Baron Kensington

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

1 English title (1623)
2 Irish title (1776)
3 UK title (1886)
4 List of titleholders
5 See also
6 Notes
7 References

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^[update] the titles are held by his grandson, the fifth (eighth) Baron, who succeeded his uncle in 1981.^[1]

List of titleholders