Baron Strange

Baron Strange is a title which has been created four times in the Peerage of England. Two creations, one in 1295 and another in 1326, had only one holder each, upon whose deaths they became extinct. Two of the creations, that of 1299 and that of 1628, are extant. The surname Le Strange was Latinized as Extraneus^[1] (i.e. "Foreigner, Stranger"^[2]). The arms of Le Strange of Knockin Castle in Shropshire were: Gules, two lions passant argent.^[3]

All four baronies of Strange were created by writ, which means that they can also pass through female lines. Following the passing of the Peerage Act 1963, Elizabeth Frances Philipps, 14th Baroness Strange (of the 1299 creation), became the first female to take her seat in the House of Lords by virtue of an hereditary peerage.

1295 creation

The first creation came in 1295 when Roger le Strange "of Salop."^[4] (i.e. Shropshire) was summoned to the Model Parliament by writ addressed to Rogero Extraneo, by which he is deemed to have become Lord Strange. He was a younger son of John le Strange III of Knockin Castle in Shropshire, Sheriff of Shropshire and Staffordshire in 1236.^[5] On his death in 1311 the title became extinct.

1299 creation

The second creation came in 1299 when John le Strange V was summoned to the House of Lords by a writ directed to Johanni Lestraunge de Knokyn,^[6] by which he is deemed to have become Lord Strange. This creation is referred to as Baron Strange de Knokyn or Baron Strange of Knokyn (aliter Knokin or Knockin, etc.), named after his seat of Knockin Castle in Shropshire, which thus distinguishes it from the earlier 1295 barony, which was still extant on its creation. He was the eldest son and heir of John le Strange IV of Knockin, the eldest son of John le Strange III of Knockin,^[7] and was therefore the nephew of the baron of the 1295 creation. Hamon Le Strange, younger brother of the 2nd Baron, founded the family of Le Strange of Hunstanton, Norfolk (which ancestral manor was given to him by the 2nd Baron in 1309),^[8] and bore his paternal arms differenced by a bendlet sable. (See L'Estrange baronets of Hunstanton, created in 1629, which male line continued until 1762)). Joan le Strange, suo jure 9th Baroness, daughter and heiress of the 8th Baron who died without male issue,^[9] married George Stanley, 9th Baron Strange, son of Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby, who was summoned to Parliament as Lord Strange in her right. Her son Thomas Stanley succeeded as both 2nd Earl of Derby and 10th Baron Strange.

The titles remained united until the death of his great-grandson, the fifth Earl and 13th Baron, in 1594. The earldom was inherited by his younger brother, the sixth Earl, while the barony of Strange (as well as the baronies of Mohun of Dunster and Stanley, also held by the Earl) fell into abeyance between the late Earl's three daughters Lady Anne, Lady Frances and Lady Elizabeth (however, the sixth Earl of Derby erroneously assumed the barony of Strange - see below). The barony of Strange remained in abeyance for the next 327 years.

However, the abeyance was terminated in 1921 in favour of Elizabeth Frances Philipps, Viscountess St Davids, who became the fourteenth Baroness. She was the second wife of John Philipps, 1st Viscount St Davids. The abeyance of the ancient baronies of Hungerford and de Moleyns was terminated at the same time in her favour. On 31 July 1963, the Peerage Act 1963 came into effect, which, among other things, enabled women to sit and vote in the House of Lords by virtue of an hereditary peerage.^[10] Following the passage of the Act, Lady St Davids applied for a writ of summons to the House of Lords in right of her Strange barony, which was subsequently issued to her, and she took her seat in the House on 19 November 1963^[11] as the first female peer to do so under the provision of the Peerage Act 1963. On her death in 1974 the titles were inherited by her son, the fifteenth Baron Strange, who had already succeeded his father as second Viscount St Davids. As of 2013 the titles are held by the second Viscount's grandson, the fourth Viscount and seventeenth Baron Strange.

1326 creation

The third creation came in 1326 when Sir Eubulus le Strange was summoned to Parliament as Lord Strange. However, the title became extinct on his death in 1335. His nephew Roger le Strange, 4th Baron Strange of Knockyn, was his heir.^[12]

1628 creation

In 1594 William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby (1561-1642), following the death of his elder brother the 5th Earl of Derby, incorrectly assumed the title Baron Strange (created in 1299) (see above). In 1628 his son and heir apparent, James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, was summoned to the House of Lords through a writ of acceleration as Lord Strange. When it was discovered that his father's assumption of the barony was erroneous, it was deemed that there were two baronies of Strange, one created in 1299 then in abeyance, and another created "accidentally" in 1628. James Stanley later succeeded his father as 7th Earl of Derby.

The titles remained united until the death of his grandson, the ninth Earl and third Baron, in 1702. The earldom was inherited by the late Earl's younger brother, the tenth Earl, while the barony fell into abeyance between the Earl's two daughters, Lady Henrietta and Lady Elizabeth. On Lady Elizabeth's death in 1714 the abeyance was terminated in favour of Henrietta, who became the fourth Baroness. She married, firstly, John Annesley, 4th Earl of Anglesey, and after his death, secondly, John Ashburnham, 1st Earl of Ashburnham. Lady Strange was succeeded by her daughter from her second marriage, Henrietta Bridget, the fifth Baroness. However, she died unmarried at an early age and was succeeded by her aforementioned great-uncle, the tenth Earl of Derby, who became the sixth Baron Strange.

Lord Derby was childless and was succeeded in the barony by his first cousin once removed James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl, who became the seventh Baron Strange as well. He was the grandson of Lady Amelia Anne Sophia Stanley, daughter of James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby. On his death the dukedom and barony separated. He was succeeded in the dukedom by his nephew John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl, while the barony passed to his daughter Charlotte, the eighth Baroness. She married her first cousin, the third Duke of Atholl. They were both succeeded by their son, the fourth Duke and ninth Baron. In 1786 he was created Earl Strange and Baron Murray of Stanley in the Peerage of Great Britain. The dukedom and barony remained united until the death of his great-great-grandson, the ninth Duke and fourteenth Baron, in 1957 (see the Duke of Atholl for more detailed information on the holders during this period and for later history of the title).

The barony of Strange fell into abeyance between the representatives of the three daughters of the fourth Duke of Atholl, Lady Charlotte, Lady Amelia Sophia and Lady Elizabeth. The abeyance was terminated by the Queen in 1965 in favour of John Drummond of Megginch, who became the fifteenth Baron. He was the great-grandson of Lady Charlotte and her second husband Admiral Sir Adam Drummond of Megginch. However, on his death in 1982 the peerage once again fell into abeyance, this time between his three daughters. It was called out of abeyance in 1986 in favour of the eldest daughter, Cherry, who became the sixteenth Baroness. She was the wife of Captain Humphrey ap Evans (1922–2009), who along with his wife assumed the name of Drummond of Megginch by decree of the Lord Lyon in 1965. Lady Strange was one of the ninety hereditary peers that were allowed to remain in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999. On her death in 2005 the title was inherited by her eldest son, the seventeenth and (as of 2017^[update]) present holder of the title.

The family seat was Megginch Castle, near Errol, Perthshire.

Barons Strange, First Creation (1295)

• Roger le Strange, Baron Strange (d. 1311)

Barons Strange (de/of Knockin), Second Creation (1299)

• John le Strange V, 1st Baron Strange (c. 1254–1309)
• John le Strange VI, 2nd Baron Strange (c. 1282–1311)
• John le Strange, 3rd Baron Strange (c. 1297–1323)
• Roger le Strange, 4th Baron Strange (1301–1349), son of the 2nd Baron
• Roger le Strange, 5th Baron Strange (c. 1327–1382)^[13]
• John le Strange, 6th Baron Strange (c. 1350–1397)
• Richard le Strange, 7th Baron Strange (1381–1449), who married Elizabeth Cobham, sister of Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester
• John le Strange, 8th Baron Strange (c. 1440–1477), who married Jacquetta Woodville, the sister of Elizabeth Woodville, queen consort of England
• Joan le Strange, 9th Baroness Strange (c. 1460–1514)
  • George Stanley, 9th Baron Strange (jure uxoris) (1460–1503)

• Thomas Stanley, 2nd Earl of Derby, 10th Baron Strange (d. 1521)
• Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby, 11th Baron Strange (c. 1508–1572)
• Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby, 12th Baron Strange (1531–1593)
• Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby, 13th Baron Strange (1559–1594) (abeyant 1594)
• Elizabeth Frances Philipps, 14th Baroness Strange (1884–1974) (abeyance terminated 1921)
• Jestyn Reginald Austen Plantagenet Philipps, 2nd Viscount St Davids, 15th Baron Strange (1917–1991)
• Colwyn Jestyn John Philipps, 3rd Viscount St Davids, 16th Baron Strange (1939–2009)
• Rhodri Colwyn Philipps, 4th Viscount St Davids, 17th Baron Strange (b. 1966)

Barons Strange, Third Creation (1326)

• Eubulus le Strange, 1st Baron Strange (died 1335)

Barons Strange, Fourth Creation (1628)

This barony was created by clerical error in 1628, confusing Lord Derby with the claimant of the older Barony Strange of Knockin (created in 1299). See Baronies created by error for details.

• James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, 1st Baron Strange (1607–1651)
• Charles Stanley, 8th Earl of Derby, 2nd Baron Strange (1628–1672)
• William Richard George Stanley, 9th Earl of Derby, 3rd Baron Strange (1655–1702) (abeyant 1702)
• Henrietta Stanley, 4th Baroness Strange (d. 1718) (became sole heir 1714)
• Henrietta Ashburnham, 5th Baroness Strange (d. 1732)
• James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby, 6th Baron Strange (1664–1736)
• James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl, 7th Baron Strange (1690–1764)
• Charlotte Murray, 8th Baroness Strange, Duchess consort of Atholl (c. 1731–1805)
• John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl, 9th Baron Strange (1755–1830)
• John Murray, 5th Duke of Atholl, 10th Baron Strange (1778–1846)
• George Augustus Frederick John Murray, 6th Duke of Atholl, 11th Baron Strange (1814–1864)
• John James Hugh Henry Stewart-Murray, 7th Duke of Atholl, 12th Baron Strange (1840–1917)
• John George Stewart-Murray, 8th Duke of Atholl, 13th Baron Strange (1871–1942)
• James Thomas Stewart-Murray, 9th Duke of Atholl, 14th Baron Strange (1879–1957) (abeyant 1957)
• John Drummond, 15th Baron Strange (1900–1982) (abeyance terminated 1965; abeyant 1982)
• (Jean) Cherry Drummond of Megginch, 16th Baroness Strange (1928–2005) (abeyance terminated 1986)
• Adam Humphrey Drummond of Megginch, 17th Baron Strange (b. 1953)

The heir apparent is the present holder's son Hon. John Adam Humphrey Drummond (b. 1992).

The style Lord Strange was used as a courtesy title by the Earls of Derby until James Stanley, Lord Strange (1716–1771), Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster; he was the son of Edward Stanley, 11th Earl of Derby, who (unlike his 6th cousin, the 10th Earl) did not hold the barony of Strange (it having passed to the Murray family). Nowadays the Earls of Derby use the courtesy title of Lord Stanley for heirs apparent.

Partial family tree

v t e Family tree of Dukes, Marquesses, and Earls of Atholl

Earl of Atholl (fourth creation), 1367 Robert Stewart 1316–1390 1st Earl of Atholl, Earl of Strathearn, Later Robert II, King of Scots Earl of Atholl (sixth creation), 1403 Earl of Atholl (seventh creation), 1404 John Stewart c. 1337–1406 2nd Earl of Atholl, Earl of Carrick, Later Robert III, King of Scots Robert Stewart 1340–1420 Duke of Albany, Earl of Atholl Walter Stewart c. 1360–1437 Earl of Atholl, Earl of Strathearn, Earl of Caithness Earldom of Atholl (fourth creation) merged in the crown, 1390 Earldom of Atholl (sixth creation) expired on the death of Robert III, 1406 Earldom of Atholl (seventh creation) attainted, 1404 Earl of Atholl (fifth creation), 1398 David Stewart 1378–1402 Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Atholl, Earl of Carrick James I 1394–1437 King of Scots Joan Beaufort c. 1404–1445 Queen of Scots James Stewart "Black Knight of Lorn" 1399–c. 1451 Earldom of Atholl (fifth creation) extinct, 1402 Earl of Atholl (eighth creation), c. 1457 Lord of Balveny, 1460 John Stewart c. 1437–1442–1512 1st Earl of Atholl John Stewart after 1475 – before 1522 2nd Earl of Atholl John Stewart 1507–1542 3rd Earl of Atholl John Stewart "the fair" d. 1579 4th Earl of Atholl Earl of Atholl (ninth creation), 1596 Lord Murray of Tullibardine, 1604, Earl of Tullibardine (first creation) and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder, 1606 John Stewart 1566–1603 1st Earl of Atholl, 6th Lord Innermeath Marie Ruthven (d. after 1605) John Stewart 1563–1595 5th Earl of Atholl John Murray (c. 1550 – c. 1609) 1st Earl of Tullibardine, Lord Murray of Tullibardine, and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder Earldom of Atholl (eighth creation) extinct, 1625 Earl of Tullibardine (second creation), 1628 James Stewart d. 1625 2nd Earl of Atholl Dorothea Stewart William Murray c. 1574–1627 2nd Earl of Tullibardine, Lord Murray of Tullibardine, and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder Patrick Murray 1578–1644 1st Earl of Tullibardine, Lord Murray of Tullibardine, and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder Earldom of Atholl (ninth creation) extinct, 1625 Resigned Earldom of Tullibardine and lordships in favour of his brother, 1626 Baron Strange (fourth creation), 1628 Earl of Atholl (tenth creation), 1629 James Stanley 1607–1651 7th Earl of Derby, 1st Baron Strange John Murray c. 1610–1642 1st Earl of Atholl James Murray 1617–1670 2nd Earl of Tullibardine, Lord Murray of Tullibardine, and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder Marquess of Atholl, Earl of Tullibardine, Viscount of Balquhidder, and Lord Murray, Balveny and Gask, 1676 Charles Stanley 1628–1672 8th Earl of Derby, 2nd Baron Strange Amelia Ann Sophia Stanley 1633–1702/03 John Murray 1631–1703 1st Marquess of Atholl, 2nd Earl of Atholl, 3rd Earl of Tullibardine, Lord Murray of Tullibardine, and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder Patrick Murray (c. 1644 – c. 1661–1664) styled Lord Murray and Gask James Murray (c. 1652 – c. 1664–1670) styled Lord Murray and Gask Earl of Tullibardine, Viscount Glenalmond and Lord Murray, 1696 Duke of Atholl, Marquess of Tullibardine, Earl of Strathtay and Strathardle Viscount of Balwhidder, Glenalmond and Glenlyon, Lord Murray, Balveny and Gask, 1703 Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 1686 William Richard George Stanley c. 1655–1702 9th Earl of Derby, 3rd Baron Strange James Stanley 1664–1736 10th Earl of Derby, 6th Baron Strange John Murray 1660–1724 1st Duke of Atholl, 2nd Marquess of Atholl Charles Murray 1661–1710 1st Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Henrietta Stanley 1687–1718 4th Baroness Strange John Murray 1684–1709 styled Marquess of Tullibardine William Murray 1689–1746 styled Marquess of Tullibardine James Murray 1690–1764 2nd Duke of Atholl, 7th Baron Strange George Murray 1694–1760 John Murray 1685–1752 2nd Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet William Murray 1696–1756 3rd Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Attainted and excluded from succession Attainted and excluded from succession Henrietta Ashburnham c. 1716–1732 5th Baroness Strange John Murray 1728–1729 styled Marquess of Tullibardine James Murray 1735–1736 styled Marquess of Tullibardine Charlotte Murray 1731–1805 8th Baroness Strange John Murray 1729–1774 3rd Duke of Atholl John Murray 1730–1809 4th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Earl Strange and Baron Murray of Stanley in the County of Gloucester, 1786 Baron Dunmore, 1831 John Murray 1755–1830 4th Duke of Atholl, 1st Earl Strange and Baron Murray of Stanley, 9th Baron Strange George Murray 1761–1803 George Murray 1762–1836 5th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 1st Baron Dunmore Alexander Murray 1764–1842 Baron Glenlyon, of Glenlyon in the County of Perth Charlotte Murray 1775–1832 m. Adam Drummond, 7th Baron of Megginch John Murray 1778–1846 5th Duke of Atholl, 2nd Earl Strange and Baron Murray of Stanley, 10th Baron Strange James Murray 1782–1837 1st Baron Glenlyon George Murray 1784–1860 John Drummond 1803–1889 8th Baron of Megginch George Augustus Frederick John Murray 1814–1864 6th Duke of Atholl, 11th Baron Strange, 3rd Baron Murray of Stanley, 2nd Baron Glenlyon George Edward Murray 1818–1854 Alexander Edward Murray 1804–1845 6th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 2nd Baron Dunmore Virginius Murray 1817–1861 Malcolm Drummond 1856–1924 9th Baron of Megginch John James Hugh Henry Stewart-Murray 1840–1917 7th Duke of Atholl, 12th Baron Strange, 4th Baron Murray of Stanley, 3rd Baron Glenlyon George Herbert Murray 1849–1936 Douglas Stuart Murray 1853–1920 Charles Adolphus Murray 1841–1907 7th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 3rd Baron Dunmore Reginald Murray 1846–1925 John George Stewart-Murray 1871–1942 8th Duke of Atholl and Marquess of Tullibardine, 13th Baron Strange, 5th Baron Murray of Stanley, 4th Baron Glenlyon James Thomas Stewart-Murray 1879–1957 9th Duke of Atholl, 14th Baron Strange, 6th Baron Murray of Stanley, 5th Baron Glenlyon George Evelyn Pemberton Murray 1880–1947 George Murray 1884–1940 Alexander Edward Murray 1871–1962 8th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 4th Baron Dunmore Arthur Charles Murray 1882–1964 Earldom of Strange and Baronies of Murray and Glenlyon extinct and Barony of Strange abeyant, 1957 Baron Strange (fourth creation) abeyance terminated, 1965 John Drummond 1900–1982 15th Baron Strange, 10th Baron of Megginch George Anthony Murray 1907–1945 Edward David Murray 1908–1940 styled Viscount Fincastle Reginald Arthur Murray 1911–1981 10th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Kenneth Randolph Murray 1913–1995 11th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Baron Strange (fourth creation) abeyant, 1982–1986 Jean Cherry Drummond 1928–2008 16th Baroness Strange, 11th Baroness of Megginch George Iain Murray 1931–1996 10th Duke of Atholl John Murray 1929–2012 11th Duke of Atholl John Alexander Murray 1939–1980 9th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 5th Baron Dunmore Barony Dunmore extinct, 1980 Adam Humphrey Drummond b. 1953 17th Baron Strange, 12th Baron of Megginch Bruce George Ronald Murray 12th Duke of Atholl b. 1960 Malcolm Kenneth Murray b. 1946 12th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Geoffrey Charles Murray b. 1949 Heir presumptive to the Earldom of Dunmore John Adam Humphrey Drummond b. 1992 Michael Bruce John Murray b. 1985 styled Marquess of Tullibardine David Nicholas George Murray b. 1986 Heir apparent to the Barony of Strange Heir apparent to the Dukedom of Atholl

See also

• Earl of Derby
• Viscount St Davids
• Duke of Atholl
• Baron Strange de Blackmere

Notes

References

• Kidd, Charles, ed. (1903). Debrett's peerage, baronetage, knightage, and companionage. London: Dean and son. p. 110.
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages ^{[self-published source] [better source needed]}

External links

• Captain Humphrey Drummond of Megginch - Daily Telegraph obituary