Baron Kensington

Baron Kensington is a title that has been created three times, in the Peerages of England, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

English title (1623)

The title Baron Kensington was created in the Peerage of England in 1623 for Henry Rich, younger son of Robert Rich, 1st Earl of Warwick. Henry became Earl of Holland in 1624.His son the 2nd baron (and 2nd Earl Holland) became 5th earl of Warwick on the death of his cousin Charles Rich.These title all became extinct on the death of Edward Rich, 5th Baron Kensington, 5th Earl Holland and 8th Earl Warwick.

Irish title (1776)

The title Baron Kensington was created in the Peerage of Ireland 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.

UK title (1886)

William Edwardes, the 4th Baron, sat as Liberal Member of Parliament for Haverfordwest from 1868 to 1885 and served as a government whip under William Ewart 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. This produced the style "Baron Kensington and Kensington", used thereafter. His eldest son, the second (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 third 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 2010 the titles are held by his grandson, the fifth (eighth) Baron, who succeeded his uncle in 1981.

List of titleholders

Baron Kensington (1623)

• Henry Rich, 1st Baron Kensington, 1st Earl Holland (1590–1649)
• Robert Rich, 2nd Baron Kensington, 2nd Earl of Holland, 5th Earl of Warwick (c. 1620–1675)
• Edward Rich, 3rd Baron Kensington, 3rd Earl of Holland, 6th Earl of Warwick (1673-1701)
• Edward Henry Rich, 4th Baron Kensington, 4th Earl of Holland, 7th Earl of Warwick (1697-1721)
• Edward Rich, 5th Baron Kensington, 5th Earl of Holland, 8th Earl of Warwick (1695-1759)

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)

Barons Kensington and Kensington (1886)

• William Edwardes, Baron Kensington(4th) and Kensington(1st) (1835–1896)
• William Edwardes, Baron Kensington(5th) and Kensington(2nd) (1868–1900)
• Hugh Edwardes, Baron Kensington(6th) and Kensington(3rd) (1873–1938)
• William Edwardes, Baron Kensington(7th) and Kensington(4th) (1904–1981)
• Hugh Ivor Edwardes, Baron Kensington(8th) and Kensington(5th) (b. 1933)

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

See 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.
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages
• Whittakers Almanac (2011)