List of peerages created for women

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This is a list of peerages created for women who received a peerage 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.

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, whether by creation or inheritance, did not take seats in the House of Lords; and 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 honor a relative, including:
    • As a posthumous honor for a dead husband, often one who would have received a peerage if he had not died
    • To honor a husband who was living, but could not or would not accept a peerage in his own right
    • 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.

Contents

[edit] Richard II

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1397 Duchess of Norfolk
Peerage of England		 Margaret, Countess of Norfolk Extinct on recipient's death 24 March 1399. For life only.

[edit] Henry VIII

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1532 Marchioness of Pembroke
Peerage of England		 Anne Boleyn Forfeited upon conviction for treason 15 May 1536. Second wife of Henry VIII of England.

[edit] James I

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1618 Countess of Buckingham
Peerage of England		 Mary Villiers Extinct on recipient's death 1632. For life only.
29 July 1620 Baroness Offaly
Peerage of Ireland		 Lettice Digby Extant, but subsidiary to the title Duke of Leinster. Granddaughter of the 1st Baron Offaly.
8 July 1623 Viscountess Maidstone
Peerage of England		 Elizabeth Finch Extant but subsidiary to the title Earl of Winchilsea.

[edit] Charles I

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
29 February 1628 Lady Cramond
Peerage of Scotland		 Elizabeth, Lady Richardson Extinct 1735.
12 July 1628 Countess of Winchilsea
Peerage of England		 Elizabeth, Viscountess Maidstone Extant.
12 September 1640 Baroness Stafford
Peerage of England		 Mary (Stafford) Howard Extinct on recipient's death, 1693. For life only. Sister of the 5th Baron Stafford.
1641 Countess Rivers
Peerage of England		 Elizabeth, Viscountess Savage Extinct on recipient's death, 9 March 1650. For life only. Daughter of the 1st (1626) Earl Rivers and mother of the 2nd Earl Rivers.
1644 Duchess Dudley Alice (Leigh) Dudley Extinct on recipient's death 1668. Wife of Robert Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. For life only.

[edit] Charles II

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
29 May 1660 Countess of Chesterfield
Peerage of England		 Katherine Stanhope Extinct on recipient's death, 9 April 1667. For service. For life only.
1660 Countess of Guilford
Peerage of England		 Elizabeth (Feilding) Boyle, Viscountess Boyle Extinct on recipient's death, 1667. For life only.
20 April 1663 Duchess of Buccleuch
Peerage of Scotland		 Anne Scott, 4th Countess of Buccleuch Extant. Promotion from her hereditary title on the occasion of her marriage to James Scott, Duke of Monmouth.
1663 Baroness Lucas of Crudwell in the County of Wiltshire
Peerage of England		 Mary Grey, Countess of Kent Extant. Daughter of John, 1st Baron Lucas.
June 1667 Duchess of Cleveland, Countess of Southampton, and Baroness Nonsuch of Nonsuch Park
Peerage of England		 Barbara Palmer, Countess of Castlemaine Extinct 1774. Mistress of Charles II of England.
19 August 1673 Duchess of Portsmouth, Countess of Fareham, and Baroness Petersfield
Peerage of England		 Louise de Kérouaille Extinct on recipient's death 14 November 1734. Mistress of Charles II of England. For life only.
1674 Baroness Belasyse Susan Belasyse For life only.
1674 Viscountess Bayning
Peerage of England		 Anne Murray Extinct on recipient's death 1678. For life only.
1679 Viscountess Corbet Sarah Corbet For life only.
1680 Countess of Sheppey Elizabeth Walter For life only.

[edit] James II

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1686 Countess of Dorchester and Baroness Darlington
Peerage of England		 Catherine Sedley Extinct on recipient's death 26 October 1717 Mistress of James II of England. For life only.
1688 Countess of Stafford
Peerage of England		 Mary Howard, Baroness Stafford Extinct on recipient's death, 1693. Wife of William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford, executed 1680. For life only.
13 December 1688 Baroness Shelburne
Peerage of Ireland		 Elizabeth (Waller) Petty Extinct on recipient's death, February 1708. For life only.

[edit] George I

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1715 Countess Granville and Viscountess Carteret
Peerage of Great Britain		 Grace Carteret Extinct 1776.
18 July 1716 Duchess of Munster, Marchioness and Countess of Dungannon, and Baroness Dundalk
Peerage of Ireland		 Melusine von der Schulenburg All titles extinct on recipient's death, 10 May 1743. Mistress and unofficial wife of George I of Great Britain. For life only.
19 March 1719 Duchess of Kendal, Countess of Feversham, and Baroness Glastonbury
Peerage of Great Britain		 Melusine, Duchess of Munster All titles extinct on recipient's death, 10 May 1743. Same person as above. For life only.
1721 Countess of Leinster
Peerage of Ireland		 Countess Sophia von Platen Extinct on recipient's death 20 April 1725. Half-sister of George I of Great Britain. For life only.
1722 Countess of Darlington and Baroness Brentford
Peerage of Great Britain		 Sophia, Countess of Leinster Extinct on recipient's death 20 April 1725. Same person as above. For life only.
1722 Countess of Walsingham
Peerage of Great Britain		 Melusina von der Schulenburg Extinct on recipient's death 16 September 1778. Illegitimate daughter of George I of Great Britain. For life only.

[edit] George II

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
March 1740 Countess of Yarmouth
Peerage of Great Britain		 Amalie von Wallmoden Extinct on recipient's death, 19 October 1765. Mistress of George II of Great Britain. For life only.
1749 Countess Temple
Peerage of Great Britain		 Hester Grenville Extinct 26 March 1889.
1758 Countess of Brandon Ellis Bermingham For life only.

[edit] George III

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1760 Baroness Stawell of Somerton in the County of Somerset
Peerage of Great Britain		 Mary Stawell Extinct 1820. Recreated for the daughter of the 4th Baron Stawell, as she had not inherited his title.
4 December 1761 Baroness Chatham of Chatham in the County of Kent
Peerage of Great Britain		 Hester Pitt Extinct 24 September 1835.
1761 Baroness Mount Stuart of Wortley in the County of York
Peerage of Great Britain		 Mary Stuart, Countess of Bute Extant, but subsidiary to the title Marquess of Bute.
7 March 1762 Baroness Holland of Holland in the County of Wiltshire
Peerage of Great Britain		 Caroline Fox Extinct 18 December 1859.
1766 Viscountess Langford and Baroness Summerhill
Peerage of Ireland		 Elizabeth Rowley Extinct 1796.
1767 Countess Grandison
Peerage of Ireland		 Elizabeth Mason Extinct 1800.
28 August 1767 Baroness Greenwich
Peerage of Great Britain		 Caroline Townshend Title extinct 11 January 1794. Daughter of John Campbell, Duke of Greenwich.
1770 Baroness Arden of Lohort Castle in the County of Cork
Peerage of Ireland		 Catherine Perceval, Countess of Egmont Extant, but subsidiary to the title Earl of Egmont.
20 May 1776 Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon in the County of Leicester
Peerage of Great Britain		 Elizabeth Campbell, Duchess of Argyll Extant, but subsidiary to the title Duke of Argyll.
1783 Baroness Donoughmore of Knocklofty in the County of Tipperary
Peerage of Ireland		 Christiana Hely-Hutchinson Extant, but subsidiary to the title Earl of Donoughmore.
1783 Countess of Longford
Peerage of Ireland		 Elizabeth Pakenham Extant.
1790 Baroness Oriel of Collon
Peerage of Ireland		 Margaretta Amelia Foster Extant, but subsidiary to the title Viscount Ferrard.
1792 Baroness Waterpark
Peerage of Ireland		 Sarah Cavendish Extant.
13 June 1792 Baroness Fermanagh
Peerage of Ireland		 Mary Verney Extinct on recipient's death 15 November 1810. Granddaughter of Ralph Verney, 1st Earl Verney.
1792 Baroness Bath
Peerage of Great Britain		 Laura Pulteney Extinct on recipient's death, 14 July 1808.
1793 Countess of Wicklow
Peerage of Ireland		 Alice (Forward) Howard Extinct 1978. Widow of Ralph Howard, 1st Viscount Wicklow.
1795 Baroness Hood of Catherington in the County of Southampton
Peerage of Great Britain		 Susanna Hood Extant but subsidiary to the title Viscount Hood.
1795 Baroness Kilwarden
Peerage of Ireland		 Anne Wolfe Extinct 1800.
1 December 1797 Baroness Crofton
Peerage of Ireland		 Anne, Lady Crofton Extant. In place of her late husband, Sir Edward Crofton, 2nd Baronet, d. 30 September 1797.
1797 Viscountess Ferrard
Peerage of Ireland		 Margaretta Amelia Foster, Baroness Oriel Extant.
1797 Baroness Norwood of Knockalton in the County of Tipperary
Peerage of Ireland		 Grace Toler Extant.
1798 Baroness ffrench of Castle ffrench in the County of Galway
Peerage of Ireland		 Rose ffrench Extant. For her son, Sir Thomas ffrench, who later inherited the title.
31 July 1800 Baroness Dufferin and Claneboye of Ballyleidy and Killyleagh in County Down
Peerage of Ireland		 Dorcas, Lady Blackwood Extant. In place of her late husband, Sir John Blackwood, 2nd Baronet, d. 27 February 1799.
1800 Baroness Nugent of Carlanstown in the County of Westmeath
Peerage of Ireland		 Mary Nugent-Temple-Grenville Extinct 1850.
28 May 1801 Baroness Abercromby of Tullibody and Aboukir Bay
Peerage of the United Kingdom		 Mary Abercromby Extinct 1924. In place of her late husband Ralph Abercromby, d. 28 March 1801.
1802 Baroness Sandys of Ombersley in the County of Worcester
Peerage of the United Kingdom		 Mary Hill Extant.
1803 Viscountess Newcomen Charlotte Gleadowe-Newcomen Extinct 1825.
1803 Countess of Bath
Peerage of the United Kingdom		 Laura, Baroness Bath Extinct on recipient's death, 14 July 1808.
1816 Countess de Grey Amabel (Yorke) Hume-Campbell, 5th Baroness Lucas Extinct 1923.

[edit] George IV

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1821 Baroness Rayleigh of Terling Place in the County of Essex
Peerage of the United Kingdom		 Lady Charlotte Strutt Extant. Instead of her husband, Joseph Strutt, who refused a peerage.
31 July 1826 Baroness FitzGerald and Vesey
Peerage of Ireland		 Catherine Vesey Extinct 20 March, 1860.
22 January 1828 Viscountess Canning
Peerage of the United Kingdom		 Joan Scott Canning Extinct 17 June, 1862. In place of her late husband George Canning, d. 8 August 1827.

[edit] William IV

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1831 Baroness Talbot of Malahide
Peerage of Ireland		 Margaret Talbot Extant.
1831 Baroness Wenman
Peerage of the United Kingdom		 Sophia Wykeham Extinct upon recipient's death in 1870.
1831 Baroness Stratheden of Cupar in the County of Fife
Peerage of the United Kingdom		 Mary Campbell Extant. Wife of Sir John Campbell.

[edit] Victoria

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
10 April 1840 Duchess of Inverness Lady Cecilia Letitia (Gore) Buggin Extinct upon recipient's death 1 August 1873. Illegally married to Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex. For life only.
21 October 1861 Countess of Cromartie, Viscountess Tarbat of Tarbat in the County of Cromartie, Baroness Castlehaven of Castlehaven in the County of Cromartie, and Baroness MacLeod of Castle Leod in the County of Cromartie Anne, Duchess of Sutherland Extant.
27 April 1864 Baroness Buckhurst of Buckhurst in the County of Sussex Elizabeth Sackville-West Extant but subsidiary to the title Earl De La Warr.
1868 Viscountess Beaconsfield Mary Disraeli Extinct upon recipient's death, 15 December 1872. Placeholder for her husband Benjamin Disraeli.
1871 Baroness Burdett-Coutts, of Highgate and Brookfield in the County of Middlesex Angela Burdett-Coutts, 1st Baroness Burdett-Coutts Extinct upon recipient's death, 30 December 1906. For service.
1880 Baroness Bolsover of Bolsover Castle in the County of Derby
Peerage of the United Kingdom		 Augusta Cavendish-Bentinck Extinct 21 March 1977.
1891 Baroness Macdonald of Earnscliffe Agnes Macdonald, Baroness Macdonald of Earnscliffe In place of her late husband, John A. Macdonald, d. 6 June 1891.
1891 Viscountess Hambleden Emily Danvers Smith Extant. In place of her late husband, William Henry Smith, d. 6 October 1891.
2 August 1899 Baroness Dorchester of Dorchester in the County of Oxford
Peerage of the United Kingdom		 Henrietta Carleton Extinct 20 January 1963. Daughter of 3rd Baron Dorchester, did not inherit title.

[edit] George V

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1928 Countess Cave of Richmond
Peerage of the United Kingdom		 Anne Cave Extinct upon recipient's death in 1938. In place of her late husband, George Cave, 1st Viscount Cave, d. 29 March 1928.

[edit] George VI

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
6 May 1943 Viscountess Daventry of Daventry in the County of Northampton
Peerage of the United Kingdom		 Muriel FitzRoy Extant. In place of her late husband, Edward FitzRoy, d. 3 March 1943.