Peerages in the United Kingdom form a legal system comprising both hereditary and lifetime titles,composed of various ranks,and within the framework of the Constitution of the United Kingdom form a constituent part of the legislative process and the British honours system. The term peerage can be used both collectively to refer to the entire body of titled nobility,and individually to refer to a specific title. British peerage title holders are termed peers of the Realm.
The House of Lords Act 1999 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed the House of Lords,one of the chambers of Parliament. The Act was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. For centuries,the House of Lords had included several hundred members who inherited their seats;the Act removed such a right. However,as part of a compromise,the Act did permit ninety-two hereditary peers to remain in the House on an interim basis. Another ten were created life peers to enable them to remain in the House.
Baron Windlesham,of Windlesham in Surrey,is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1937 for the Conservative politician Sir George Hennessy,1st Baronet. He had already been created a Baronet,of Winchester in the County of Southampton,in 1927. His eldest son,the second Baron,was a Brigadier in the Grenadier Guards. The latter's son,the third Baron,succeeded in 1962;a Conservative politician,he notably served as Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords in 1974. In 1999 he was created a life peer as Baron Hennessy,of Windlesham in the County of Surrey,so that he could continue to sit in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999,which removed the automatic right of hereditary peers to a seat in the upper chamber of parliament. As of 2015 the titles are held by his son,the fourth Baron.
Baron Northbrook,of Stratton in the County of Southampton,is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1866 for the Liberal politician and former Chancellor of the Exchequer,Sir Francis Baring,3rd Baronet. The holders of the barony represent the genealogically senior branch of the prominent Baring family. The name Northbrook is derived from a tithing of the local parish.
Robert Michael James Gascoyne-Cecil,7th Marquess of Salisbury,Baron Gascoyne-Cecil,,is a British Conservative politician. From 1979 to 1987 he represented South Dorset in the House of Commons,and in the 1990s he was Leader of the House of Lords under his courtesy title of Viscount Cranborne. Lord Salisbury lives in one of England's largest historic houses,the 17th-century Hatfield House in Hertfordshire,and currently serves as Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire.
Francis Thornhill Baring,1st Baron Northbrook,,known as Sir Francis Baring,3rd Baronet,from 1848 to 1866,was a British Whig politician who served in the governments of Lord Melbourne and Lord John Russell.
The hereditary peers form part of the peerage in the United Kingdom. As of August 2023,there are 805 hereditary peers:30 dukes,34 marquesses,189 earls,110 viscounts,and 442 barons.
The history of the British peerage,a system of nobility found in the United Kingdom,stretches over the last thousand years. The current form of the British peerage has been a process of development. While the ranks of baron and earl predate the British peerage itself,the ranks of duke and marquess were introduced to England in the 14th century. The rank of viscount came later,in the mid-15th century. Peers were summoned to Parliament,forming the House of Lords.
In the United Kingdom,life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited,in contrast to hereditary peers. With the exception of the Dukedom of Edinburgh awarded for life to Prince Edward in 2023,all life peerages conferred since 2009 have been created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 with the rank of baron and entitle their holders to sit and vote in the House of Lords,presuming they meet qualifications such as age and citizenship. The legitimate children of a life peer appointed under the Life Peerages Act 1958 are entitled to style themselves with the prefix "The Honourable",although they cannot inherit the peerage itself. Prior to 2009,life peers of baronial rank could also be so created under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 for senior judges.
Malcolm Ian Sinclair,20th Earl of Caithness,,is a Scottish Conservative politician and member of the House of Lords as one of the remaining hereditary peers. He is also 20th Lord Berriedale,15th Baronet,of Canisbay,Co. Caithness,and chief of Clan Sinclair. He is the Chief Executive of the Clan Sinclair Trust.
Hugh William Mackay,14th Lord Reay,Baron Mackay,was a British politician and Conservative member of the House of Lords. He was the only male Lord of Parliament to sit in the House of Lords following the abolition of the automatic right of all British hereditary peers to sit in the House of Lords in 1999,the only female being The Lady Saltoun.
Rodney Elton,2nd Baron Elton,was a British Conservative politician and member of the House of Lords.
Malcolm McEacharn Mitchell-Thomson,3rd Baron Selsdon,is a British peer,banker and businessman. He was one of the ninety hereditary peers elected to remain in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999,sitting as a Conservative. His membership was ended on 11 May 2021,due to non-attendance. At the time,in his 58th year of service,he was the second longest-serving member of the House of Lords after Lord Trefgarne.
Leopold David Verney,21st Baron Willoughby de Broke,,is a British hereditary peer and member of the House of Lords.
Luke Richard White,6th Baron Annaly,is a British hereditary peer and former Government Whip in the House of Lords,who sat on the Conservative benches.
Francis George Baring,2nd Earl of Northbrook,styled Viscount Baring from 1876 to 1904,was a British politician.
Geoffrey Robert James Borwick,5th Baron Borwick,is a British businessman,hereditary peer and member of the House of Lords.
Rupert Francis John Carington,7th Baron Carrington,,is a British banker,hereditary peer and crossbench member of the House of Lords.
Edward Sebastian Grigg,4th Baron Altrincham is a British hereditary peer and Conservative member of the House of Lords. He was educated at Oriel College,Oxford and was a member of the Bullingdon Club along with David Cameron and Boris Johnson,appearing top left in a well-known 1987 photograph of the club's members.
