Baron Farnham

Baron Farnham, of Farnham in the County of Cavan, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1756 for John Maxwell, who had previously represented Cavan Borough in the Irish House of Commons.

History

John Maxwell's son, the second Baron, was created Viscount Farnham in 1760 and Earl of Farnham in 1763. Both titles were in the Peerage of Ireland but became extinct when he died childless in 1779.

His brother and successor, the third Baron, was again created Viscount Farnham in 1781 and Earl of Farnham in 1785. These titles were also in the Peerage of Ireland.

His son, the second Earl, sat in the House of Lords as an Irish Representative Peer from 1816 to 1823. However, he had no children and on his death in 1823 the viscountcy and earldom became extinct.

He was succeeded in the barony by his first cousin, the fifth Baron. He was the eldest son of the Most Reverend the Hon. Henry Maxwell, Lord Bishop of Meath, third son of the first Baron. Lord Farnham sat as a Member of Parliament for County Cavan and was an Irish Representative Peer in the House of Lords from 1825 to 1838. His nephew, the seventh Baron (who succeeded his father in 1838), also represented County Cavan in the House of Commons and served as an Irish Representative Peer between 1839 and 1868. Lord Farnham and his wife were killed in the Abergele train disaster of 1868. The title then passed to his younger brother, the eighth Baron, who had earlier represented County Cavan in Parliament.

He was succeeded by another brother, the ninth Baron, who also sat as a Member of Parliament for County Cavan. In 1885 he succeeded a distant relative as eleventh Baronet of Calderwood (see Maxwell Baronets for earlier history of this title). On his death the titles passed to his nephew, the tenth Baron. He served as Lord Lieutenant of County Cavan and was briefly an Irish Representative Peer from 1898 until his early death in 1900. His son, the eleventh Baron, sat in the House of Lords as an Irish Representative Peer from 1908 to 1957. As of 2006 the titles are held by his grandson, the thirteenth Baron and fifteenth Baronet, who succeeded his elder brother in 2001. Lord Farnham is the son of Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. Somerset Arthur Maxwell.

Present

The Farnhams are remembered in the name of one of the main streets in Cavan town, "Farnham Street", as well as in the name of a hotel, the "Farnham Arms", which has the family crest with inscription "Je suis pret" ("I am ready") above the door. The Farnham demesne (Farnham Hall) has (per 2006) been transformed into a Radisson-SAS hotel, although the agricultural estate is currently (2008) owned by Mr Roy McCabe, who purchased the Farnham Estate shortly after the demise of the 12th Baron Farnham in 2001.

As of 30 June 2006, the present holder of the barony has not successfully proven his succession to the baronetcy and is therefore not on the Official Roll of the Baronetage. However, the case is under review by the Registrar of the Baronetage (for more information follow this [http://www.baronetage.org/unproven.htm external link] ).

Barons Farnham (1756)

*John Maxwell, 1st Baron Farnham (d. 1759)
*Robert Maxwell, 2nd Baron Farnham (d. 1779) (created Earl of Farnham in 1763)

Earls of Farnham, First Creation (1763)

*Robert Maxwell, 1st Earl of Farnham, 2nd Baron Farnham (d. 1779)

Barons Farnham (1756; Reverted)

*Barry Maxwell, 3rd Baron Farnham (d. 1800) (created Earl of Farnham in 1785)

Earls of Farnham, Second Creation (1785)

*Barry Maxwell, 1st Earl of Farnham (d. 1800)
*John James Maxwell, 2nd Earl of Farnham (1760-1823

Barons Farnham (1756; Reverted)

*John Maxwell-Barry, 5th Baron Farnham (1767-1838)
*Henry Maxwell, 6th Baron Farnham (1774-1838)
*Henry Maxwell, 7th Baron Farnham (1799-1868)
*Somerset Richard Maxwell, 8th Baron Farnham (1803-1884)
*James Pierce Maxwell, 9th Baron Farnham (1813-1896)
*Somerset Henry Maxwell, 10th Baron Farnham (1849-1900)
*Arthur Kenlis Maxwell, 11th Baron Farnham (1879-1957)
*Barry Owen Somerset Maxwell, 12th Baron Farnham (1931-2001)
*Simon Kenlis Maxwell, 13th Baron Farnham (b. 1933)

ee also

*Maxwell Baronets, of Calderwood

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]