| Barony of Botetourt | |
| Creation date | 19 June 1305 |
|---|---|
| Created by | King Edward I |
| Peerage | Peerage of England |
| First holder | John de Botetourt |
| Present holder | abeyant between Frederica Thomas, Alexandra Peyronel and Lord Herbert |
| Remainder to | the 1st Baron's heirs general of the body lawfully begotten |
The title Baron Botetourt (pronounced /ˈbɒtətɔrt/ bot-ə-tort) was created in the Peerage of England by writ of summons on 19 June 1305. It became abeyant in 1406, was recalled from abeyance in 1764 for Norborne Berkeley. However, it became abeyant again on his death in 1770. It was recalled a second time in 1803 for the 5th Duke of Beaufort, and became a subsidiary title of the Dukes of Beaufort until the death of the 10th Duke in 1984, when it became, and remains, abeyant.
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Known and remembered in Virginia as "Lord Botetourt", Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt (1718 – October 15, 1770) was governor of the Colony of Virginia from 1768 to 1770 and a member of Board of Visitors of the College of William & Mary at the capital of the Colony in Williamsburg, Virginia. Before coming to Virginia he was (as Norborne Berkeley) Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire 1741–1763. He then obtained his peerage, when it was called out of abeyance in 1764, the third holder of the title having died in 1406.
As governor, Lord Botetourt resided in the Governor's Palace near Duke of Gloucester Street, now a major attraction of Colonial Williamsburg in the Historic Triangle. Although a popular governor, Lord Botetourt served only two years. He died suddenly while still in office in 1770 and was buried in the Wren Building Chapel at William and Mary. A prominent statue of Lord Botetourt stood for many years in front of the Wren Building before it was relocated to a more sheltered location within the basement of Earl Gregg Swem Library. A full-size facsimile stands in its place, one of the more familiar of campus icons.
Botetourt County, Virginia, was named in his honor, as was Berkeley County, which became part of West Virginia at the time of the American Civil War. A lifelong bachelor, he endowed an award at the College of William and Mary that is still known as the Botetourt Medal; it is the College's most prestigious award. The Medal has been awarded to an exceptional student every year since the late eighteenth century. Lord Botetourt High School, located in Botetourt County, Virginia is named after him as well. Additionally, Botetourt Street and Botetourt Gardens, both located in Norfolk, Virginia are also named after him.
The current co-heirs to the barony are the descendants of the elder sister of the tenth baron (tenth Duke of Beaufort):
Descendants of Lady Rosemary Alexandra Eliot (26 Feb 1919-20 Apr 1963) by her first and third marriages:
Elder son of Lady Cathleen Blanche Lily Eliot (29 Jul 1921-1994) by her first marriage: