List of peerages created for women

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This is a list of peerages created for women in the peerages of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, or the United Kingdom. It does not include peerages created for men which were later inherited by women, or life peerages created since 1958.

Prior to the regular creation of life peerages, the great majority of peerages were created for men. Suo jure peeresses are known from an early period; however, most of them were women to whom a peerage had passed as an inheritance. It was very rare for a woman to be created a peeress before the 17th century. Peeresses, whether by creation or inheritance, did not take seats in the House of Lords; and in some but not all cases, peeresses of first creation were created for life only.

Created peeresses fall into the following categories:

  • Created for merit or achievement
  • Having a father who was a peer, but who under the terms of the peerage could not pass the peerage to his daughter. Such an event could create the anomalous situation of commoners holding important lands and estates traditionally associated with lordship.
  • Closely connected to a reigning monarch (including many royal mistresses)
  • Created to honor a relative, including:
    • As a posthumous honor for a dead husband, often one who would have received a peerage if he had not died
    • To honor a husband who was living, but could not or would not accept a peerage in his own right
    • To confer nobility upon the peeress's children, again often in recognition of the achievement of a husband

The peerages are listed chronologically, divided by the monarch who created them.

Richard II

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1397 Duchess of Norfolk
Peerage of England
Margaret, 2nd Countess of Norfolk Extinct on death of recipient 24 March 1399. For life only.

Henry VIII

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1532 Lady Marquess of Pembroke
Peerage of England
Anne Boleyn Forfeited upon conviction for treason 15 May 1536. Second wife of Henry VIII.

James I

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1618 Countess of Buckingham
Peerage of England
Mary, Lady Villiers Extinct on death of recipient 1632. For life only.
29 July 1620 Baroness Offaly
Peerage of Ireland
Lettice Digby Extant as a subsidiary title of the Duke of Leinster. Granddaughter of the 1st Baron Offaly of the first creation.
8 July 1623 Viscountess Maidstone
Peerage of England
Elizabeth Finch Extant as a subsidiary title of the Earl of Winchilsea.

Charles I

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
29 February 1628 Lady Cramond
Peerage of Scotland
Elizabeth, Lady Richardson Extinct 1735.
12 July 1628 Countess of Winchilsea
Peerage of England
Elizabeth, 1st Viscountess Maidstone Extant.
12 September 1640 Baroness Stafford
Peerage of England
Mary (Stafford) Howard Extinct on death of recipient 1693. For life only. Sister of the 5th Baron Stafford of the fourth creation and wife of the 1st Baron Stafford of the fifth creation
1641 Countess Rivers
Peerage of England
Elizabeth, Viscountess Savage Extinct on death of recipient, 9 March 1650. For life only. Daughter of the 1st Earl Rivers of the second creation who could not inherit his title.
23 May 1644 Duchess of Dudley
Peerage of England
Alice Dudley Extinct on death of recipient 1668. For life only. Wife of Robert Dudley, styled Earl of Warwick.

Charles II

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
29 May 1660 Countess of Chesterfield
Peerage of England
Katherine Stanhope, Lady Stanhope Extinct on death of recipient, 9 April 1667. For life only. For service.
1660 Countess of Guilford
Peerage of England
Elizabeth Boyle, Viscountess Boyle Extinct on death of recipient, 1667. For life only.
20 April 1663 Duchess of Buccleuch
Peerage of Scotland
Anne Scott, 4th Countess of Buccleuch Extant. On the occasion of her marriage to James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth.
1663 Baroness Lucas, of Crudwell, in the County of Wiltshire
Peerage of England
Mary Grey, Countess of Kent Extant. Daughter of John, 1st Baron Lucas.
June 1667 Duchess of Cleveland, Countess of Southampton, and Baroness Nonsuch, of Nonsuch Park
Peerage of England
Barbara Palmer, Countess of Castlemaine Extinct 1774. Mistress of Charles II.
19 August 1673 Duchess of Portsmouth, Countess of Fareham, and Baroness Petersfield
Peerage of England
Louise de Kérouaille Extinct on death of recipient 14 November 1734. For life only. Mistress of Charles II.
1674 Baroness Belasyse
Peerage of England
Susan Belasyse Extinct on death of the recipient in 1713. For life only.
1674 Viscountess Bayning
Peerage of England
Anne Murray Extinct on death of recipient 1678. For life only.
1679 Viscountess Corbet Sarah Corbet For life only.
1680 Countess of Sheppey Elizabeth Walter For life only.

James II

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1686 Countess of Dorchester and Baroness Darlington
Peerage of England
Catherine Sedley Extinct on death of recipient 26 October 1717 For life only. Mistress of James II.
5 October 1688 Countess of Stafford
Peerage of England
Mary Howard, Baroness Stafford Extinct on death of recipient, 1693. For life only. Wife of William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford, executed 1680.
13 December 1688 Baroness Shelburne
Peerage of Ireland
Elizabeth Petty Extinct on death of recipient, February 1708. For life only.

George I

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1715 Countess Granville and Viscountess Carteret
Peerage of Great Britain
Grace Granville Carteret Extinct 1776. Daughter of John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath
18 July 1716 Duchess of Munster, Marchioness and Countess of Dungannon, and Baroness Dundalk
Peerage of Ireland
Melusine von der Schulenburg All titles extinct on death of recipient, 10 May 1743. For life only. Mistress and unofficial wife of George I.
19 March 1719 Duchess of Kendal, Countess of Feversham, and Baroness Glastonbury
Peerage of Great Britain
1721 Countess of Leinster
Peerage of Ireland
Countess Sophia von Platen Extinct on death of recipient 20 April 1725. For life only. Half-sister of George I.
1722 Countess of Darlington and Baroness Brentford
Peerage of Great Britain
1722 Countess of Walsingham
Peerage of Great Britain
Melusina von der Schulenburg Extinct on death of recipient 16 September 1778. For life only. Illegitimate daughter of George I.

George II

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
March 1740 Countess of Yarmouth
Peerage of Great Britain
Amalie von Wallmoden Extinct on death of recipient, 19 October 1765. For life only. Mistress of George II.
1746 Viscountess Grandison
Peerage of Ireland
Elizabeth Mason Extinct 1800. Daughter of John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison.
1749 Countess Temple
Peerage of Great Britain
Hester Grenville, 2nd Viscountess Cobham Extinct 26 March 1889.
1 August 1758 Countess of Brandon
Peerage of Ireland
Ellis Agar Bourke Bermingham Extinct on death of recipient, 11 March 1789 For life only.

George III

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1760 Baroness Stawell
Peerage of Great Britain
Mary Bilson-Legge Extinct 1820. Daughter of the 4th Baron Stawell who could not inherit his title.
4 December 1761 Baroness Chatham
Peerage of Great Britain
Lady Hester Pitt Extinct 24 September 1835. Wife of William Pitt the Elder, the recently resigned leader of the House of Commons.
1761 Baroness Mount Stuart
Peerage of Great Britain
Mary Stuart, Countess of Bute Extant as a subsidiary title of the Marquess of Bute. Wife of the Earl of Bute, soon to become Prime Minister.
7 March 1762 Baroness Holland
Peerage of Great Britain
Caroline Fox Extinct 18 December 1859. Wife of Henry Fox, then Leader of the House of Commons.
1766 Viscountess Langford and Baroness Summerhill
Peerage of Ireland
Elizabeth Rowley Extinct 1796.
1767 Countess Grandison and Viscountess Villiers
Peerage of Ireland
Elizabeth Mason, Viscountess Grandison Extinct 1800.
28 August 1767 Baroness Greenwich
Peerage of Great Britain
Lady Caroline Townshend Extinct on death of recipient 11 January 1794. Daughter of John Campbell, 1st Duke of Greenwich.
1770 Baroness Arden
Peerage of Ireland
Catherine Perceval, Countess of Egmont Extinct 2011.
20 May 1776 Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon
Peerage of Great Britain
Elizabeth Campbell, Duchess of Argyll Extant as a subsidiary title of the Duke of Argyll.
1783 Baroness Donoughmore
Peerage of Ireland
Christiana Hely-Hutchinson Extant as a subsidiary title of the Earl of Donoughmore.
1783 Countess of Longford
Peerage of Ireland
Elizabeth Pakenham Extant.
1790 Baroness Oriel of Collon
Peerage of Ireland
Margaretta Amelia Foster Extant as a subsidiary title of the Viscount Ferrard.
1792 Baroness Waterpark
Peerage of Ireland
Sarah Cavendish Extant.
13 June 1792 Baroness Fermanagh
Peerage of Ireland
Mary Verney Extinct on death of recipient 15 November 1810. Granddaughter of Ralph Verney, 1st Earl Verney.
1792 Baroness Bath
Peerage of Great Britain
Laura Pulteney Extinct on death of recipient, 14 July 1808.
1793 Countess of Wicklow
Peerage of Ireland
Alice (Forward) Howard Extinct 1978. Widow of Ralph Howard, 1st Viscount Wicklow.
1795 Baroness Hood
Peerage of Great Britain
Susanna Hood Extant as a subsidiary title of the Viscount Hood.
1795 Baroness Kilwarden
Peerage of Ireland
Anne Wolfe Extinct 1830.
1 December 1797 Baroness Crofton
Peerage of Ireland
Anne, Lady Crofton Extant. In place of her husband, Sir Edward Crofton, 2nd Baronet, who died 30 September 1797.
1797 Viscountess Ferrard
Peerage of Ireland
Margaretta Amelia Foster, 1st Baroness Oriel Extant.
1797 Baroness Norwood
Peerage of Ireland
Grace Toler Extant as a subsidiary title of the Earl of Norbury.
1798 Baroness ffrench
Peerage of Ireland
Rose, Lady ffrench Extant. For her son, Sir Thomas ffrench, who later inherited the title.
31 July 1800 Baroness Dufferin and Claneboye
Peerage of Ireland
Dorcas, Lady Blackwood Extant. In place of her late husband, Sir John Blackwood, 2nd Baronet, d. 27 February 1799.
1800 Baroness Nugent
Peerage of Ireland
Mary Nugent-Temple-Grenville Extinct 1850.
28 May 1801 Baroness Abercromby
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Mary Abercromby Extinct 1924. In place of her husband Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby, who died 28 March 1801 following the Battle of Alexandria.
1802 Baroness Sandys
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Mary Hill, Marchioness of Downshire Extant.
1803 Viscountess Newcomen
Peerage of Ireland
Charlotte Gleadowe-Newcomen Extinct 1825.
1803 Countess of Bath
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Laura, 1st Baroness Bath Extinct upon death of recipient, 14 July 1808.
1816 Countess de Grey
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Amabel Hume-Campbell, 5th Baroness Lucas Extinct 1923.

George IV

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1821 Baroness Rayleigh
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Lady Charlotte Strutt Extant. In place of her husband, Joseph Strutt MP, who refused a peerage.
31 July 1826 Baroness FitzGerald and Vesey
Peerage of Ireland
Catherine Vesey Extinct 20 March 1860.
22 January 1828 Viscountess Canning
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Joan Scott Canning Extinct 17 June 1862. In place of her husband George Canning, Prime Minister, who died in office 8 August 1827.

William IV

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1831 Baroness Talbot of Malahide
Peerage of Ireland
Margaret Talbot Extant.
1831 Baroness Wenman
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Sophia Wykeham Extinct upon death of recipient 1870.
1831 Baroness Stratheden
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Hon. Mary, Lady Campbell Extant. Wife of Sir John Campbell.

Victoria

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
10 April 1840 Duchess of Inverness
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Lady Cecilia Underwood Extinct upon death of recipient 1 August 1873. Illegally married to Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex.
21 October 1861 Countess of Cromartie
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Anne, Duchess of Sutherland Extant. Descendant of George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie.
27 April 1864 Baroness Buckhurst
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth, Countess De La Warr Extant, but subsidiary to the title Earl De La Warr. Daughter of John Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset and 9th Baron Buckhurst.
1868 Viscountess Beaconsfield
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Mary Anne Disraeli Extinct upon death of recipient, 15 December 1872. Placeholder for her husband Benjamin Disraeli, who remained in the House of Commons.
1871 Baroness Burdett-Coutts
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Angela Burdett-Coutts Extinct upon death of recipient, 30 December 1906. For service.
1880 Baroness Bolsover
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Lady Augusta Cavendish-Bentinck Extinct 21 March 1977. In place of her deceased husband Lieutenant-General Arthur Cavendish-Bentinck.
1891 Baroness Macdonald of Earnscliffe Agnes, Lady Macdonald Extinct on death of recipient, 5 September 1920. In place of her husband, Sir John A. Macdonald, who died in office as Prime Minister of Canada 6 June 1891.
1891 Viscountess Hambleden
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Emily Danvers Smith Extant. In place of her husband, William Henry Smith, who died in office as Leader of the House of Commons 6 October 1891.
2 August 1899 Baroness Dorchester
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Henrietta Carleton Extinct 20 January 1963. Daughter of 3rd Baron Dorchester who could not inherit his title.

George V

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
1928 Countess Cave of Richmond
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Anne Cave, Viscountess Cave Extinct upon death of recipient 1938. In place of her husband, George Cave, 1st Viscount Cave, who died 29 March 1928, the day of his resignation as Lord Chancellor.

George VI

Date Title Recipient Current status Notes
6 May 1943 Viscountess Daventry
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Muriel FitzRoy Extant. In place of her husband, Edward FitzRoy who died in office as Speaker of the House of Commons 3 March 1943.

See also