Baron Redesdale

John Freeman-Mitford,
1st Baron Redesdale

Baron Redesdale, of Redesdale in the County of Northumberland, is a title that has been created twice, both times in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was firstly created in 1802 for lawyer and politician Sir John Mitford (later Freeman-Mitford). He was Speaker of the House of Commons between 1801 and 1802 and Lord Chancellor of Ireland between 1802 and 1806. His only son, the second Baron, served as Chairman of Committees in the House of Lords from 1851 to 1886. In 1877, he was created Earl of Redesdale, in the County of Northumberland, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Lord Redesdale never married, and on his death in 1886 both titles became extinct. The Earl bequeathed his substantial estates to his first cousin twice removed, the diplomat, politician and writer Sir Algernon Freeman-Mitford, the great-grandson of historian William Mitford, who was the elder brother of the first Baron Redesdale.

In 1902, the Redesdale title was revived when Algernon Freeman-Mitford was raised to the peerage as Baron Redesdale, of Redesdale in the County of Northumberland, on 15 July 1902. He was succeeded by his second but eldest surviving son, David Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale, who is chiefly remembered as the father of the famous Mitford sisters. He was also a member of the Right Club, founded by Archibald Maule Ramsay. His only son, the Hon. Thomas Freeman-Mitford, was killed in action in Burma in 1945.

Lord Redesdale was therefore succeeded by his younger brother, the third Baron. He was High Sheriff of Oxfordshire in 1935. He died childless, and on his death in 1962 the title passed to his younger brother, the fourth Baron. He also died childless, and was succeeded by his nephew, the fifth Baron. He was the son of the Hon. Ernest Rupert Bertram Ogilvy Freeman-Mitford, fifth son of the first Baron.

As of 2020, the title is held by the fifth Baron's son, the sixth Baron, who succeeded in 1991. He is a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords, who in 2000 was created a life peer as Baron Mitford, of Redesdale in the County of Northumberland, to enable him to return to the House after the majority of hereditary peers lost their seats under the House of Lords Act 1999; he is the youngest person ever created a life peer.

Barons Redesdale, first creation (1802)

• John Freeman-Mitford, 1st Baron Redesdale (1748–1830)
• John Thomas Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale (1805–1886; created Earl of Redesdale in 1877)

Earl of Redesdale (1877)

• John Thomas Freeman-Mitford, 1st Earl of Redesdale (1805–1886)

Barons Redesdale, second creation (1902)

• Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford, 1st Baron Redesdale (1837–1916)
• David Bertram Ogilvy Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale (1878–1958)
• Bertram Thomas Carlyle Ogilvy Freeman-Mitford, 3rd Baron Redesdale (1880–1962)
• John Power Bertram Ogilvy Freeman-Mitford, 4th Baron Redesdale (1885–1963)
• Clement Napier Bertram Freeman-Mitford, 5th Baron Redesdale (1932–1991)
• Rupert Bertram Mitford, 6th Baron Redesdale (b. 1967)

The heir apparent is the present holder's only son, the Hon. Bertram David Mitford (b. 2000).

Male-line family tree

Male-line family tree, Barons Redesdale (both creations) and Earls of Redesdale

John Mitford died 1761 Baron Redesdale (first creation) William Mitford 1744–1827 John Freeman-Mitford 1st Baron Redesdale 1748–1830 Earl of Redesdale Capt. Henry Mitford 1769–1803 John Freeman-Mitford 1st Earl of Redesdale 2nd Baron Redesdale 1805–1886 Barony and earldom extinct Henry Mitford 1804–1883 Baron Redesdale (second creation) Algernon Freeman-Mitford 1st Baron Redesdale 1837–1916 Maj. Hon. Clement Freeman-Mitford 1876–1915 David Freeman-Mitford 2nd Baron Redesdale 1878–1958 Bertram Freeman-Mitford 3rd Baron Redesdale 1880–1962 John Freeman-Mitford 4th Baron Redesdale 1885–1963 Hon. Ernest Freeman-Mitford 1895–1939 Maj. Hon. Thomas Freeman-Mitford 1909–1945 Clement Freeman-Mitford 5th Baron Redesdale 1932–1991 Rupert Mitford 6th Baron Redesdale born 1967 Hon. Bertram Mitford born 2000

See also

• William Mitford
• Mitford sisters

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