Baronetage decline since 1965

[colinp]

Debretts 2015 Edition has a very interesting article by Stephen Kershaw about the Hereditary Peerage and its decline since 1965 since when hereditary peerages have not been regularly created.  Since 1965 the hereditary peerage has declined by almost 15%.

I thought it would be interesting to look at the position of the baronetage over the same period as baronetcies have not been granted since 31 December 1964 when a baronetcy was conferred on the Conservative politician Graeme Finlay apart of course from the baronetcy conferred on Denis Thatcher in 1990.  Thus there have been fewer baronetcies conferred since 1965 than hereditary peerages.

By my calculations there were 1490 baronetcies extant on 1 January 1965 since when there has been a loss of about 260 baronetcies through extinction or dormancy giving a gross decline of 17.5% or almost one sixth over 50 years.

There have however been a handful of gains - a new creation (Thatcher 1990) and five baronetcies dormant in 1965 and since revived - Innes (NS 1686) dorm 1886 and rev 1989; Nicolson (NS 1629) dorm 1961 and rev 1984 by Baron Carnock; Hope (NS 1698) dorm 1729 and rev 1989 by the Marquess of Linlithgow; St John-Mildmay (GB 1772) dorm 1955 and rev 1998; and Maxwell Macdonald (NS 1682) dorm 1682 and rev 2005.

Thus the net loss is 254 or 17.1%.  The extant baronetcies are about 1236.

Strictly speaking I suppose one should not count as extant any baronetcies not appearing on the Official Roll but for the above purposes I have "recognised" those baronetcies appearing in the standard peerage books as being extant.  I have however included the Pringle (NS 1683) as extant, the succession  to which is disputed.  The Maxwell Macdonald I have included as one baronetcy as it appears thus on the Official Roll although Debretts latest edition seems to suggest it may be a "double" baronetcy.  The von Friesendorff baronetcy I have assumed has been dormant for a long time although it now appears in Debretts.  The James (UK 1823) baronetcy is excluded from the above figures as it was dormant in 1955 although the last apparent claimant died in 1979.

The oldest baronetcies to have become extinct in this period are - (England) Gresley (1611) ext in 1976; Cope (1611) ext in 1972; Molyneux (1611) ext in 1972 (with ext of Earldom of Sefton); Twysden (1611) ext in 1970 - (Nova Scotia) Campbell (1625) dorm in 1995 (with ext of earldom of Breadalbane and Holland); Leslie (1625) dorm in 1967 - (Ireland) Staples (1628) dorm in 2013.

If one excludes peers and just considers the number of baronets ie those who are styled or entitled to be styled baronets then the decline is slightly greater.  There were 1207 baronets on 1 January 1965 and 977 current baronets, a loss of 230 or 19.1%. 

The losses were:-

228 baronets became extinct or dormant.

1 baronet (Eden 1672/1776) became a life peer (Baron Eden of Winton) in 1983

1 baronet  (Aitken 1917) who had disclaimed a peerage (Baron Beaverbrook in 1964) died in 1985 and the peerage was resumed by his successor.

8 baronets "merged" in peerages  - Denman (UK 1945) where the 2nd baronet succ as Baron Denman in 1971; Frankland (E 1660) where the 12th baronet succ as Baron Zouche in 1965; Hardinge (UK 1801) where the 7th Baronet was succ by Viscount Hardinge in 1986; Makgill (NS 1625) where the 12th baronet proved his claim as Viscount of Oxfuird in 1977; Moncreiffe (NS 1685) where the 11th baronet was succ by the Earl of Erroll in 1985; Mosley (GB 1781) where the 6th baronet was succ by Baron Ravensdale in 1980; Mulholland (UK 1945) where the 2nd baronet succ as Baron Dunleath in 1993; and Shelley (UK 1806) where the 7th baronet was succ by Viscount de L'Isle in 1965.

ie 238 losses

The gains were:-

1 new creation (Thatcher 1990)

3 revived baronetcies (Innes, St John-Mildmay and Maxwell Macdonald) mentioned above (the other two being revived for peers)

4 baronets who were "released" after extinction of peerages - Borthwick (UK 1908) by ext of Barony of Whitburgh in 1967; Seely (UK 1896) by ext of Barony of Sherwood in 1970; Strachey (UK 1801) by ext of Barony of Strachie in 1973; and Heathcote of London (GB 1733) by ext of Earldom of Ancaster in 1983

ie 8 gains - net loss 230.

Some developments did not affect the above figures -

7 of the extinct baronets had become life peers after 1965 - Cayzer (UK 1921) as Baron Cayzer in 1982 but ext 1999; Anstruther-Gray (UK 1956) as Baron Kilmany in 1966 but ext in 1985; Harmar-Nicholls (UK 1960) as Baron Harmar-Nicholls in 1975 but ext in 2000; Nugent (UK 1960) as Baron Nugent of Guildford in 1966 but ext in 1964; Richardson (UK 1963) as Baron Richardson in 1979 but ext in 2004; Vaughan-Morgan (UK 1960) as Baron Reigate in 1970 but ext in 1995; and Wolfson (UK 1962) as Baron Wolfson in 1985 but ext in 2010 (he actually succ as baronet after cr as a LP)

The Fuller-Acland-Hood (UK 1809) and Bateman (UK 1806) baronetcies held by Baron St Audries were released when he died in 1971 and the peerage became extinct but then his successor as baronet died in 1990 when the two baronetcies became extinct or dormant.

 

[www.maltagenealogy.com]

Was there a suggestion with the latest legisation to legalise the Jacobite Peerage which would increase the total ?

[William]

Colin's, excellent work. Please would you now bring Wikipedia up to date.

[marquess]

A most fascinating post, I for one am guilty of not knowing the Baronetage as well as I ought, my concentration has primarily been on the hereditary peerage.

[Harry Merritt]

Very interesting report. Thank you.

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[colinp]

Correction - the Maxwell Macdonald Btcy was dormant in 1956