Earl Peel is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The Peel family descends from Robert Peel, eldest son of a wealthy cotton merchant. The family lands, known as Drayton Manor, in the County of Stafford would become more commonly known in modern-day as an amusement park. The family seat is Elmire House, near Ripon, North Yorkshire.

Earl Peel
Arms of Earl Peel

Blazon

Arms: Argent, three Sheaves of three Arrows proper, two and one banded Gules, on a Chief Azure, a Bee volant Or. Crest: A Demi-Lion rampant Argent, gorged with a Collar Azure, charged with three Bezants, holding between the paws a Shuttle Or. Supporters: Dexter: A Lion reguardant Argent. Sinister: A Gryphon reguardent Or. Both gorged with a Chain Or, pendent therefrom an Escutcheon Azure, charged with a Mace erect Or.
Note:The Martlet for difference was only on the arms until the 2nd Earl inherited the baronetcy in 1942.[1]

Creation date10 July 1929
Created byKing George V
PeeragePeerage of the United Kingdom
First holderWilliam Peel, 1st Earl Peel
Present holderWilliam Peel, 3rd Earl Peel
Heir apparentAshton Peel, Viscount Clanfield
Remainder tothe 1st Earl's heirs male
Subsidiary titlesViscount Peel
Viscount Clanfield
Baronet ‘of Drayton Manor’
StatusExtant
MottoINDUSTRIA
(With industry)
Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet.

History

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The earldom was created in 1929 for the Conservative Party politician William Peel, 2nd Viscount Peel, who was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1921–1922, Secretary of State for India 1921–1922 and 1928–1929, and First Commissioner of Works 1924–1928. At the same time, he was created Viscount Clanfield, of Clanfield in the County of Southampton, also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.[2]

He was the son of Arthur Peel, 1st Viscount Peel, who served as Speaker of the House of Commons between 1884 and 1895, and who was created Viscount Peel, of Sandy in the County of Bedford, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1895.[3]

The first Viscount Peel was the fifth son of Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet, of Drayton Manor (see below for earlier history of the family). The first Earl was succeeded by his son, Arthur Peel, 2nd Earl Peel. In 1942, he succeeded his second cousin once removed as seventh Baronet, of Drayton Manor. The second Earl later served as Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire from 1948 to 2 January 1951. As of 2017 the titles are held by his son, William Peel, 3rd Earl Peel, who succeeded in 1969.[citation needed]

He is one of the ninety elected hereditary peers that remain in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999, and sits as a cross-bencher. The third Earl was Lord Warden of the Stannaries from 1994 to 2006 and was Lord Chamberlain of the Household from 2006 to 2021.[4]

The Peel family descends from Robert Peel, who established a calico-printing firm in Blackburn in 1764. His eldest son, Robert Peel, was a wealthy cotton merchant and also sat as Member of Parliament for Tamworth from 1790 to 1818. In 1800 he was created a Baronet, of Drayton Manor in the County of Stafford and of Bury in the County Palatine of Lancaster, in the Baronetage of Great Britain.[5]

He was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet, the noted statesman. He was Home Secretary 1822–1827 and 1828–1830, Chancellor of the Exchequer 1834–1835 and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1834–1835 and 1841–1846, and is best remembered for creating the modern concept of the police force while Home Secretary.[citation needed] The police, first known as Peelers, are still commonly referred to as Bobbies, in his name. He is also known for overseeing the formation of the Conservative Party out of the shattered Tory Party, and for the repeal of the Corn Laws. Peel died after a fall from his horse on Constitution Hill in London.[citation needed]

He was succeeded by his eldest son, the third Baronet. He was also a politician and served as a Lord of the Admiralty from 1852 to 1857 and as Chief Secretary for Ireland from 1861 to 1865. His grandson, the fifth Baronet, married the actress and comedian Beatrice Lillie.[citation needed]

Their only son, the sixth Baronet, was an ordinary seaman in the Royal Navy and was killed in action in April 1942, aged only twenty-one. On his death the line of the eldest son of the second Baronet failed and the title was inherited by his second cousin once removed, the second Earl Peel, who became the seventh Baronet. See above for further history of the title.[citation needed]

Viscounts Peel (1895)

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Earls Peel (1929)

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The heir apparent is the present holder's son, Ashton Robert Gerard Peel, Viscount Clanfield (born 1976).
The heir apparent's heir apparent is his son, the Hon. Nicholas Robert William Peel (born 2015).

Peel baronets, of Drayton Manor and Bury (1800)

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See above for further succession.

Other notable members of the Peel family

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Several other members of the Peel family have also gained distinction:

  • Sir Lawrence Peel (1801–1865), son of Joseph Peel, younger brother of the first Baronet, was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court at Calcutta from 1842 to 1855 and was admitted to the Privy Council in 1856.
  • William Yates Peel (1789–1858, second son of the first Baronet, was a politician and served as Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs from 1828 to 1830.
  • Jonathan Peel (1799–1879), fifth son of the first Baronet, was a general in the Army and Conservative politician. He was Secretary of State for War from 1858 to 1859 and 1866 to 1867.
  • Edmund Yates Peel (1824–1900, son of Jonathan above), a lieutenant-colonel in the Army, who was the father of Frederick Peel, a colonel in the Army.
  • Archibald Peel (1828–1910, son of Jonathan above), who was the father of Edward John Russell Peel (1869–1939), a brigadier-general in the Army,
  • John Peel (1829–1892, son of Jonathan above), a lieutenant-general in the Army.
  • Sir Charles Lennox Peel (1823–1899), Clerk of the Council, was the son of Laurence Peel, sixth son of the first Baronet.
  • Sir Frederick Peel (1823–1906), second son of the second Baronet, was a politician and Chief Railway Commissioner.
  • Sir William Peel (1824–1858), third son of the second Baronet, was a captain in the Royal Navy.
  • Maj. Hon. George Peel (1869–1956), second son of the first Viscount, a Member of Parliament and writer on politics and economics.
  • Sir Sidney Peel (1870–1938), third son of the first Viscount, sat as Member of Parliament for Uxbridge and was created a baronet in 1936 (see Peel baronets).
  • Abram Peel (1864–1919), elected Lord Mayor of Bradford in November 1916.

Title succession chart

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Title succession chart, Peel baronets, Viscounts Peel and Earls Peel.
Peel baronetcy
of Drayton Manor
and Bury
Sir Robert Peel
1st Baronet

1750–1830
Sir Robert Peel
2nd Baronet

Prime Minister of
the United Kingdom

1788–1850
Viscount Peel
Sir Robert Peel
3rd Baronet

1822–1895
Sir Frederick Peel
1823–1906
Capt.
Sir William Peel
1824–1858
John Peel
1827–1910
Arthur Peel
1st Viscount Peel

1829–1912
Earl PeelPeel baronetcy
of Eyeworth
Sir Robert Peel
4th Baronet
1867–1925
William Peel
1st Earl Peel

2nd Viscount Peel
1867–1937
Sir Sidney Peel
1st Baronet

1870–1938
Baronetcy extinct
Sir Robert Peel
5th Baronet
1898–1934
Arthur Peel
2nd Earl Peel

7th Baronet
1901–1969
Sir Robert Peel
6th Baronet
1920–1942
William Peel
3rd Earl Peel

born 1947
Baronetcy inherited
by the 2nd Earl Peel
Ashton Peel
Viscount Clanfield
born 1976
Hon.
Nicholas Peel
born 2015

Line of succession

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#4–6 are in line for the viscountcy and the baronetcy, but not the earldom.

References

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  1. ^ Debrett's, 2015, p. 965.
  2. ^ "No. 33518". The London Gazette. 19 July 1929. p. 4762.
  3. ^ "No. 26624". The London Gazette. 14 May 1895. p. 2773.
  4. ^ "The Queen carries out first duty since Prince Philip's death". BBC. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  5. ^ "No. 15307". The London Gazette. 1 November 1800. p. 1244.