Baron Clifton

Baron Clifton, of Leighton Bromswold in the County of Huntingdon, is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1608 for Sir Gervase Clifton. The peerage was created by writ, which means that it can descend through both male and female lines. Lord Clifton died without surviving male issue and was succeeded by his daughter Katherine, the second Baroness. She married Esmé Stewart, 3rd Duke of Lennox (see the Duke of Lennox (1581 creation) for earlier history of this title). They were both succeeded by their eldest son James, the fourth Duke and third Baron. When he died the titles passed to his son, the fifth Duke and fourth Baron. On his death in 1660 at the age of eleven the barony separated from the dukedom. The barony was inherited by the late Duke's sister Mary, the fifth Baroness. She married Richard Butler, 1st Earl of Arran, but died aged only eighteen. She was succeeded by her first cousin the sixth Duke of Lennox, who became the sixth Baron Clifton as well. He was the son of Lord George Stuart, fourth son of the third Duke and the second Baroness Clifton. On his death the barony and dukedom again separated.

The dukedom became extinct (although this has later been questioned; see the Earl of Darnley) while the barony was passed on to the Duke's sister Katherine, the seventh Baroness. She was the wife of Henry O'Brien, Lord O'Brien, eldest son of Henry O'Brien, 6th Earl of Thomond. She established her claim to the peerage in 1674. She was succeeded by her daughter Catherine, the eighth Baroness. She was the wife of Edward Hyde, Viscount Cornbury (who after his wife's death succeeded as third Earl of Clarendon). Lady Clifton was succeeded by their son Edward, the ninth Baron. He predeceased his father and never succeeded in the earldom. He was succeeded in the barony by his sister Theodosia, the tenth Baroness. She married John Bligh, 1st Earl of Darnley. For further history of the barony, see the Earl of Darnley (1725 creation).

Barons Clifton (1608)

*Gervase Clifton, 1st Baron Clifton (d. 1618)
*Katherine Clifton, 2nd Baroness Clifton (c. 1592-1637)
*James Stewart, 4th Duke of Lennox, 3rd Baron Clifton (1612-1655)
*Esmé Stewart, 5th Duke of Lennox, 4th Baron Clifton (1649-1660)
*Mary Butler, 5th Baroness Clifton (1651-1668)
*Charles Stewart, 6th Duke of Lennox, 6th Baron Clifton (1639-1672)
*Katherine O'Brien, 7th Baroness Clifton (c. 1640-1702)
*Katherine Hyde, 8th Baroness Clifton (1663-1706)
*Edward Hyde, 9th Baron Clifton (1691-1713)
*Theodosia Bligh, 10th Baroness Clifton (1695-1722)
*Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley, 11th Baron Clifton (1715-1747)"see Earl of Darnley for further Barons Clifton"

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/ www.thepeerage.com]