Baron Skelmersdale

Baron Skelmersdale, of Skelmersdale in the County Palatine of Lancaster, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1828 for Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, a former Member of Parliament for Westbury, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Clitheroe and Dover. His grandson, the second Baron, was a Conservative politician and served in the Tory administrations of Disraeli and Lord Salisbury. In 1880 he was created Earl of Lathom, in the County Palatine of Lancaster. However, the earldom became extinct on the death of his grandson, the third Earl, in 1930.

The barony passed to the late Earl's second cousin, the fifth Baron. He was the grandson of a younger son of the first Baron. On his death the title was inherited by his cousin, the sixth Baron. As of 2007 the title is held by the latter's son, the seventh Baron, who succeeded on his father's death in 1973. He served in junior ministerial positions in the Conservative administrations of Margaret Thatcher. Lord Skelmersdale is still a member of the House of Lords as one of the ninety-two elected hereditary peers allowed to remain after the passing of the House of Lords Act of 1999.

Barons Skelmersdale (1828)

*Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Baron Skelmersdale (1771-1853)
*Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Earl of Lathom, 2nd Baron Skelmersdale (1837-1898)
*Edward George Bootle-Wilbraham, 2nd Earl of Lathom, 3rd Baron Skelmersdale (1864-1910)
*Edward William Bootle-Wilbraham, 3rd Earl of Lathom, 4th Baron Skelmersdale (1895-1930)
*Arthur George Bootle-Wilbraham, 5th Baron Skelmersdale (1876-1969)
*Lionel Bootle-Wilbraham, 6th Baron Skelmersdale (1896-1973)
*Roger Bootle-Wilbraham, 7th Baron Skelmersdale (b. 1945)

The Heir Apparent is the present holder's only son Hon. Andrew Bootle-Wilbraham (b. 1977)

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]