List of peerages created for women
This is a list of peerages created for women in the peerages 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 under the Life Peerages Act 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 of the first creation were not allowed to sit in the House of Lords until the passage of the Life Peerages Act 1958. Female holders of hereditary peerages could not sit in the Lords until the passage of the Peerage Act 1963. 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 honour a relative, including:
- As a posthumous honour for a dead husband, often one who would have received a peerage if he had not died
- To honour a husband who was living, but could not or would not accept a peerage in his own right (for instance if he wanted to retain his seat in the elected Commons)
- 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.
Richard II
Date | Title | Recipient | Current status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1397 | Duchess of Norfolk Peerage of England | Margaret, 2nd Countess of Norfolk | Extinct on death of recipient 24 March 1399. | For life only. |
Henry VIII
Date | Title | Recipient | Current status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1532 | Lady Marquess of Pembroke Peerage of England | Anne Boleyn | Forfeited upon conviction for treason 15 May 1536. | Second wife of Henry VIII. |
James I
Date | Title | Recipient | Current status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1618 | Countess of Buckingham Peerage of England | Mary, Lady Villiers | Extinct on death of recipient 1632. | For life only. |
29 July 1620 | Baroness Offaly Peerage of Ireland | Lettice Digby | Extant as a subsidiary title of the Duke of Leinster. | Granddaughter of the 1st Baron Offaly of the first creation. |
8 July 1623 | Viscountess Maidstone Peerage of England | Elizabeth Finch | Extant as a subsidiary title of the Earl of Winchilsea. |
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, 1st Viscountess Maidstone | Extant. | |
12 September 1640 | Baroness Stafford Peerage of England | Mary (Stafford) Howard | Extinct on death of recipient 1693. | For life only. Sister of the 5th Baron Stafford of the fourth creation and wife of the 1st Baron Stafford of the fifth creation |
1641 | Countess Rivers Peerage of England | Elizabeth, Viscountess Savage | Extinct on death of recipient, 9 March 1650. | For life only. Daughter of the 1st Earl Rivers of the second creation who could not inherit his title. |
23 May 1644 | Duchess of Dudley Peerage of England | Alice Dudley | Extinct on death of recipient 1668. | For life only. Wife of Robert Dudley, styled Earl of Warwick. |
Charles II
Date | Title | Recipient | Current status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
29 May 1660 | Countess of Chesterfield Peerage of England | Katherine Stanhope, Lady Stanhope | Extinct on death of recipient, 9 April 1667. | For life only. For service. |
1660 | Countess of Guilford Peerage of England | Elizabeth Boyle, Viscountess Boyle | Extinct on death of recipient, 1667. | For life only. |
20 April 1663 | Duchess of Buccleuch Peerage of Scotland | Anne Scott, 4th Countess of Buccleuch | Extant. | On the occasion of her marriage to James Scott, 1st 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. |
19 August 1673 | Duchess of Portsmouth, Countess of Fareham, and Baroness Petersfield Peerage of England | Louise de Kérouaille | Extinct on death of recipient 14 November 1734. | For life only. Mistress of Charles II. |
1674 | Baroness Belasyse Peerage of England | Susan Belasyse | Extinct on death of the recipient in 1713. | For life only. |
1674 | Viscountess Bayning Peerage of England | Anne Murray | Extinct on death of recipient 1678. | For life only. |
1679 | Viscountess Corbet | Sarah Corbet | For life only. | |
1680 | Countess of Sheppey | Elizabeth Walter | For life only. |
James II
Date | Title | Recipient | Current status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1686 | Countess of Dorchester and Baroness Darlington Peerage of England | Catherine Sedley | Extinct on death of recipient 26 October 1717 | For life only. Mistress of James II. |
5 October 1688 | Countess of Stafford Peerage of England | Mary Howard, Baroness Stafford | Extinct on death of recipient, 1693. | For life only. Wife of William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford, executed 1680. |
13 December 1688 | Baroness Shelburne Peerage of Ireland | Elizabeth, Lady Petty | Extinct on death of recipient, February 1708. | For life only. |
George I
Date | Title | Recipient | Current status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1715 | Countess Granville and Viscountess Carteret Peerage of Great Britain | Grace Granville Carteret | Extinct 1776. | Daughter of John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath |
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 death of recipient, 10 May 1743. | For life only. Mistress and unofficial wife of George I. |
19 March 1719 | Duchess of Kendal, Countess of Feversham, and Baroness Glastonbury Peerage of Great Britain | |||
1721 | Countess of Leinster Peerage of Ireland |
Countess Sophia von Platen | Extinct on death of recipient 20 April 1725. | For life only. Half-sister of George I. |
1722 | Countess of Darlington and Baroness Brentford Peerage of Great Britain | |||
1722 | Countess of Walsingham Peerage of Great Britain | Melusina von der Schulenburg | Extinct on death of recipient 16 September 1778. | For life only. Illegitimate daughter of George I. |
George II
Date | Title | Recipient | Current status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
March 1740 | Countess of Yarmouth Peerage of Great Britain | Amalie von Wallmoden | Extinct on death of recipient, 19 October 1765. | For life only. Mistress of George II. |
1746 | Viscountess Grandison Peerage of Ireland | Elizabeth Mason | Extinct 1800. | Daughter of John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison. |
1749 | Countess Temple Peerage of Great Britain | Hester Grenville, 2nd Viscountess Cobham | Extinct 26 March 1889. | |
1 August 1758 | Countess of Brandon Peerage of Ireland | Ellis Agar Bourke Bermingham | Extinct on death of recipient, 11 March 1789 | For life only. |
George III
Date | Title | Recipient | Current status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1760 | Baroness Stawell Peerage of Great Britain | Mary Bilson-Legge | Extinct 1820. | Daughter of the 4th Baron Stawell who could not inherit his title. |
4 December 1761 | Baroness Chatham Peerage of Great Britain | Lady Hester Pitt | Extinct 24 September 1835. | Wife of William Pitt the Elder, the recently resigned leader of the House of Commons. |
1761 | Baroness Mount Stuart Peerage of Great Britain | Mary Stuart, Countess of Bute | Extant as a subsidiary title of the Marquess of Bute. | Wife of the Earl of Bute, soon to become Prime Minister. |
7 March 1762 | Baroness Holland Peerage of Great Britain | Caroline Fox | Extinct 18 December 1859. | Wife of Henry Fox, then Leader of the House of Commons. |
1766 | Viscountess Langford and Baroness Summerhill Peerage of Ireland | Elizabeth Rowley | Extinct 1796. | |
1767 | Countess Grandison and Viscountess Villiers Peerage of Ireland | Elizabeth Mason, Viscountess Grandison | Extinct 1800. | |
28 August 1767 | Baroness Greenwich Peerage of Great Britain | Lady Caroline Townshend | Extinct on death of recipient 11 January 1794. | Daughter of John Campbell, 1st Duke of Greenwich. |
1770 | Baroness Arden Peerage of Ireland | Catherine Perceval, Countess of Egmont | Extinct 2011. | |
20 May 1776 | Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon Peerage of Great Britain | Elizabeth Campbell, Duchess of Argyll | Extant as a subsidiary title of the Duke of Argyll. | |
1783 | Baroness Donoughmore Peerage of Ireland | Christiana Hely-Hutchinson | Extant as a subsidiary title of the 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 as a subsidiary title of the Viscount Massereene. | |
1792 | Baroness Waterpark Peerage of Ireland | Sarah Cavendish | Extant. | |
13 June 1792 | Baroness Fermanagh Peerage of Ireland | Mary Verney | Extinct on death of recipient 15 November 1810. | Granddaughter of Ralph Verney, 1st Earl Verney. |
1792 | Baroness Bath Peerage of Great Britain | Laura Pulteney | Extinct on death of recipient, 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 Peerage of Great Britain | Susanna Hood | Extant as a subsidiary title of the Viscount Hood. | |
1795 | Baroness Kilwarden Peerage of Ireland | Anne Wolfe | Extinct 1830. | |
1 December 1797 | Baroness Crofton Peerage of Ireland | Anne, Lady Crofton | Extant. | In place of her husband, Sir Edward Crofton, 2nd Baronet, who died 30 September 1797. |
1797 | Viscountess Ferrard Peerage of Ireland | Margaretta Amelia Foster, 1st Baroness Oriel | Extant. | |
1797 | Baroness Norwood Peerage of Ireland | Grace Toler | Extant as a subsidiary title of the Earl of Norbury. | |
1798 | Baroness ffrench Peerage of Ireland | Rose, Lady ffrench | Extant. | For her son, Sir Thomas ffrench, who later inherited the title. |
31 July 1800 | Baroness Dufferin and Claneboye 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 Peerage of Ireland | Mary Nugent-Temple-Grenville | Extinct 1850. | |
28 May 1801 | Baroness Abercromby Peerage of the United Kingdom | Mary Abercromby | Extinct 1924. | In place of her husband Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby, who died 28 March 1801 following the Battle of Alexandria. |
1802 | Baroness Sandys Peerage of the United Kingdom | Mary Hill, Marchioness of Downshire | Extant. | |
1803 | Viscountess Newcomen Peerage of Ireland | Charlotte Gleadowe-Newcomen | Extinct 1825. | |
1803 | Countess of Bath Peerage of the United Kingdom | Laura, 1st Baroness Bath | Extinct upon death of recipient, 14 July 1808. | |
1816 | Countess de Grey Peerage of the United Kingdom | Amabel Hume-Campbell, 5th Baroness Lucas | Extinct 1923. |
George IV
Date | Title | Recipient | Current status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1821 | Baroness Rayleigh Peerage of the United Kingdom | Lady Charlotte Strutt | Extant. | In place of her husband, Joseph Strutt MP, 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 husband George Canning, Prime Minister, who died in office 8 August 1827. |
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 death of recipient 1870. | |
1831 | Baroness Stratheden Peerage of the United Kingdom | The Hon. Mary, Lady Campbell | Extant. | Wife of Sir John Campbell. |
Victoria
Date | Title | Recipient | Current status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 April 1840 | Duchess of Inverness Peerage of the United Kingdom | Lady Cecilia Underwood | Extinct upon death of recipient 1 August 1873. | Illegally married to Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex. |
21 October 1861 | Countess of Cromartie Peerage of the United Kingdom | Anne, Duchess of Sutherland | Extant. | Descendant of George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie. |
27 April 1864 | Baroness Buckhurst Peerage of the United Kingdom | Elizabeth, Countess De La Warr | Extant, but subsidiary to the title Earl De La Warr. | Daughter of John Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset and 9th Baron Buckhurst. |
1868 | Viscountess Beaconsfield Peerage of the United Kingdom | Mary Anne Disraeli | Extinct upon death of recipient, 15 December 1872. | Placeholder for her husband Benjamin Disraeli, who remained in the House of Commons. |
1871 | Baroness Burdett-Coutts Peerage of the United Kingdom | Angela Burdett-Coutts | Extinct upon death of recipient, 30 December 1906. | For service. |
1880 | Baroness Bolsover Peerage of the United Kingdom | Lady Augusta Cavendish-Bentinck | Extinct 21 March 1977. | In place of her deceased husband Lieutenant-General Arthur Cavendish-Bentinck. |
1891 | Baroness Macdonald of Earnscliffe | Agnes, Lady Macdonald | Extinct on death of recipient, 5 September 1920. | In place of her husband, Sir John A. Macdonald, who died in office as Prime Minister of Canada 6 June 1891. |
1891 | Viscountess Hambleden Peerage of the United Kingdom | Emily Danvers Smith | Extant. | In place of her husband, William Henry Smith, who died in office as Leader of the House of Commons 6 October 1891. |
2 August 1899 | Baroness Dorchester Peerage of the United Kingdom | Henrietta Carleton | Extinct 20 January 1963. | Daughter of 3rd Baron Dorchester who could not inherit his title. |
George V
Date | Title | Recipient | Current status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1928 | Countess Cave of Richmond Peerage of the United Kingdom | Anne Cave, Viscountess Cave | Extinct upon death of recipient 1938. | In place of her husband, George Cave, 1st Viscount Cave, who died 29 March 1928, the day of his resignation as Lord Chancellor. |
George VI
Date | Title | Recipient | Current status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
6 May 1943 | Viscountess Daventry Peerage of the United Kingdom | Muriel FitzRoy | Extant. | In place of her husband, Edward FitzRoy who died in office as Speaker of the House of Commons 3 March 1943. |