Baron Rossmore

Baron Rossmore, of Monaghan in the County of Monaghan, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1796 for the soldier Robert Cuninghame, with remainder to his wife Elizabeth's nephews Henry Alexander Jones (the son of Theophilus Jones and Anne Murray, eldest sister of Elizabeth; Henry Alexander Jones died childless before his uncle Lord Rossmore) and Warner William Westenra and Henry Westenra, sons of Henry Westenra and Harriet Murray, youngest sister of Elizabeth. Cuninghame was a General in the Army and served as Commander-in-Chief of Ireland. From January to August 1801 he also sat in the House of Lords as an Irish Representative Peer. Lord Rossmore died childless and was succeeded according to the special remainder by his nephew Warner William Westenra, the second Baron. He represented County Monaghan in the Irish House of Commons as well as in the British House of Commons (see Monaghan (UK Parliament constituency)) and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Monaghan from 1831 to 1842. In 1838 he was created Baron Rossmore, of Rossmore in the County of Monaghan, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. This gave the barons an automatic seat in the House of Lords.

His eldest son, the third Baron, represented Monaghan (UK Parliament constituency) in Parliament as a Whig and was Lord Lieutenant of Monaghan from 1843 to 1852. His younger son, the fifth Baron, was Lord Lieutenant of Monaghan from 1897 to 1921. As of 2006 the titles are held by the latter's grandson, the seventh and sixth Baron respectively, who succeeded his father in 1958.

The Westenra family is of Dutch descent.

Barons Rossmore (1796)

*Robert Cuninghame, 1st Baron Rossmore (d. 1801)
*Warner William Westenra, 2nd Baron Rossmore (1765-1842)
*Henry Robert Westenra, 3rd Baron Rossmore (1792-1860)
*Henry Cairnes Westenra, 4th Baron Rossmore (1851-1874)
*Derrick Warner William Westenra, 5th Baron Rossmore (1853-1921)
*William Westenra, 6th Baron Rossmore (1892-1958)
*William Warner Westenra, 7th Baron Rossmore (b. 1931)

The Heir Apparent is the present holder's only son Hon. Benedict William Westenra (b. 1983)

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]