Baron Kensington

Baron Kensington is a title in both the Peerage of Ireland and the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The Irish title was created in 1776 for William Edwardes, who represented Haverfordwest in the House of Commons for over fifty years. Edwardes was the son of Francis Edwardes, Member of Parliament for Haverfordwest from 1722 to 1725 and the member of a family which owned extensive lands in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire. His mother was Lady Elizabeth Rich, only daughter of Robert Rich, 5th Earl of Warwick and 2nd Earl of Holland, and Edwardes had earlier succeeded to the Rich family estates on the death of a cousin. The title of Baron Kensington had previously been held by the Earls of Warwick and Holland, and had become extinct along with the earldoms in 1759.

The first Baron was succeeded by his son, the second Baron. He also represented Haverfordwest in Parliament. His son, the third Baron, served as Lord Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire. He was succeeded by his son, the fourth Baron. He sat as a Liberal Member of Parliament for Haverfordwest from 1868 to 1885 and served as a Government Whip under William Gladstone from 1880 to 1885. In 1886 he was created Baron Kensington, of Kensington in the County of Middlesex, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, which gave the Barons an automatic seat in the House of Lords.

His eldest son, the fifth Baron, served in the Second Boer War and died from wounds received in action in June 1900. He was succeeded by his younger brother, the sixth Baron. He was a Colonel in the Territorial Army and also fought in South Africa as well as in the First World War. As of 2007 the titles are held by his grandson, the eighth Baron, who succeeded his uncle in 1981.

Barons Kensington (1776)

*William Edwardes, 1st Baron Kensington (c. 1711-1801)
*William Edwardes, 2nd Baron Kensington (1777-1852)
*William Edwardes, 3rd Baron Kensington (1801-1872)
*William Edwardes, 4th Baron Kensington (1835-1896)
*William Edwardes, 5th Baron Kensington (1868-1900)
*Hugh Edwardes, 6th Baron Kensington (1873-1938)
*William Edwardes, 7th Baron Kensington (1904-1981)
*Hugh Ivor Edwardes, 8th Baron Kensington (b. 1933)

The Heir Apparent is the present holder's son Hon. William Owen Alexander Edwardes (b. 1964)

ee also

*Earl of Warwick (1618 creation)
*Earl of Holland

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]