Baron Wenlock

Arms of Lawley: Argent, a cross formée extended to the extremes of the shield chequy or and sable

Arthur Lawley,
6th and last Baron Wenlock

Baron Wenlock is a title that has been created three times, once in the Peerage of England and twice in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in 1461 when the soldier Sir John Wenlock was summoned to Parliament as Lord Wenlock. However, he was childless and on his death in 1471 the title became extinct.

The second creation came in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1831 when Sir Robert Lawley, 6th Baronet, was created Baron Wenlock, of Wenlock in the County of Shropshire. He had earlier represented Newcastle-under-Lyme in the House of Commons. On his death in 1834 the barony became extinct. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his younger brother, the seventh Baronet. He was a former Member of Parliament for Warwickshire.

On his death the title passed to his younger brother, the eighth Baronet. In 1820 he had inherited the Escrick estate in Yorkshire from his uncle Richard Thompson and had assumed by Royal licence the surname of Thompson in lieu of Lawley. He also represented Wenlock and the East Riding of Yorkshire. In 1839, twelve years before he succeeded in the baronetcy, the barony created for his elder brother was revived when he was made Baron Wenlock, of Wenlock in the County of Shropshire. His son, the second Baron, was Member of Parliament for Pontefract and served as Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire.

His eldest son, the third Baron, notably served as Governor of Madras. His fourth brother, the sixth Baron (who succeeded his elder brother in 1931, who in his turn had succeeded his elder brother in 1918), served as Governor of Western Australia, of the Transvaal Republic and of Madras. His only son and heir Hon. Richard Edward Lawley died at an early age and on Lord Wenlock's death in 1932 both titles became extinct.

The Lawley baronetcy, of Spoonhill in the County of Shropshire, was created in the Baronetage of England on 16 August 1641 for Thomas Lawley, who represented Wenlock in Parliament. His son, the second Baronet, was Member of Parliament for both Wenlock and Shropshire. His eldest son, the third Baronet, also represented Wenlock in the House of Commons. The fifth Baronet was Member of Parliament for Warwickshire. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the sixth Baronet, who was elevated to the peerage as Baron Wenlock in 1831. The fourth and sixth Baronets served as High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1743 and 1797 respectively. The seventh Baronet was High Sheriff of Warwickshire in 1839.

Baron Wenlock, first creation (1461)

• John Wenlock, 1st Baron Wenlock (d. 1471)

Baron Lawley, second and third creations

Lawley baronets, of Spoonhill (1641)

• Sir Thomas Lawley, 1st Baronet (d. 1646)
• Sir Francis Lawley, 2nd Baronet (c. 1630 – 1696)
• Sir Thomas Lawley, 3rd Baronet (c. 1650 – 1729)
• Sir Robert Lawley, 4th Baronet (d. 1779) (son) ^[1]
• Sir Robert Lawley, 5th Baronet (1736–1793) (son)
• Sir Robert Lawley, 6th Baronet (1768–1834) (son) (created Baron Wenlock in 1831)

Baron Wenlock (1831)

• Robert Lawley, 1st Baron Wenlock (1768–1834)

Lawley baronets, of Spoonhill (1641; reverted)

• Sir Francis Lawley, 7th Baronet (1782–1851)
• Sir Paul Beilby Lawley Thompson, 8th Baronet (1784–1852) (had already been created Baron Wenlock in 1839)

Baron Wenlock (1839)

• Paul Thompson, 1st Baron Wenlock (1784–1852)
• Beilby Lawley, 2nd Baron Wenlock (1818–1880)
• Beilby Lawley, 3rd Baron Wenlock (1849–1912)
• Richard Lawley, 4th Baron Wenlock (1856–1918)
• Algernon Lawley, 5th Baron Wenlock (1857–1931)
• Arthur Lawley, 6th Baron Wenlock (1860–1932)

Male-line family tree

Male-line family tree, Lawley baronets and Barons Wenlock (both creations).

Sir Thomas Lawley 1st Baronet died 1646 Sir Francis Lawley 2nd Baronet c. 1630 – 1696 Sir Thomas Lawley 3rd Baronet c. 1650 – 1729 Francis Lawley Sir Robert Lawley 4th Baronet died 1779 George Lawley Sir Robert Lawley 5th Baronet 1736–1793 Baron Wenlock (1831 creation) Baron Wenlock (1839 creation) Robert Lawley 1st Baron Wenlock 6th Baronet 1768–1834 Sir Francis Lawley 7th Baronet 1782–1851 Paul Thompson 1st Baron Wenlock 8th Baronet 1784–1852 Barony extinct Beilby Lawley 2nd Baron Wenlock 1818–1880 Hon. Robert Lawley 1819–1881 Rev. Hon. Stephen Lawley 1823–1905 Hon. Francis Lawley 1825–1901 Beilby Lawley 3rd Baron Wenlock 1849–1912 Richard Lawley 4th Baron Wenlock 1856–1918 Algernon Lawley 5th Baron Wenlock 1857–1931 Arthur Lawley 6th Baron Wenlock 1860–1932 Hon. Robert Lawley 1863–1924 Baronetcy and barony extinct Hon. Richard Lawley 1887–1909

References

1. Debrett's Baronetage of England, Revised by George Collen, London, 1840, pp. 340–1

• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages ^{[ self-published source ][ better source needed ]}