Baron Camoys

Baron Camoys is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of England, both times by writ. The first creation came in 1264 when Ralph de Camoys was summoned to Parliament as Lord Camoys. This creation is considered to have become extinct on the death of his great-grandson, the fourth Baron, in 1372.

The second creation came in 1383 when Sir Thomas de Camoys was summoned to the House of Lords as Lord Camoys. He is said to have been the grandson of the third Baron of the 1264 creation and the nephew of the fourth Baron, and according to some sources is considered as the fifth Baron (for example, "The Dictionary of National Biography"). However, the 1383 barony is according to most sources (among them "Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage") considered as a new creation. Thomas de Camoys was a soldier and notably commanded the left wing of the English Army at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 during the Hundred Years' War.

He was succeeded by his grandson, the second Baron. He died in 1426 at an early age and on his death the barony fell into abeyance between his sisters Margaret and Alianora. The peerage remained in abeyance for the next 413 years. However, in 1839 Thomas Stonor managed to claim the barony as a descendant of Margaret de Camoys, and became the third Baron. He had previously represented Oxford in the House of Commons and later held office as a Lord-in-Waiting (government whip in the House of Lords) in the Liberal administrations of Lord John Russell, Lord Palmerston and William Gladstone as well as in the coalition government of Lord Aberdeen.

He was succeeded by his grandson, the fourth Baron, who served as a Lord-in-Waiting in the Liberal governments of William Gladstone and Lord Rosebery. As of 2007 the title is held by his great-grandson, the seventh Baron, who succeeded his father in 1976. He notably served as Lord Chamberlain of the Household between 1998 and 2000.

The ancestral seat of the Stonor family is Stonor Park, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

Barons Camoys, First Creation (1264)

*Ralph de Camoys, 1st Baron Camoys (d. 1277)
*John de Camoys, 2nd Baron Camoys (1251-1299)
*Ralph de Camoys, 3rd Baron Camoys (d. 1340)
*Thomas de Camoys, 4th Baron Camoys (d. 1372)

Barons Camoys, Second Creation (1383)

*Thomas de Camoys, 1st Baron Camoys (d. 1419)
*Hugh de Camoys, 2nd Baron Camoys (1413-1426) (abeyant 1426)
*Thomas Stonor, 3rd Baron Camoys (1797-1881) (abeyance terminated 1839)
*Francis Robert Stonor, 4th Baron Camoys (1856-1897)
*Ralph Francis Julian Stonor, 5th Baron Camoys (1884-1968)
*Sherman Stonor, 6th Baron Camoys (1913-1976)
*Ralph Thomas Campion George Sherman Stonor, 7th Baron Camoys (b. 1940)

The Heir Apparent is the present holder's son Hon. Ralph William Stonor (b. 10 Sep 1974)

References

*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). "Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage" (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
* [http://www.angeltowns.com/town/peerage/ Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page]
* [http://www.thepeerage.com/index.htm www.thepeerage.com]