GOUGH, Rt Hon 5th Viscount 1941-2023 TITLE EXTINCT

[Richard R]

From the Telegraph of 22 April 2023: GOUGH Shane Hugh Maryon, 5th Viscount, following a short illness bravely borne died peacefully on 14th April 2023 aged 81… Memorial service to follow in London.

He was s of the 4^th Viscount GOUGH 1892-1951 (gs of 4^th Earl of LONGFORD 1819-87, gt gs of 4^th Baron DYNEVOR 1795-1869, 3xgt gs of 3^rd Duke of GRAFTON 1735-1811 who was 2xgt gs of King CHARLES II) and Margaretta Elizabeth 1902-77 d of Sir Spencer Pocklington Maryon MARYON-WILSON 11^th Bt 1859-1944 and Minnie Elisabeth OBE 1863-1947 d of Gen Anthony Robert THORNHILL 1818-1839 of Ascot, Berks by his 23 Sept 1852 m (Madras, India) to Margaret DAVIDSON 1835-. He was unm and there is no heir so the title is now EXTINCT.

[bx...@yahoo.com]

Each hereditary title extinction is sad.  As shown by the creation as only a life title for the Duke of Edinburgh, we are unlikely to see any more hereditary peerages created, except for maybe  Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis ,several years from now.

Brooke

[sven_me...@web.de]

No contributions in the Lords are shown in Hansard.

[bx...@yahoo.com]

This peerage had been created for a great military commander.  Its extinction reminds me that there are at least 3 other peerages-- the earldoms of Alexander of Tunis and Haig and the viscountcy Montgomery of Alamein--initially created for great military leaders who are facing extinction.  Only one, Alexander of Tunis, has one person in remainder, and he is 84 years old.

Thankfully, others like Nelson and Wellington have heirs, and younger ones at that.

Brooke

[S. S.]

I am reminded of the so-called paradox in the peerage whereby the most famous and notable usually once ennobled have their progeny die out and so does the title (not always of course). I think it was in the preface of an edition of Burke's Peerage's (one of the late 1890s editions I believe). As for hereditary peerages, I doubt we will ever see creations outside of the Royal Family (and that too may peter out eventually). The end of this century will see about more than 20 or so peerages extinct anyway. 

S.S.

[bx...@yahoo.com]

S.S.,  I think it will even be more than 20.  Henry W's list has 40 titles for which there currently is no heir.  Out of those 40, only 4 are peers who are 40 or younger.  And that doesn't include titles that are either on life support (one heir) or may become dormant or abeyant.

Brooke

[S. S.]

Thanks Brooke for the exact number, I forgot the number on Henry W's list on Wikipedia was 40, I just remembered it was more than 20 at some point. That still leaves much more than 700 peers in total, which is not a bad number when you consider the total number of peers in the past.

S.S.

[sven_me...@web.de]

Do we know how active he was otherwise in the Lords?

[bx...@yahoo.com]

S.S., I believe the number that I have is slightly over 800 hereditary ;peers.  

Most of the titles that are in trouble are earldoms or below.  Only York is in serious trouble among the dukedoms (no heir to Westminster either, but he is only 32) and Abergavenny among the marquessates.  Abergavenny will still be a hereditary peerage, only as an earldom.

Brooke

[S. S.]

I think the exact number is 804 exactly. A perusal of my own list of peers and that of Unterstein has yielded me that number.

S.S.

[BREMENMURRAY]

This reduces to eight the peers who held their titles at the last coronation 

[bx...@yahoo.com]

804 sounds about right.  

There are  40 titles on Henry's list without heirs, but an analysis of that information shows the picture might be slightly less dire.  

1. Westminster, Harlech, Hawke and Rossmore are all 40 and under, so there is hope for offspring.

2. Abergavenny will become an earldom from a marquessate, but there will still be a peerage.

3. Clancarty viscountcy will disappear, but there is still the earldom. 

4. Powerscourt barony will disappear, but there is still the viscountcy.

5. Sudley barony is a subsidiary title of the Earl of Arran

Brooke

[colinp]

The Gough 1842 baronetcy is also extinct

[bx...@yahoo.com]

And now,  especially after the engagement announcement today, things are looking brighter for the Dukedom of Westminster.

Brooke

[Richard R]

From the Times of 5 July 2023: GOUGH Shane, 5th Viscount, at The Guards’ Chapel, Birdcage Walk, London SW1E 6HQ, on 20th October 2023 at 11am. Those wishing to attend are kindly requested to email [the memorial gmail account] by 6th October.

[WilliamD]

He donated to charities, including RNLI

[https:/www.maltagenealogy.com/LeighRayment/]

EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Who will inherit £65million? Aristocratic riddle as reclusive viscount dies without making a 'valid will'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13012441/EDEN-CONFIDENTIAL-inherit-65million-Aristocratic-riddle-reclusive-viscount-dies-without-making-valid-will.html