List of peerages created for women

This is a list of peerages created for women in the peerages of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, or the United Kingdom. It does not include peerages created for men which were later inherited by women, or life peerages created since 1958 under the Life Peerages Act 1958.

Prior to the regular creation of life peerages, the great majority of peerages were created for men. Suo jure peeresses are known from an early period; however, most of them were women to whom a peerage had passed as an inheritance. It was very rare for a woman to be created a peeress before the 17th century. Peeresses of the first creation were not allowed to sit in the House of Lords until the passage of the Life Peerages Act 1958. Female holders of hereditary peerages could not sit in the Lords until the passage of the Peerage Act 1963. In some, but not all cases, peeresses of first creation were created for life only.

Created peeresses fall into the following categories:

  • Created for merit or achievement
  • Having a father who was a peer, but who under the terms of the peerage could not pass the peerage to his daughter. Such an event could create the anomalous situation of commoners holding important lands and estates traditionally associated with lordship.
  • Closely connected to a reigning monarch (including many royal mistresses)
  • Created to honour a relative, including:
    • As a posthumous honour for a dead husband, often one who would have received a peerage if he had not died
    • To honour a husband who was living, but could not or would not accept a peerage in his own right (for instance if he wanted to retain his seat in the elected Commons)
    • To confer nobility upon the peeress's children, again often in recognition of the achievement of a husband

The peerages are listed chronologically, divided by the monarch who created them.

Richard II

DateTitleRecipientCurrent statusNotes
1397Duchess of Norfolk
Peerage of England
Margaret, 2nd Countess of NorfolkExtinct on death of recipient 24 March 1399.For life only.

Henry VIII

DateTitleRecipientCurrent statusNotes
1512Countess of Salisbury
Peerage of England
Margaret PoleForfeited upon arrest for treason in May 1539.First cousin once-removed of Henry VIII (first cousin to Henry's mother, Elizabeth of York).
1532Lady Marquess of Pembroke
Peerage of England
Anne BoleynForfeited upon conviction for treason 15 May 1536.Second wife of Henry VIII.

James I

DateTitleRecipientCurrent statusNotes
1618Countess of Buckingham
Peerage of England
Mary, Lady VilliersExtinct on death of recipient 1632.For life only.
29 July 1620Baroness Offaly
Peerage of Ireland
Lettice DigbyExtant as a subsidiary title of the Duke of Leinster.Granddaughter of the 1st Baron Offaly of the first creation.
8 July 1623Viscountess Maidstone
Peerage of England
Elizabeth, Lady FinchExtant as a subsidiary title of the Earl of Winchilsea.

Charles I

DateTitleRecipientCurrent statusNotes
29 February 1628Lady Cramond
Peerage of Scotland
Elizabeth, Lady RichardsonExtinct 1735.
12 July 1628Countess of Winchilsea
Peerage of England
Elizabeth, 1st Viscountess MaidstoneExtant.
12 September 1640Baroness Stafford
Peerage of England
Mary (Stafford) HowardExtinct on death of recipient 1693.For life only. Sister of the 5th Baron Stafford of the fourth creation and wife of the 1st Baron Stafford of the fifth creation
1641Countess Rivers
Peerage of England
Elizabeth, Viscountess SavageExtinct on death of recipient, 9 March 1650.For life only. Daughter of the 1st Earl Rivers of the second creation who could not inherit his title.
23 May 1644Duchess of Dudley
Peerage of England
Alice, Lady DudleyExtinct on death of recipient 1668.For life only. Wife of Robert Dudley, styled Earl of Warwick.

Charles II

DateTitleRecipientCurrent statusNotes
29 May 1660Countess of Chesterfield
Peerage of England
Katherine Stanhope, Lady StanhopeExtinct on death of recipient, 9 April 1667.For life only. For service.
1660Countess of Guilford
Peerage of England
Elizabeth Boyle, Viscountess BoyleExtinct on death of recipient, 1667.For life only.
20 April 1663Duchess of Buccleuch
Peerage of Scotland
Anne Scott, 4th Countess of BuccleuchExtant.On the occasion of her marriage to James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth.
1663Baroness Lucas, of Crudwell, in the County of Wiltshire
Peerage of England
Mary Grey, Countess of KentExtant.Daughter of John, 1st Baron Lucas.
June 1667Duchess of Cleveland, Countess of Southampton, and Baroness Nonsuch, of Nonsuch Park
Peerage of England
Barbara Palmer, Countess of CastlemaineExtinct 1774.Mistress of Charles II.
19 August 1673Duchess of Portsmouth, Countess of Fareham, and Baroness Petersfield
Peerage of England
Louise de KérouailleExtinct on death of recipient 14 November 1734.For life only. Mistress of Charles II.
1674Baroness Belasyse
Peerage of England
Susan BelasyseExtinct on death of the recipient in 1713.For life only.
1674Viscountess Bayning
Peerage of England
Anne MurrayExtinct on death of recipient 1678.For life only.
1679Viscountess CorbetSarah CorbetFor life only.
1680Countess of SheppeyElizabeth WalterFor life only.

James II

DateTitleRecipientCurrent statusNotes
1686Countess of Dorchester and Baroness Darlington
Peerage of England
Catherine SedleyExtinct on death of recipient 26 October 1717For life only. Mistress of James II.
5 October 1688Countess of Stafford
Peerage of England
Mary Howard, Baroness StaffordExtinct on death of recipient, 1693.For life only. Wife of William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford, executed 1680.
13 December 1688Baroness Shelburne
Peerage of Ireland
Elizabeth, Lady PettyExtinct on death of recipient, February 1708.For life only.

George I

DateTitleRecipientCurrent statusNotes
1715Countess Granville and Viscountess Carteret
Peerage of Great Britain
Grace Granville CarteretExtinct 1776.Daughter of John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath
18 July 1716Duchess of Munster, Marchioness and Countess of Dungannon, and Baroness Dundalk
Peerage of Ireland
Melusine von der Schulenburg All titles extinct on death of recipient, 10 May 1743. For life only. Mistress and unofficial wife of George I.
19 March 1719Duchess of Kendal, Countess of Feversham, and Baroness Glastonbury
Peerage of Great Britain
1721Countess of Leinster
Peerage of Ireland
Countess Sophia von Platen Extinct on death of recipient 20 April 1725. For life only. Half-sister of George I.
1722Countess of Darlington and Baroness Brentford
Peerage of Great Britain
1722Countess of Walsingham
Peerage of Great Britain
Melusina von der SchulenburgExtinct on death of recipient 16 September 1778.For life only. Illegitimate daughter of George I.

George II

DateTitleRecipientCurrent statusNotes
March 1740Countess of Yarmouth
Peerage of Great Britain
Amalie von WallmodenExtinct on death of recipient, 19 October 1765.For life only. Mistress of George II.
1746Viscountess Grandison
Peerage of Ireland
Elizabeth MasonExtinct 1800.Daughter of John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison.
1749Countess Temple
Peerage of Great Britain
Hester Grenville, 2nd Viscountess CobhamExtinct 26 March 1889.
1 August 1758Countess of Brandon
Peerage of Ireland
Ellis Agar Bourke BerminghamExtinct on death of recipient, 11 March 1789For life only.

George III

DateTitleRecipientCurrent statusNotes
1760Baroness Stawell
Peerage of Great Britain
Mary Bilson-LeggeExtinct 1820.Daughter of the 4th Baron Stawell who could not inherit his title.
4 December 1761Baroness Chatham
Peerage of Great Britain
Lady Hester PittExtinct 24 September 1835.Wife of William Pitt the Elder, the recently resigned leader of the House of Commons.
1761Baroness Mount Stuart
Peerage of Great Britain
Mary Stuart, Countess of ButeExtant as a subsidiary title of the Marquess of Bute.Wife of the Earl of Bute, soon to become Prime Minister.
7 March 1762Baroness Holland
Peerage of Great Britain
Lady Caroline FoxExtinct 18 December 1859.Wife of Henry Fox, then Leader of the House of Commons.
1766Viscountess Langford and Baroness Summerhill
Peerage of Ireland
Elizabeth RowleyExtinct 1796.
1767Countess Grandison and Viscountess Villiers
Peerage of Ireland
Elizabeth Mason, Viscountess GrandisonExtinct 1800.
28 August 1767Baroness Greenwich
Peerage of Great Britain
Lady Caroline TownshendExtinct on death of recipient 11 January 1794.Daughter of John Campbell, 1st Duke of Greenwich.
1770Baroness Arden
Peerage of Ireland
Catherine Perceval, Countess of EgmontExtinct 2011.
20 May 1776Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon
Peerage of Great Britain
Elizabeth Campbell, Duchess of ArgyllExtant as a subsidiary title of the Duke of Argyll.
1783Baroness Donoughmore
Peerage of Ireland
Christiana Hely-HutchinsonExtant as a subsidiary title of the Earl of Donoughmore.
1783Countess of Longford
Peerage of Ireland
Elizabeth PakenhamExtant.
1790Baroness Oriel of Collon
Peerage of Ireland
Margaretta Amelia FosterExtant as a subsidiary title of the Viscount Massereene.
1792Baroness Waterpark
Peerage of Ireland
Sarah, Lady CavendishExtant.
13 June 1792Baroness Fermanagh
Peerage of Ireland
Mary VerneyExtinct on death of recipient 15 November 1810.Granddaughter of Ralph Verney, 1st Earl Verney.
1792Baroness Bath
Peerage of Great Britain
Laura PulteneyExtinct on death of recipient, 14 July 1808.
1793Countess of Wicklow
Peerage of Ireland
Alice, Viscountess WicklowExtinct 1978.Widow of Ralph Howard, 1st Viscount Wicklow.
1795Baroness Hood
Peerage of Great Britain
Susanna HoodExtant as a subsidiary title of the Viscount Hood.
1795Baroness Kilwarden
Peerage of Ireland
Anne WolfeExtinct 1830.
1 December 1797Baroness Crofton
Peerage of Ireland
Anne, Lady CroftonExtant.In place of her husband, Sir Edward Crofton, 2nd Baronet, who died 30 September 1797.
1797Viscountess Ferrard
Peerage of Ireland
Margaretta, 1st Baroness OrielExtant.
1797Baroness Norwood
Peerage of Ireland
Grace TolerExtant as a subsidiary title of the Earl of Norbury.
1798Baroness ffrench
Peerage of Ireland
Rose, Lady ffrenchExtant.For her son, Sir Thomas ffrench, who later inherited the title.
31 July 1800Baroness Dufferin and Claneboye
Peerage of Ireland
Dorcas, Lady BlackwoodExtant.In place of her late husband, Sir John Blackwood, 2nd Baronet, d. 27 February 1799.
1800Baroness Nugent
Peerage of Ireland
Mary Nugent-Temple-GrenvilleExtinct 1850.
28 May 1801Baroness Abercromby
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Mary, Lady AbercrombyExtinct 1924.In place of her husband Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby, who died 28 March 1801 following the Battle of Alexandria.
1802Baroness Sandys
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Mary Hill, Marchioness of DownshireExtant.
1803Viscountess Newcomen
Peerage of Ireland
Charlotte Gleadowe-NewcomenExtinct 1825.
1803Countess of Bath
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Laura, 1st Baroness BathExtinct upon death of recipient, 14 July 1808.
1816Countess de Grey
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Amabel Hume-Campbell, 5th Baroness LucasExtinct 1923.

George IV

DateTitleRecipientCurrent statusNotes
1821Baroness Rayleigh
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Lady Charlotte StruttExtant.In place of her husband, Joseph Strutt MP, who refused a peerage.
31 July 1826Baroness FitzGerald and Vesey
Peerage of Ireland
Catherine VeseyExtinct 20 March 1860.
22 January 1828Viscountess Canning
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Joan Scott CanningExtinct 17 June 1862.In place of her husband George Canning, Prime Minister, who died in office 8 August 1827.

William IV

DateTitleRecipientCurrent statusNotes
1831Baroness Talbot of Malahide
Peerage of Ireland
Margaret TalbotExtant.
1831Baroness Wenman
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Sophia WykehamExtinct upon death of recipient 1870.
1831Baroness Stratheden
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Hon. Mary, Lady CampbellExtant.Wife of Sir John Campbell.

Victoria

DateTitleRecipientCurrent statusNotes
10 April 1840Duchess of Inverness
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Lady Cecilia UnderwoodExtinct upon death of recipient 1 August 1873.Illegally married to Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex.
21 October 1861Countess of Cromartie
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Anne, Duchess of SutherlandExtant.Descendant of George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie.
27 April 1864Baroness Buckhurst
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth, Countess De La WarrExtant, but subsidiary to the title Earl De La Warr.Daughter of John Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset and 9th Baron Buckhurst.
1868Viscountess Beaconsfield
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Mary Anne DisraeliExtinct upon death of recipient, 15 December 1872.Placeholder for her husband Benjamin Disraeli, who remained in the House of Commons.
1871Baroness Burdett-Coutts
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Angela Burdett-CouttsExtinct upon death of recipient, 30 December 1906.For service.
1880Baroness Bolsover
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Augusta Cavendish-BentinckExtinct 21 March 1977.In place of her deceased husband Lieutenant-General Arthur Cavendish-Bentinck.
1891Baroness Macdonald of EarnscliffeAgnes, Lady MacdonaldExtinct on death of recipient, 5 September 1920.In place of her husband, Sir John A. Macdonald, who died in office as Prime Minister of Canada 6 June 1891.
1891Viscountess Hambleden
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Emily Danvers SmithExtant.In place of her husband, William Henry Smith, who died in office as Leader of the House of Commons 6 October 1891.
2 August 1899Baroness Dorchester
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Henrietta CarletonExtinct 20 January 1963.Daughter of 3rd Baron Dorchester who could not inherit his title.

George V

DateTitleRecipientCurrent statusNotes
1928Countess Cave of Richmond
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Anne Cave, Viscountess CaveExtinct upon death of recipient 1938.In place of her husband, George Cave, 1st Viscount Cave, who died 29 March 1928, the day of his resignation as Lord Chancellor.

George VI

DateTitleRecipientCurrent statusNotes
6 May 1943Viscountess Daventry
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Muriel FitzRoyExtant.In place of her husband, Edward FitzRoy who died in office as Speaker of the House of Commons 3 March 1943.

See also

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.