1794. Lord Lieutenant
Shropshire 1775-1798 and 1804-1839, and 
Montgomery 1804-1830.  PC 1805
16 May 1839 2 Edward Herbert 22 Mar 1785 17 Jan 1848 62
MP for Ludlow 1806-1839. Lord Lieutenant
Montgomery 1830-1848.  KG 1844
17 Jan 1848 3 Edward James Herbert 5 Nov 1818 7 May 1891 72
MP for Shropshire North 1843-1848.
Lord Lieutenant Montgomery 1877-1891
7 May 1891 4 George Herbert 24 Jun 1862 9 Nov 1952 90
Lord Lieutenant Shropshire 1896-1951
9 Nov 1952 5 Edward Robert Henry Herbert 19 May 1889 15 Jan 1974 84
15 Jan 1974 6 Christian Victor Charles Herbert 28 May 1904 7 Oct 1988 84
7 Oct 1988 7 George William Herbert 4 Jun 1925 13 Aug 1993 68
13 Aug 1993 8 John George Herbert 19 May 1952
POYNINGS
23 Apr 1337 B 1 Thomas Poynings Oct 1339
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Poynings 23 Apr 1337
Oct 1339 2 Michael Poynings 1317 15 Mar 1369 51
15 Mar 1369 3 Thomas Poynings 19 Apr 1349 Jun 1375 26
Jun 1375 4 Richard Poynings 1359 25 May 1387 27
25 May 1387 5 Robert Poynings 30 Nov 1380 2 Oct 1446 65
2 Oct 1446 6 Eleanor Percy c 1421 10 Feb 1482
She married Sir Henry Percy who was
summoned to Parliament in her behalf. He
died 29 Mar 1461
10 Feb 1482 7 Henry Percy
He had been previously summoned to
Parliament as Lord Percy (qv) in 1473 with
which title this peerage then merged
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20 Jan 1545 B 1 Thomas Poynings 18 Aug 1545
to     Created Baron Poynings 20 Jan 1545
18 Aug 1545 Peerage extinct on his death
POYNTZ
24 Jun 1295 B 1 Hugh Poyntz 25 Aug 1252 Jan 1308 55
Summoned to Parliament as Lord
Poyntz 24 Jun 1295
Jan 1308 2 Nicholas Poyntz c 1278 Jul 1312
Jul 1312 3 Hugh Poynyz c 1294 13 Oct 1333
13 Oct 1333 4 Nicholas Poyntz 1360
to     On his death the peerage fell into abeyance
1360
PRASHAR
15 Jul 1999 B[L] 1 Usha Kumari Prashar 29 Jun 1948
Created Baroness Prashar  for life 15 Jul 1999
PC 2009
PRENTICE
30 Jan 1992 B[L] 1 Sir Reginald Ernest Prentice 16 Jul 1923 18 Jan 2001 77
to     Created Baron Prentice for life 30 Jan 1992
18 Jan 2001 MP for East Ham North 1957-1974, Newham
NE 1974-1979 and Daventry 1979-1987.
Minister of State,Education and Science
1964-1967. Minister for Public Buildings 
and Works 1966-1967.Minister for Overseas
Development 1967-1969 and 1975-1976.
Secretary of State for Education and 
Science 1974-1975. Minister of State for
Social Security 1979-1981.  PC 1966
Peerage extinct on his death
PRENTIS OF BANBURY
13 May 2025 B[L] 1 Victoria Mary Prentis, KC 24 Mar 1971
Created Baroness Prentis of Banbury for life 13 May 2025
PRENTIS OF LEEDS
18 Nov 2022 B[L] 1 David Prentis 29 May 1948
Created Baron Prentis of Leeds for life 18 Nov 2022
PRESCOTT
7 Jul 2010 B[L] 1 John Leslie Prescott 31 May 1938 20 Nov 2024
to Created Baron Prescott for life 7 Jul 2010
20 Nov 2024 MP for Hull East 1970-2010. Secretary of State
for Environment,Transport and the Regions 
1997-2001. Deputy Prime Minister and First
Secretary of State 1997-2007.  PC 1994-2013
Peerage extinct on his death
PRESTON
21 May 1681 V[S] 1 Sir Richard Graham,3rd baronet 24 Sep 1648 22 Dec 1695 47
Created Lord Graham of Esk and 
Viscount Preston 21 May 1681
MP for Cockermouth 1675-1681 and Cumberland
1685-1687. Lord Lieutenant Cumberland and
Westmorland 1687-1688  PC 1685
22 Dec 1695 2 Edward Graham 1679 1710 31
1710 3 Charles Graham 25 Mar 1706 23 Feb 1739 32
to     Peerage extinct on his death
23 Feb 1739
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3 Oct 1760 V[I] 1 Peter Ludlow 21 Apr 1730 26 Oct 1803 73
Created Baron Ludlow 19 Dec 1755
and Viscount Preston and Earl 
Ludlow 3 Oct 1760
See "Ludlow" - extinct 1842
PRESTWOOD
16 Dec 1955 E 1 Clement Richard Attlee  3 Jan 1883  8 Oct 1967 84
Created Viscount Prestwood and Earl 
Attlee 16 Dec 1955
See "Attlee"
PRICE
29 Feb 2016 B[L] 1 Mark Ian Price 2 Mar 1961
Created Baron Price for life 29 Feb 2016
PRIMAROLO
26 Oct 2015 B[L] 1 Dame Dawn Primarolo 2 May 1954
Created Baroness Primarolo for life 
26 Oct 2015
MP for Bristol South 1987-2015. Financial 
Secretary to the Treasury 1997-1999. Paymaster
General 1999-2007. PC 2002
PRIMROSE
30 Nov 1703 V[S] 1 Sir James Primrose,3rd baronet c 1680 13 Jun 1706
Created Lord Primrose and Castlefield
and Viscount of Primrose 30 Nov 1703
For further information on this peer's wife, see
the note at the foot of the page containing
details of the Earldom of Stair
13 Jun 1706 2 Archibald Primrose 19 Jun 1716
19 Jun 1716 3 Hugh Primrose c 1703 8 May 1741
to     Peerage extinct on his death
8 May 1741
PRIOR
14 Oct 1987 B[L] 1 James Michael Leathes Prior 11 Oct 1927 12 Dec 2016 89
to     Created Baron Prior for life 14 Oct 1987
12 Dec 2016 MP for Lowestoft 1959-1983 and Waveney
1983-1987. Minister of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food 1970-1972. Lord 
President of the Council 1972-1974.
Secretary of State for Employment 1979-
1981. Secretary of State for Northern
Ireland 1981-1984.  PC 1970
Peerage extinct on his death
PRIOR OF BRAMPTON
29 May 2015 B[L] 1 David Gifford Leathes Prior 3 Dec 1954
Created Baron Prior of Brampton for life
29 May 2015
MP for Norfolk North 1997-2001
PRITCHARD
30 Jan 1975 B[L] 1 Sir Derek Wilbraham Pritchard 8 Jun 1910 18 Oct 1995 85
to     Created Baron Pritchard for life 30 Jan 1975
18 Oct 1995 Peerage extinct on his death
PROSSER
11 Jun 2004 B[L] 1 Margaret Theresa Prosser 22 Aug 1937
Created Baroness Prosser for life 11 Jun 2004
PRUDHOE
27 Nov 1816 B 1 Algernon Percy 19 Dec 1792 12 Feb 1865 72
to     Created Baron Prudhoe 27 Nov 1816
12 Feb 1865 He succeeded to the Dukedom of
Northumberland (qv) in 1847 - peerage
extinct on his death
PRYS-DAVIES
9 Feb 1983 B[L] 1 Gwilym Prys Prys-Davies 8 Dec 1923 28 Mar 2017 93
 to     Created Baron Prys-Davies for life 9 Feb 1983
28 Mar 2017 Peerage extinct on his death
PULTENEY
14 Jul 1742 V 1 William Pulteney Apr 1684 8 Jul 1764 80
to     Created Baron Hedon,Viscount
8 Jul 1764 Pulteney and Earl of Bath 14 Jul 1742
See "Bath"
PURBECK
19 Jul 1619 V 1 John Villiers c 1590 18 Feb 1657
to     Created Baron Stoke and Viscount
18 Feb 1657 Purbeck 19 Jul 1619
Peerages extinct on his death
PURVIS OF TWEED
13 Sep 2013 B[L] 1 Jeremy Purvis 15 Jan 1974
Created Baron Purvis of Tweed for life 
13 Sep 2013
PUTTNAM
27 Oct 1997 B[L] 1 Sir David Terence Puttnam 25 Feb 1941
Created Baron Puttnam for life 27 Oct 1997
PYM
9 Oct 1987 B[L] 1 Francis Leslie Pym 13 Feb 1922 7 Mar 2008 86
to     Created Baron Pym for life 9 Oct 1987
7 Mar 2008 MP for Cambridgeshire 1961-1983 and
Cambridgeshire SE 1983-1987. Parliamentary
Secretary to the Treasury 1970-1973.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
1973-1974. Secretary of State for 
Defence 1979-1981. Chancellor of the
Duchy of Lancaster 1981. Paymaster 
General 1981. Lord President of the 
Council 1981-1982. Foreign Secretary
1982-1983.  PC 1970
Peerage extinct on his death
The special remainder to the Barony of Portal of Hungerford created in 1945
From the "London Gazette" of 12 October 1945 (issue 37305, page 5026):-
"The King has been pleased, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm, bearing 
date the 17th ultimo, to confer the dignity of a Barony of the United Kingdom upon Marshal of
the Royal Air Force Sir Charles Frederick Algernon Portal, G.C.B., D.S.O., M.C., by the name,
style and title of Baron Portal of Hungerford, of Hungerford in the County of Berks and the heirs
male of his body lawfully begotten; and in default of such issue with remainder to his eldest
daughter Rosemary Ann Portal by the name, style and title of Baroness Portal of Hungerford,
of Hungerford in the County of Berks and the heirs male of her body lawfully begotten; and in
default of such issue to every other daughter lawfully begotten of the said Sir Charles Frederick
Algernon Portal successively in order of seniority of age and priority of birth and to the heirs
male of their bodies lawfully begotten."
Lionel Seymour William Dawson-Damer. 4th Earl of Portarlington
The 4th Earl was apparently popularly known as "Hippy" Damer - the "Hippy" being an
abbreviation of 'hippopotamus.'
One reference I found to this Earl states that he was "terribly absent-minded, and suffered
from extraordinary lapses of memory. On one occasion, at a garden party given by the 
present King and Queen [i.e. Edward VII and Alexandra] at Marlborough House, the late
Queen Victoria, who was aware that the earl had been ill, remarked to him that she was glad
to hear of his recovery, and to see that he was about again. In spite of her unique appearance,
he failed to recognize her, and, baring his head with old-time courtesy, expressed his thanks,
but added: "You have the advantage of me, Madame. Your face seems strangely familiar to 
me, and yet for the life of me I cannot recall your name." And with that he took his leave
before the Queen had time to tell him who she was."
William John Cavendish Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, fifth Duke of Portland
 
The following is extracted from "The Emperor of the United States of America and Other
Magnificent British Eccentrics" by Catherine Caufield (Routledge & Kegan Paul, London 1981)
The 5th Duke of Portland was a gentle recluse with a mania for building. In his younger days as
MP for King's Lynn from 1824-1826 he had known something of public life, but he withdrew
more and more from society until, at the end of his life, he went out only at night, his way lit
by a lamp carried by an old woman who kept forty yards in front of him.
The Duke's chief interest was the improvement of Welbeck Abbey, his estate in 
Nottinghamshire. After his accession to the dukedom in 1854, he was absorbed with planning
and supervising his building schemes, most of which were carried out underground. At his death
there were 15,000 men employed on 36 different projects at Welbeck. In addition to good 
wages, each employee was given a donkey and an umbrella, but there was one important
condition of employment - the workers were not to speak to or acknowledge the Duke. In the
words of one local contemporary, "the man who touched his hat was discharged." This
injunction also applied to his tenants, his doctor and the local parson.
One of his additions to Welbeck was the largest private apartment in England, an underground
ballroom 174 feet long, large enough for 2000 people. It was served by a huge lift that could
carry twenty people at a time. Thousands of gas jets supplemented the natural illumination 
offered by rows of mushroom shaped skylights. Like the rest of the subterranean apartments, 
the ballroom was centrally heated. Other underground chambers included a series of libraries, 
one of which had space for twelve full-sized billiard tables; and the Rose Corridor, a long glass-
roofed conservatory onto which all the rooms opened. The Duke had these and all the 
apartments at Welbeck painted pink.
There was also an underground railway to carry the Duke's food the 150 yards from the kitchen
to his dining room; a tunnel wide enough to allow two carriages to travel abreast for the one 
and a quarter mile journey to the nearest village, Worksop; and miles of ancillary underground
passages linking various buildings on the estate. Above ground stood the largest riding-school
in Europe - its walls covered in mirrors and its ceiling hung with crystal chandeliers. The Duke
also built more than forty neo-Tudor lodges on the estate.
But no balls were ever given in the ballroom, nor billiards played in the library, and the 94
horses kept in the stables grew fat from lack of exercise because the Duke invited no-one to 
visit him at Welbeck.
However, one of his improvements, the skating-rink, did get a great deal of use. The Duke's
half-sister, Ottoline Morrell, stated that "the Duke wished his housemaids to skate, and if he
found one of them sweeping the corridor or stairs, the frightened girl was sent out to skate
whether she wanted to or not."
The Duke used only four or five of the many rooms at Welbeck. The rest were completely 
devoid of furniture or decoration, apart from the inevitable coat of pink paint. One of his rooms 
was lined from floor to ceiling with cupboards filled with green band-boxes, each of which
contained one brown wig. Moreover, it was said that the Duke was not a stranger to false
moustaches, beards, whiskers and eyebrows.
His dress was likewise dictated by a desire for privacy. He wore three frock coats, made to fit
one over the other, with colour-coded button tabs. His trousers were always tied at the bottom
with a piece of string and his hat was almost two feet high. He was never without a large
umbrella and a bulky overcoat, the better to hide himself from strangers.
The Duke travelled in a specially designed carriage with sunken seats and curtains at all the
windows. He even managed to make a trip to London by train without being seen. With curtains
drawn, the carriage was loaded onto a special railway car at Worksop and driven off again 
when the train reached London.
Portland carried his self-imposed isolation so far that he twice refused an offer of the Garter
because acceptance would have required him to appear at Court. On those occasions when
medical attention was necessary, the doctor had to stand outside the sickroom questioning,
diagnosing and even taking the patient's temperature through the medium of his valet. Those
few who did have contact with the Duke spoke of him as a kind and intelligent man. A generous
subscriber to charities, large and small, he sent a shipload of food and drink to British troops
during the Crimean War and when Turkey was at war with Russia he donated £4,000 to
hospitals there. Local children remembered him tossing coins to them as his carriage passed
by, though they never saw his face. Some people believed that his passion for building stemmed
from his desire to give employment to workers during hard times and that he built underground
so as not to appear ostentatious. Whatever his original inspiration, the Duke's construction
projects were almost his sole occupation. Collecting art was a minor passion with him, but in 
this too he was unconventional. He acquired many fine paintings for Welbeck, but one day he
made a bonfire out of several hundred that he deemed unfit for his collection. When the 6th 
Duke came to Welbeck after inheriting the title from his uncle, he found unframed paintings 
stacked two and three deep all around the huge riding-school and a rare Gobelins tapestry 
rolled up and packed with peppercorns in an old tin box.
The strangest episode concerning the 5th Duke began seventeen years after his death. In 
1896, a Mrs Annie Marie Druce claimed that her father-in-law, T C Druce, owner of a dry-goods
shop in Baker Street, had staged a mock funeral in 1864 and slipped back into his true identity
as the 5th Duke of Portland. If the Duke had, as she claimed, been masquerading as a shop-
keeper then Druce's son, her late husband, would have been the rightful 6th Duke and she
herself the Dowager Duchess. For eleven years she and other members of the Druce family
pursued this claim through the courts (complicated by the sudden appearance from Australia of
someone claiming to be the long-lost eldest son of T C Druce).
The various claimants to the title financed their cases by selling shares in the Druce-Portland 
Company, investors in which were to be repaid out of the vast Portland wealth if and when the
Druces succeeded to the dukedom. Finally, T C Druce's coffin was opened and his body found
inside, which, since the Duke's body was also found inside his coffin, proved they were two
different people. The Druce claim was denied and most of the witnesses who supported it were
convicted of perjury.
For further reading on the Druce-Portland peerage claim, see "The Druce-Portland Case" by
Theodore Besterman (Duckworth, London 1935).
Louise Renee de Penancort de Keroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth
The Duchess of Portsmouth was one of the numerous mistresses of King Charles II. The
following biography is taken from the May 1967 issue of the Australian monthly magazine
"Parade."
'England had seen few house parties quite like that staged one evening in 1671 by the Countess 
of Arlington at her Euston family seat. Although the guest of honour was England's licentious
monarch, Charles II, most attention was directed to the beautiful 22-year-old Frenchwoman,
Louise de Keroualle. All England knew that the chief purpose of that evening's entertainment
was to arrange the seduction of Louise by Charles, whose previous advances had been repulsed
by the strong-willed young woman. The plan of seduction got under way when the Countess of
Arlington announced that a mock wedding had been arranged to amuse the guests. The king 
himself, she said, had agreed to play the part of the groom. All present would be pleased if Mlle.
de Keroualle would act the role of his bride. The "wedding" concluded with Charles retiring to a
bed chamber and the protesting Louise being pushed in after him by her hostess. But the union
that evening did more than give Louise a son by England's king and skyrocket her to a position
of great affluence as chief of Charles's female entourage. It also allowed King Louis XIV of 
France to win England's support in a war that loomed against Holland.
Despite his scandalous dissipation and extravagance, the people of England forgave Charles
most of his peccadilloes. But one fault they could not swallow - the monarch's passion for 
Louise de Keroualle, cunning, cold and rapacious despite the doll-like beauty that mesmerised 
him. Created Duchess of Portsmouth by the doting Charles, Louise, the paid agent of King 
Louis of France, later saw her illegitimate son raised to the peerage as Duke of Richmond.
 
'Charles first met Louise de Keroualle, the 21-year-old daughter of an impoverished Breton noble,
when she was maid-of-honour to his sister [Henrietta] the Duchess of Orleans, sister-in-law to 
the French king. The encounter took place when the Duchess of Orleans travelled to London 
with her suite hoping to arrange a treaty between her brother and her brother-in-law. At that
time war was looming in Europe and the Duchess sought the help (or at least the friendly
neutrality) of England should Louis be involved in a war with Holland. After listening to the case
presented by his sister, Charles finally signed the Treaty of Dover [1 June 1670]. But it was
not friendship towards France that won Charles's support. Rather it was the three million francs
a year bribe the treaty offered for English participation in the war against Holland.
 
'If Charles made no direct overtures to his sister's beautiful maid-of-honour, he saw to it that
Louise left laden with gifts of jewellery when the party returned to Paris. Among those who
noted the effect Louise had on Charles was the French Ambassador, M. [Charles] Colbert
Marquis de Croissy 1625-1696]. He made a note that she might be useful later. 
'Soon after the Duchess of Orleans returned home with the Treaty of Dover, she fell ill and died
Dover, she fell ill and' died [30 June 1670]. It was rumoured she had been poisoned by her
husband. When this story reached Charles he flew into a rage and accused the French of being
a race of murderers. Even the three million francs no longer interested him. He wanted to 
declare war on France. Stricken with fear, King Louis sent instructions to M. Colbert that 
Charles must be calmed and persuaded to stand by the treaty.
'Now Colbert remembered the Duchess of Orleans's beautiful maid-of-honour. If she could
demonstrate the lovable nature of the French to Charles, the English king might still stand by
the treaty. Immediately Colbert put the proposition to King Louis, the French monarch issued
instructions that the young Breton be brought before him. Louise promptly agreed to the king's
plan, chiefly because the death of  her mistress had left her penniless. Now she would 
receive an assured income from the French king. There was also the possibility of rich pickings
at the English court. 
'At that time Paris was being visited by the Duke of Buckingham who harboured a burning hatred
for his cousin, Lady Castlemaine, then Charles's favourite mistress. When asked if he would 
present Louise at the English court Buckingham readily agreed mainly because his great
ambition was to see his cousin supplanted in his king's affections. Soon after Buckingham had
agreed to aid the plan, he left Paris with Louise for Dieppe. There the English nobleman decided
to go on a fishing trip. He installed Louise in an inn, told her he would send the royal yacht for
her when he reached home, then set off on a fishing jaunt. Ten days later M. Colbert was
frantic. Louise de Keroualle seemed to have disappeared. Then Buckingham remembered: "Damn
it," he cried, "I knew I'd forgotten something." At once the royal yacht put to sea and the 
fuming Louise was picked up. 
'Charles had no illusions about the reason the beautiful Louise had been sent to his court. 
Indeed all England knew she came as King Louis's agent to mend the rift between the two
countries. Now that the grief of his sister's death had passed, Charles's thoughts again turned
to the annual three million francs, and he decided to mend the breach immediately he could do
so without loss of prestige. Meanwhile, if the lovely Louise wanted to offer herself as a bonus
he had no intentions of rejecting the attractive gift.
 
'Then Charles received a shock. His early advances were resisted by the desirable young 
Frenchwoman. Yet her coyness did not dampen his ardour. It simply whetted it. But if England's 
king found the delay irritating, M. Colbert, harassed by demands for action from King Louis, was 
on the verge of a nervous collapse. In desperation Colbert approached the Countess of 
Arlington and persuaded her to invite Charles and Louise to a house party at her Euston family 
seat. Confident the atmosphere at the party would bring Louise's defences crashing down, 
Colbert wrote to King Louis: "I expect her to do her duty at last. I have impressed on her what 
is at stake." 
 
'To assist in Louise's seduction, Colbert arranged with the countess to stage a mock wedding.
Charles agreed to act as groom.- Louise was cajoled into taking the bride's role. At that time
it was the custom to stage ribald celebrations at genuine weddings. These celebrations
culminated in the retirement of the couple to the nuptial chamber. Following the mock wedding
that evening the celebrations followed the usual, almost lascivious, course. But when the time
came for the couple to retire to the bed chamber Louise resisted and shouted her protests. So
the Countess of Arlington propelled her through the door in Charles's wake.
 
In March 1672, with Louise preparing to bear Charles's son, England declared war on Holland
in support of France and Charles received the first instalment of his three million francs. Louise
also received recognition from the grateful King Louis with the gift on an estate at Aubigny and
the title of duchess. And soon Lady Castlemaine had been supplanted as the king's favourite
mistress by Louise de Keroualle. 
'With Queen Catherine desperately ill, Louise even began dreaming that one day she might be
Queen of England. Then when Catherine showed signs of recovery, Charles soothed his 
mistress's grief by creating her Duchess of Portsmouth with an annual allowance of £10,000.
Her son was later given the title of Duke of Richmond. 
'But if Louise had removed Lady Castlemaine from Charles's affections she was not so 
successful when she tried to tear her lover away from the actress Nell Gwynn. Nell enjoyed the
battles with Louise and delighted in intercepting Charles on his way to visiting Louise and taking
him to her own apartment. 
 
'In January 1676 the citizens of England who held Louise in contempt rejoiced at the news that
that the Frenchwoman might be discarded. The reason for this hope was the arrival in England
of the beautiful Italian Hortense Mancini, Duchess of Mazarin. True to form, Charles was 
captivated by the new arrival and set Hortense up in a Chelsea mansion. A year later he tired
of the Italian and returned to Louise. The chief reason for Louise's unpopularity was her
monumental avarice. Her allowance was officially £10,000 a year but this was not enough for 
her and she was always taking huge sums from other funds. In 1677 alone her total income
was £27,300 while in 1681 it was estimated she had accumulated capital of more than
£136,000. 
'Louise de Keroualle saw the end of her days of glory one February morning in 1685 when word
was brought to her that Charles was dying. Realising her very life would be in danger without 
the king's protection she began packing. Immediately she heard that Charles had died, she 
dashed for a waiting coach and set out for the coast to board a ship for France. Louise's
carriage was almost at Dover when a squad of cavalry overtook it. Wasting no time an officer
rifled Louise's luggage and took from it several pieces of the Crown Jewels. Brought back to
London, Louise protested that the gems had been given to her by Charles. Not wishing to
incur the enmity of Louis XIV, Charles's successor, his brother James, took no action against
the notorious Frenchwoman. 
'In August 1685, Louise returned to France with most of the capital she was accrued during
her reign as chief mistress of the King of England. She retired to her estate at Aubigny and
and lived there quietly until her death in 1734.'
 
 
William Henry Poulett, 6th Earl Poulett
Paulett was a prominent race house owner who twice won the Grand National with his horse 
"The Lamb" in 1868 and 1871. Shortly before the 1871 victory he dreamt that his horse would
win the race. In his dream, he recognised the rider, Tommy Pickernell. Accordingly, he wrote
to Pickernell:-
"My dear Tom - Let me know for certain if you ride for me at Liverpool on The Lamb. I dreamt
twice last night I saw the race run. In the first dream he was last, and finished among the
coaches. The second dream came, I should think, an hour afterwards, I saw the Liverpool run.
He won by four lengths, and you rode him. I stood above the winning post at the turn, and I
saw the cerise and blue hoops and you as plainly as I write this. Now, let me know as soon as
you can, and say nothing to anyone. - Yours sincerely, Poulett."
Pickernell accepted the ride and, as foretold in the dream, The Lamb won by four lengths.
The Poulett peerage claim of 1903
In July 1903, the House of Lords Committee for Privileges heard the claim made by William 
Turnour Thomas Poulett, styling himself Viscount Hinton, for the Poulett earldom.
The claimant's case was based on the story that, when a young man, the 6th Earl Poulett, had
wagered his fellow officers in the 2nd Regiment that he would wed the first girl he met in the
street after leaving the mess dinner table. He won the bet, since he met a young girl named
Elizabeth Lavinia Newman and married her the next day, 23 June 1849. The claimant was born
15 December 1849, but by that time, the future Earl Poulett had abandoned Elizabeth.
The 6th Earl's story was that he agreed that he had married Miss Newman but, as soon as he
had discovered that she was already pregnant at the time of their marriage, he left her. At the
hearing before the Committee, evidence was given that Miss Newman had admitted to a
friend that she was already pregnant to another man.
The case rested on the interpretation of the legal maxim 'pater est quem nuptiae demonstrant',
meaning that it is assumed that a child born in wedlock is the son of the husband. This maxim
had been discussed at length in a number of other cases during the 19th century, and in
particular in the Banbury peerage case in 1813. The question put to the judges in the Banbury
case was 'whether the presumption of legitimacy arising from the birth of a child during
wedlock, the husband and wife not being proved to be impotent, and having opportunities of
access to each other during a period in which a child could be begotten and born in the course 
of nature, can be rebutted by any circumstances inducing a contrary presumption.' 
At the hearing, the Committee took the view, based on evidence given by witnesses present
at the birth that the child was 'full grown' (i.e. not premature), that the child could not possibly
be the son of the 6th Earl and, accordingly, disallowed the claim. This seems entirely 
reasonable, given that a full-grown child born in December would normally have been conceived 
in the preceding March, three months before the marriage took place.
Elizabeth Newman died in August 1871, having never assumed the title of Countess Poulett,
although there is no doubt she was entitled to it after 1864, when the 6th Earl succeeded
to the earldom, since they had never divorced. Equally, it was only after his mother's death
that the claimant began to call himself Viscount Hinton, the courtesy title of the earldom.
He appears to have lived on the verge of destitution for most of his life, being at one time a
clown in a circus before becoming an organ-grinder in London and the surrounding shires. The
organ was reported to bear a placard to the effect that he was Viscount Hinton and was
compelled to resort to this means of earning his livelihood owing to the refusal of his father to
contribute to his maintenance. He eventually died in the infirmary of the Holborn workhouse
in April 1909.
The Irish barony of Power created in 1535
A claim to this peerage was heard by the Committee for Privileges of the House of Lords in
March 1922, as reported in 'The Manchester Guardian' of 7 March of that year:-
  '[The] Committee for Privileges at the House of Lords yesterday heard the petition of Major
John William Rivalion de la Poer, of Gurteen le Poer, county Waterford, claiming to be Baron
le Power and Coroghmore in the peerage of Ireland.
'The petition stated that Major de la Poer's ancestor, Sir Richard Power, was created Baron
le Power by Henry VIII in 1535. Richard, the sixth baron, was created by Charles II, Viscount
Decies and Earl of Tyrone. He took part in the Irish Rebellion, was taken prisoner and died in
the Tower of London in 1690. John Power procured a reversal of his father's attainder and
succeeded him, but the Earldom of Tyrone and Viscountcy of Decies became extinct on the
death in 1704 of the third earl, who was eighth Baron le Power.
'The barony, however, passed to the line of Piers Power of Monerlargie, a son of the fourth
baron. His son, Piers Power the younger, was outlawed and died abroad, having one son,
Colonel John Power, who was outlawed for high treason in 1691. Although a Roman Catholic
and an outlaw, for the share in the Rebellion in 1688, John Power put in a claim for his
rehabilitation on the death of the third Earl of Tyrone, and assumed the title of Lord Power.
Later he obtained a pension for himself and his son Henry, the latter, at the instance of
the Crown, being bred a Protestant. Henry's pension was increased from £250 to £350 a few
months after the death of his father. The Curraghmore estates were then in the possession
of the Beresford family.
'Henry Power, it was stated, died unmarried, and but for the outlawry the succession to the
barony devolved upon the line of the second son of the third baron. From this son, Piers Power
of Rathcormack, the petitioner claimed to be descended, not being barred "by any corruption
of blood through attainder or outlawry."
'The Attorney General in a report stated that the attainder of Colonel John Power was, in his
opinion, fatal to the petitioner's claim. The opinion of the judges in the case of the claim to 
the Earldom of Airlie in 1814 seemed to show that such an attainder would bar the claim to
entailed land. It was not, however, actually decided by any resolution of the Committee for
Privileges that this opinion was applicable to the case of a dignity.
'Mr. Ellis (for the petitioner) pointed out that the increased pension was granted to "Henry
Lord Power" showing that but for the attainder the Crown considered he was the real Lord
Power. There were other instances of outlawed Irish peers who were granted pensions. The
Crown apparently regarded outlawry as not subsisting in such cases.
'Lord Haldane said if there had been an outlawry following upon a judgment for treason it
could only be got rid of either by an Act of Parliament or by some proceeding which had got
rid of the judgment which caused it. The pardon of the Crown could not get rid of the outlawry.
'Lord Phillimore asked if the attainder was by statute or by trial for treason.
'Mr. Ellis said a commission of inquiry was appointed and decided that there had been acts of
treason. Under the Irish Act of Parliament outlawry followed.
'Lord Haldane: You have got to get rid of that.
'Mr. Ellis: I cannot. I am here to ask that but for the outlawry the petitioner would be entitled
to the peerage.
'Lord Haldane said that it was open to the Committee to report that the claimant had made out
his pedigree and claim subject to this vital encumbrance.
'The Solicitor General said the petitioner had presented his case with great candour and care.
The petitioner prayed the Committee to advise his Majesty to give direction to the introduction
of a bill into Parliament to relieve him from the effects of the outlawry. Such a bill was 
introduced and passed during the war.
'The Chairman (Lord Donoughmore) said he did not think the responsibility of advising his 
Majesty was to the Committee. Lord Haldane said it was for the Government. The Solicitor 
General cited the case of the Earl of Airlie attainted of high treason in 1746, and said the
decision in that case could only be got over by an Act of Parliament.
'After further argument the Committee approved the petitioner's claim subject to the 
reservation of the question of outlawry, counsel being asked to submit an agreed resolution at 
the next sitting of the Committee on Thursday.'
Unfortunately, I have been unable to discover any further hearings of this matter. In any event,
the barony of Power has never been resurrected.
 
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