Baron Raglan
| Baron Raglan | |
|---|---|
| Arms of the Baron Raglan | |
| Creation date | 1852 |
| Monarch | Queen Victoria |
| Peerage | Peerage of the United Kingdom |
| First holder | Lord FitzRoy Somerset |
| Present holder | Geoffrey Somerset, 6th Baron Raglan (b. 1932) |
| Heir apparent | Inigo Arthur Fitzroy Somerset (b. 2004) |
| Remainder to | the 1st Baron's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten |
| Subsidiary titles | none |
Baron Raglan, of Raglan in the County of Monmouth, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1852 for the military commander Lord FitzRoy Somerset, chiefly remembered as commander of the British troops during the Crimean War. Somerset was the youngest son of Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort (see Duke of Beaufort for earlier history of the family). His second but eldest surviving son, the second Baron, served as a Lord-in-Waiting (government whip in the House of Lords) from 1866 to 1868 in the Conservative administrations of the Earl of Derby and Benjamin Disraeli. He was succeeded by his son, the third Baron. He held office as Under-Secretary of State for War between 1900 and 1902 in the Conservative government of Lord Salisbury. His eldest son, the fourth Baron, was a soldier and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Monmouthshire. The fifth Baron was active in the House of Lords but lost his seat in the upper chamber of parliament after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999. As of 2012[update] the title is held by the fourth Baron's third but second surviving son, the sixth Baron, who succeeded in 2010. As a descendant of the fifth Duke of Beaufort, Lord Raglan is also in remainder to this peerage and its subsidiary titles.
Like their Beaufort relatives, the Barons of Raglan can boast an unbroken line of male (but illegitimate) descent from Henry II and the earliest Plantagenets.
The family seat is Cefntilla Court, Llandenny in Monmouthshire.[1] An inscription over the porch dated 1858 reads: "This house with 238 acres of land was purchased by 1623 of the friends, admirers and comrades in arms of the late Field Marshal Lord Raglan GCB and presented by them to his son and his heirs for ever in a lasting memorial of affectionate regard and respect". Memorials to a number of members of the Raglan branch of the Somerset family can be seen in St John's Church, the parish church of Llandenny.[2]
The fifth baron willed Cefntilla to a nephew, the son of his sister, and not to the heirs of the barony, a decision which was contested. During the legal dispute, the Honourable Arthur Somerset, son and heir of the new Baron, died suddenly on 25 July 2012.[3] The dispute was subsequently settled.
Barons Raglan (1852)
- FitzRoy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788–1855)
- Richard Henry FitzRoy Somerset, 2nd Baron Raglan (1817–1884)
- George FitzRoy Henry Somerset, 3rd Baron Raglan (1857–1921)
- FitzRoy Richard Somerset, 4th Baron Raglan (1885–1964)
- FitzRoy John Somerset, 5th Baron Raglan (1927–2010)
- Geoffrey Somerset, 6th Baron Raglan (born 1932)
- Hon. Arthur Geoffrey Somerset (1960–2012)
The heir apparent is the present holder's grandson Inigo Arthur Fitzroy Somerset (born 2004).
See also
References
- Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
- Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages [self-published source][better source needed]
A Tribute to the Honourable Arthur Somerset. The King of the Events Industry http://www.eventmagazine.co.uk/People/article/1142934/event-industry-pays-tribute-arthur-somerset/
Battle to save Wellington legacy A unique and important collection of military memorabilia with a fascinating history is in danger of being broken up. Colin Gleadell reports. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/artsales/9168992/Battle-to-save-Wellington-legacy.html
The Independent. Family of military hero locked in battle over sale of treasures. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/family-of-military-hero-locked-in-battle-over-sale-of-treasures-7609026.html
Duke of Wellington's treasures in jeopardy Sudden death of Arthur Somerset, Lord Raglan's heir, throws into doubt the future of the family's historic collection of military memorabilia. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/9447392/Duke-of-Wellingtons-treasures-in-jeopardy.html
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2012
- Accuracy disputes from February 2012
- Articles lacking reliable references from February 2012
- Wikipedia articles incorporating an LRPP template without an unnamed parameter
- Baronies in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
- Somerset family
