Baron Clinton

Baron Clinton is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1298 for John de Clinton. The peerage was created by writ, which means that it can descend through both male and female lines. The first Baron's great-great-great-grandson, the fifth Baron, fought on the Yorkist side in the Wars of the Roses. He was attainted in 1461 but late restored to his title. His great-great-grandson, the ninth Baron, was created Earl of Lincoln in 1572. The titles remained united until the death of his great-great-great-grandson, the fifth Earl, in 1692. The earldom was inherited by the late Earl's cousin, the sixth Earl (see the Earl of Lincoln for later history of this title) while the barony fell into abeyance between his aunts.

The abeyance was terminated in 1721 in favour of Hugh Fortescue, the fourteenth Baron. In 1746 he was created Baron Fortescue, of Castlehill in the County of Devon, with remainder to his half-brother Matthew, and Earl Clinton, with remainder to the heirs male of his body. Lord Clinton was childless and on his death the earldom of Clinton became extinct while he was succeeded in the barony of Fortescue according to the special remainder by his half-brother, the second Baron (see the Earl Fortescue for later history of this title). The barony of Clinton, however, was passed on to the late Earl's cousin Margaret Walpole, the fifteenth holder. She was the widow of Robert Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford. She was succeeded by her son, the third Earl and sixteenth Baron. He was childless and on his death the earldom passed to his uncle, the fourth Earl (see the Earl of Orford for later history of this title), while the barony of Clinton became dormant.

It was successfully claimed in 1794 by the late Earl's kinsman Robert George William Trefusis, the seventeenth Baron. He was a descendant of Lady Arabella, second daughter of the fourth Earl of Lincoln. His younger son, the nineteenth Baron, notably represented Callington in the House of Commons. He was succeeded by his son, the twentieth Baron. He served as Under-Secretary of State for India from 1867 to 1868 in the Conservative administrations of the Earl of Derby and Benjamin Disraeli and was also Lord Lieutenant of Devonshire. In 1867 Lord Clinton assumed by Royal license the additional surnames of Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes, which were those of his father-in-law.

His son, the twenty-second Baron, held minor office in the coalition government of David Lloyd George and served as Lord Warden of the Stannaries. On his death in 1957 the barony fell into abeyance between his two daughters Hon. Harriet and Hon. Fenella. The abeyance was terminated in 1965 in favour of Gerald Neville Mark Fane Trefusis, the twenty-third and present holder of the title. He is the only son of Captain Charles Nevile Fane (who was killed in the Second World War), eldest son of the aforementioned Hon. Harriet. Lord Clinton had already in 1958 assumed by deed poll the additional surname of Trefusis.

Contents

Barons Clinton (1298)

Earls of Lincoln (1572)

Barons Clinton (1298; Reverted)

Barons Fortescue and Earls Clinton (1749)

Barons Clinton (1298; Reverted)

The heir apparent is the present holder's son the Hon. Charles Patrick Rolle Fane-Trefusis (b. 1962)

The heir apparent's heir apparent is his son Edward Charles Rolle Fane-Trefusis (b. 1994)

See also

References