Baron Wenlock

(Redirected from Lawley Baronets)

Baron Wenlock is a title that has been created three times, once in the Peerage of England and twice in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in 1461 when the soldier Sir John Wenlock was summoned to Parliament as Lord Wenlock. However, he was childless and on his death in 1471 the title became extinct.

Arms of Lawley: Argent, a cross formée extended to the extremes of the shield chequy or and sable[1]
Arthur Lawley,
6th and last Baron Wenlock

The second creation came in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1831 when Sir Robert Lawley, 6th Baronet, was created Baron Wenlock, of Wenlock in the County of Shropshire. He had earlier represented Newcastle-under-Lyme in the House of Commons. On his death in 1834 the barony became extinct. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his younger brother, the seventh Baronet. He was a former Member of Parliament for Warwickshire.

On his death the title passed to his younger brother, the eighth Baronet. In 1820 he had inherited the Escrick estate in Yorkshire from his uncle Richard Thompson and had assumed by Royal licence the surname of Thompson in lieu of Lawley. He also represented Wenlock and the East Riding of Yorkshire. In 1839, twelve years before he succeeded in the baronetcy, the barony created for his elder brother was revived when he was made Baron Wenlock, of Wenlock in the County of Shropshire. His son, the second Baron, was Member of Parliament for Pontefract and served as Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire.

His eldest son, the third Baron, notably served as Governor of Madras. His fourth brother, the sixth Baron (who succeeded his elder brother in 1931, who in his turn had succeeded his elder brother in 1918), served as Governor of Western Australia, of the Transvaal Republic and of Madras. His only son and heir Hon. Richard Edward Lawley died at an early age and on Lord Wenlock's death in 1932 both titles became extinct.

The Lawley baronetcy, of Spoonhill in the County of Shropshire, was created in the Baronetage of England on 16 August 1641 for Thomas Lawley, who represented Wenlock in Parliament. His son, the second Baronet, was Member of Parliament for both Wenlock and Shropshire. His eldest son, the third Baronet, also represented Wenlock in the House of Commons. The fifth Baronet was Member of Parliament for Warwickshire. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the sixth Baronet, who was elevated to the peerage as Baron Wenlock in 1831. The fourth and sixth Baronets served as High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1743 and 1797 respectively. The seventh Baronet was High Sheriff of Warwickshire in 1839.

Baron Wenlock, first creation (1461)

edit

Baron Lawley, second and third creations

edit

Lawley baronets, of Spoonhill (1641)

edit

Baron Wenlock (1831)

edit

Lawley baronets, of Spoonhill (1641; reverted)

edit

Baron Wenlock (1839)

edit

Male-line family tree

edit
Male-line family tree, Lawley baronets and Barons Wenlock (both creations).
Sir Thomas Lawley
1st Baronet

died 1646
Sir Francis Lawley
2nd Baronet

c. 1630 – 1696
Sir Thomas Lawley
3rd Baronet

c. 1650 – 1729
Francis Lawley
Sir Robert Lawley
4th Baronet

died 1779
George Lawley
Sir Robert Lawley
5th Baronet

1736–1793
Baron Wenlock
(1831 creation)
Baron Wenlock
(1839 creation)
Robert Lawley
1st Baron Wenlock

6th Baronet
1768–1834
Sir Francis Lawley
7th Baronet

1782–1851
Paul Thompson
1st Baron Wenlock

8th Baronet
1784–1852
Barony extinct
Beilby Lawley
2nd Baron Wenlock

1818–1880
Hon.
Robert Lawley
1819–1881
Rev. Hon.
Stephen Lawley
1823–1905
Hon.
Francis Lawley
1825–1901
Beilby Lawley
3rd Baron Wenlock

1849–1912
Richard Lawley
4th Baron Wenlock

1856–1918
Algernon Lawley
5th Baron Wenlock

1857–1931
Arthur Lawley
6th Baron Wenlock

1860–1932
Hon.
Robert Lawley
1863–1924
Baronetcy and
barony extinct
Hon.
Richard Lawley
1887–1909

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Debrett's Baronetage of England, Revised by George Collen, London, 1840, pp. 340–1 [1]