Baron de Freyne

Baron de Freyne, of Coolavin in the County of Sligo, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1851 for Arthur French, 1st Baron de Freyne, with remainder to his younger brothers John, Charles and Fitzstephen French. He had earlier represented County Roscommon in the House of Commons and later served as Lord Lieutenant of County Roscommon. French had already been created Baron de Freyne, of Artagh in the County of Roscommon, in 1839, also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom but with normal remainder to heirs male. Lord de Freyne was childless and on his death in 1856 the barony of 1839 creation became extinct. The barony of 1851 creation survives according to the special remainder by his younger brother John, the second Baron.

On his death, the title passed to another brother, Charles, the third Baron. In 1851 this Charles was married to Catherine Maree, daughter of Luke Maree, by a Catholic priest. Afterwards, a question arose as to the validity of the marriage with her being a Roman Catholic and he a Protestant and they were again married in 1854 in the Church of Ireland. By then they had had three sons, Charles French (MP; 1851–1925) (Member of Parliament for County Roscommon), John French (1853–1916) and William French (1854–1868). However, due to the uncertainty over the first marriage Lord de Freyne was succeeded by his eldest son born after the marriage of 1854, Arthur French, the fourth Baron. His eldest son, the fifth Baron, was killed in action at the Battle of Aubers Ridge in 1915. He was succeeded by his half-brother, the sixth Baron. As of 2017^[update] the title is held by the latter's grandson, the 8th Baron, who succeeded his father in 2009.

The French family is descended from John French, of Frenchpark, County Roscommon, nicknamed An Tiarna Mór (the great landowner). He sat in the Irish House of Commons for Carrick, County Galway, and Tulsk. His son, Arthur French, represented County Roscommon in the Irish Parliament. His elder son, John French, was a member of the Irish Parliament for County Roscommon. He was about to be raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Dangar in 1775 but died before the peerage was formally created. His younger brother, Arthur (1728–1799), member of the Irish Parliament for County Roscommon, refused the offer of the peerage originally intended for his brother. His son, Arthur French (d. 1820), was also a member of the Irish House of Commons for County Roscommon. His eldest son was the first Baron de Freyne. Fitzstephen French, youngest brother of the first Baron, was Member of Parliament for County Roscommon.

The family seat was French Park, also known as French Park House, on the outskirts of the village of Frenchpark in County Roscommon.^[1]

Barons de Freyne; First creation (1839)

Arthur French, 1st Baron de Freyne (1786–1856)

Barons de Freyne; Second creation (1851)

Arthur French, 1st Baron de Freyne (1786–1856)
John French, 2nd Baron de Freyne (1788–1863)
Charles French, 3rd Baron de Freyne (1790–1868)
Arthur French, 4th Baron de Freyne (1855–1913)
Arthur Reginald French, 5th Baron de Freyne (1879–1915)
Francis Charles French, 6th Baron de Freyne (1884–1935)
Francis Arthur John French, 7th Baron de Freyne (1927–2009)
(Fulke) Charles Arthur John French, 8th Baron de Freyne (b. 1957)

The heir apparent is the present peer's elder son, Hon. Alexander James Charles French (born 1988)^[2]

Arms

Coat of arms of Baron de Freyne
	Crest A dolphin embowed Proper.^[3] Escutcheon Ermine a chevron Sable. Supporters Dexter an ancient Irish warrior habited supporting with his dexter hand a battle-axe head downwards and bearing on his sinister arm a shield all Proper sinister a female figure Proper vested and scarf flowing Argent. Motto Malo Mori Quam Foedari (I Had Rather Die Than Be Disgraced)

Notes

^ Archiseek: 1730 - French Park, Co. Roscommon. https://www.archiseek.com/2012/1730-french-park-co-roscommon/
^ Morris, Susan; Bosberry-Scott, Wendy; Belfield, Gervase, eds. (2019). "de Freyne, Baron". Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. Vol. 1 (150th ed.). London: Debrett's Ltd. pp. 1104–1108. ISBN 978-1-999767-0-5-1.
^ Debrett's Peerage. 1903. p. 245.

Sources

Hesilrige, Arthur G. M. (1921). Debrett's Peerage and Titles of courtesy. London: Dean & Son. p. 271.
Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990, ^{[page needed]}
Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages ^{[self-published source]} ^{[better source needed]}

External links

[1] Archiseek: 1730 - French Park, Co. Roscommon. https://www.archiseek.com/2012/1730-french-park-co-roscommon/

[DP-2] Morris, Susan; Bosberry-Scott, Wendy; Belfield, Gervase, eds. (2019). "de Freyne, Baron". Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. Vol. 1 (150th ed.). London: Debrett's Ltd. pp. 1104–1108. ISBN 978-1-999767-0-5-1.

[3] Debrett's Peerage. 1903. p. 245.

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[2]

[3]

v t e Extant hereditary baronies in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
King George III	Ellenborough Manners
The Prince Regent	Churchill Harris
King George IV	Ravensworth Delamere Forester Rayleigh Gifford Feversham Seaford Plunket Heytesbury Skelmersdale Wynford
King William IV	Kilmarnock Poltimore Mostyn de Saumarez Denman Abinger Ashburton Hatherton Stratheden Lovat^*
Queen Victoria	Rossmore^• Carew^• de Mauley Wrottesley Sudeley Methuen Stanley of Alderley^• Leigh Monteagle of Brandon Campbell Vivian Congleton Eddisbury^• Londesborough de Freyne Raglan Belper Chesham Churston Leconfield Lyveden Brougham and Vaux Westbury Annaly Northbrook Hartismere^• Hylton Penrhyn O'Neill Napier of Magdala Dunning^* Acton Wolverton O'Hagan Sandhurst Ettrick^* Aberdare Moncreiff Coleridge Cottesloe Hampton Harlech Tollemache Gerard Sackville Norton Trevor Ampthill Derwent Hothfield Tennyson Strathspey Monk Bretton Northbourne Northington^• Rothschild Revelstoke Monkswell Ashbourne St Oswald Montagu of Beaulieu Elphinstone^* Hindlip Grimthorpe Kensington^• Hamilton of Dalzell St Levan Basing de Ramsey Addington Savile Ashcombe Crawshaw Amherst of Hackney Newton Dunleath Swansea Aldenham HolmPatrick Burton Glanusk Cranworth Avebury Killanin Strathcona and Mount Royal
King Edward VII	Kinross Shuttleworth Grenfell Redesdale Burnham Biddulph Ritchie of Dundee Hemphill Joicey Nunburnholme Swaythling Blyth Marchamley Gorell Fisher Kilbracken
King George V	Hardinge of Penshurst de Villiers Glenconner Aberconway Merthyr Rowallan Ashton of Hyde Ravensdale Hollenden Parmoor Cunliffe Wrenbury Faringdon Shaughnessy Rathcreedan Somerleyton Carnock Beaverbrook Gainford Forteviot Colwyn Gisborough Morris Cawley Terrington Glenarthur Phillimore Inverforth Sinha Cochrane of Cults Clwyd Russell of Liverpool Swinfen Meston Cullen of Ashbourne Trevethin Glendyne Manton Forres Vestey Borwick Maclay Bethell Hunsdon Darling Banbury of Southam Merrivale Bradbury Mereworth^• Greenway Hayter Cornwallis Daresbury Wraxall Remnant Moynihan Craigmyle Dulverton Luke Alvingham Baden-Powell Ponsonby of Shulbrede Dickinson Noel-Buxton Howard of Penrith Rochester Selsdon Moyne Davies Rankeillour Brocket Milne Rennell Mottistone Iliffe Palmer Rockley Elton Wakehurst Hesketh Tweedsmuir Wigram Riverdale May Kennet Strathcarron
King Edward VIII	Catto
King George VI	Windlesham Mancroft McGowan Denham Rea Cadman Kenilworth Pender Roborough Brassey of Apethorpe Stamp Bicester Milford Hankey Harmsworth Rotherwick Glentoran Tryon Croft Teviot Nathan Reith Kindersley Ironside Latham Wedgwood Geddes Bruntisfield Brabazon of Tara Keyes Hemingford Moran Killearn Dowding Gretton Westwood Hazlerigg Hacking Chetwode Sandford Altrincham Broadbridge Mountevans Lindsay of Birker Piercy Chorley Calverley Tedder Colgrain Darwen Lucas of Chilworth Shepherd Newall Oaksey Rugby Layton Simon of Wythenshawe Kershaw Trefgarne Crook Amwell Milverton Clydesmuir Burden Haden-Guest Silkin§ Hives Ogmore Morris of Kenwood Macpherson of Drumochter Kenswood Freyberg Milner of Leeds Kirkwood Wise
Queen Elizabeth II	Jeffreys Rathcavan Baillieu Grantchester Coleraine Harvey of Tasburgh Gridley Strathalmond Strathclyde Clitheroe McNair Colyton Astor of Hever Sinclair of Cleeve Bridges Norrie Birkett Harding of Petherton Poole Rootes Netherthorpe Crathorne Spens MacAndrew Nelson of Stafford Howick of Glendale Sanderson of Ayot Cobbold Robertson of Oakridge Marks of Broughton Fairhaven Leighton of St Mellons Brain Aldington Inchyra Silsoe Egremont Thomson of Fleet Martonmere Sherfield Inglewood Glendevon Grimston of Westbury Renwick St Helens Margadale
§: Disclaimed. Italics: This title is held by a peer who holds another of higher precedence. ^* Also a Lord in the Peerage of Scotland ^• Also a Baron in the Peerage of Ireland