15. His Grace, the Most Noble George-William-Frederick, Duke of LEEDS, cre. May 4, 1694. Gulielmo Tertio regnante. Aged 55. 16. His Grace, the Most Noble John, DUKE OF BEDFORD, cre. May 11, 1694. Eod. Reg. Aged 64. 17. His Grace, the Most Noble William-Spencer, DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE, cre. May 12, 1694. Eod. Reg. Aged 40. 18. His Grace, the Most Noble George, DUKE of Marlborough, cre. Dec. 14, 1702. Anna regnante. Aged 64, 19. His Grace, the Most Noble John-Henry, DUKE OF RUTLAND, cre. March 10, 1703. Eod. Reg. Aged 52. 20. His Grace, the Most Noble Alexander, DUKE OF BRANDON, cre. Sept. 10, 1711. Eod. Reg. Aged 62. 21. His Grace, the Most Noble William-Henry, DUKE OF PORTLAND, cre. July 6, 1716. Georgio Primo regnante. Aged 62. 22. His Grace, the Most Noble William, DUKE of Manchester, cre. April 30, 1719. Eod. Reg. Aged 62. Aged 63. 23. His Grace, the Most Noble Charles, DUKE OF DORSET, cre. June 13, 1720. Eod. Reg. 24. His Grace, the Most Noble Henry-Pelham, DUKE OF NEWCASTLE, cre. Nov. 13, 1756, Georgio Secundo regnante. Aged 45. 25. His Grace, the Most Noble Hugh, DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, cre. Oct. 22, 1766. Georgio Tertio regnante. Aged 45. 26. His Grace, the Most Noble Arthur, DUKE OF WELLINGTON, cre. May 3, 1814. Administratione Regni, Georgii Principis Walliæ. Aged 61. 27. His Grace, the Most Noble Richard, DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS, cre. Jan. 9, 1822. Georgio Quarto regnante. Aged 54. The title of DUKE is evidently identical with that of the leader of an army; and in ancient times, was analogous to the modern Field Marshal. The derivation is from the Latin "Dux," a General; and the first creation of such a dignity in England is perfectly conformable to the ancient practice of the Romans, and those other nations of Europe who adopted their manners and language. Our first duke was the gallant Edward, surnamed the Black Prince, the hero of Cressy and Poictiers. In 1337, being then Earl of Chester, his father, King Edward the Third, conferred upon him the highly deserved title of DUKE OF CORNWALL; and although this dukedom subsequently merged in the Principality of Wales, it has ever since been vested in the heir apparent to the Crown of these realms, who, at the very hour of his birth, inherits the style and dignity of Duke of Cornwall. The second personage who had the honour of elevation to this rank of nobility was Henry Plantagenet, son and heir to the Earl of Derby, who was created Duke of Lancaster by the same monarch in 1351. His Grace died in 1360; and although he left no male issue, this dignity was continued in his family; being conferred on the celebrated John of Gaunt, his warlike son-in-law, who had married his second daughter, the Lady Blanche Plantagenet. Let it not be imagined, however, that, at the period now spoken of, dukedoms were hereditary*. The honour, or rather the command (for dignity, or title, and duty, as Blackstone says, were never separated by our ancestors) devolved upon John of Gaunt merely on account of his personal prowess, and not on account of any inherent right from having married a daughter of the first Duke of Lancaster. The best proof of this fact is, that the dignity expired with himself; and ever afterwards, until the time of Edward the Sixth, dukedoms were conferred on princes of the royal blood only, who, no doubt, generally executed their offices by deputy. It is impossible, at this distance of time, to state how this honour became hereditary. During the reign of Elizabeth very few dukes existed in England; and in the year 1572 the rank itself became extinct. James the First, however, revived it (but without attaching any office or duty to be performed), in the person of his favourite George Villiers, whom he created Duke of Buckingham. In succeeding reigns, this rank of nobility increased; but, independent of the Princes of the Blood Royal, it is not likely that it will ever much exceed its present number. A Duke is commonly entitled "His Grace;" but when addressing him officially, the sovereign sometimes styles him "Puissant Prince ;" but more generally, his " Right trusty and right entirely beloved cousin and counsellor." This affectionate mode of address was first used by King Henry the Fourth, who, being related or allied to every earl or nobleman in the kingdom, either by blood or by marriage, constantly acknowledged that connexion in this manner in all his letters and public acts. From him the usage descended to his successors, although the cause has long ago ceased. A Duke's eldest son is generally styled Marquess, or Earl, by courtesy; as in the case of the Marquess of Blandford, who is the heir apparent to his Grace the Duke of Marlborough: and the younger The French and other nations had adopted and made hereditary the title of Duke long before the English. The predecessors of William, Duke of Normandy, who afterwards wore the English crown, received their titles, not so much from being lords or sovereigns of the province of Normandy, as from having had, in succession, the command of a powerful military force. sons are styled Lords; but such designations confer no rights of nobility, nor any other privilege, farther than admission into the House of Peers on occasions of ceremony; and then, only as spectators or auditors. In fact no peer's son can enjoy a seat in the House of Lords during his father's lifetime, unless by the particular creation of the King to some new dignity not already possessed by his father. A Duke's parliamentary robes are made of fine scarlet cloth, lined with white taffeta, having four guards of ermine on each side, at equal distances; each guard being surmounted by gold lace, and the robe itself tied up to the left shoulder by a white riband. His cap is made of crimson velvet, lined and turned up with ermine, and having a gold tassel on the top. This costume, however, is used only on occasions of ceremony and importance, as when the king happens to be present either to open or to terminate the session of Parliament, &c.; the usual dress of all the peers (except the Lord Chancellor, the Archbishops, and Bishops) being that of English gentlemen, as worn in the street or elsewhere. They wear boots, shoes, trowsers, &c. as fancy or convenience may suggest; and whilst the ordinary business of the House is going on, they generally sit with their heads covered. At the coronation of a sovereign, a Duke's robes consist of a crimson velvet mantle and surcoat, lined with white taffeta; the former being doubled from the neck to the elbow with ermine, with four rows of dark spots on each shoulder. His coronet is of gold, set with strawberry leaves of the same metal at equal distances; the cap inside being of crimson velvet, lined and turned up with ermine spotted, and surmounted by a golden tassel. A Royal Duke's coronet differs from this, inasmuch that, for a nephew or cousin of the reigning sovereign, the strawberry leaves are alternated with crosses; whilst that of a brother or younger son has no strawberry leaves, but is surmounted by crosses and fleurs-de-lis. In all other respects the costume is the same*. Dukes are, at the present day, created by patent; anciently, by cincture of sword, mantle of state, the imposition of caps and coronets of gold upon their heads, and the placing of verges of gold in their hands. So late as the reign of James I. it was deemed necessary thus to invest the Peers in open Parliament. That monarch, in the thirteenth year of his reign, solemnly inducted the Barons created by patent, by enrobing them in scarlet mantles, with hoods furred with minever. the same reign, however, the legal advisers of the Crown having declared that the delivery of the letters patent constituted a sufficient creation, it was determined that such ceremonies should be discontinued in future :-in modern patents, the ceremony of investiture is expressly dispensed with. In " MARQUESSES. 28. His Lordship, the Most Honourable Charles-Ingoldsby, MARQUESS of Winchester, cre. Oct. 12, 1551. Regno Edwardi Sexti. Aged 56. 29. S. R. P. His Lordship, the Most Hon. Charles, MARQUESS of QUEENSBERRY, cre. Feb. 11, 1682. Reg. Caroli Secundi. Aged 53. 30. S. K. P. His Lordship, the Most Hon. George, MARQUESS OF TWEEDDALE, cre. Dec. 17, 1694. Reg. Gulielmi Tertii. Aged 43. Aged 50. 31. His Lordship, the Most Hon. Henry, MARQUESS Of Landsdowne, Aged 72. 33. His Lordship, the Most Hon. George, MARQUESS TOWNSHEND, cre. Oct. 27, 1787. Eod. Reg. Aged 51. 34. His Lordship, the Most Hon. James-Brownlow-William, MARQUESS OF SALISBURY, cre. Aug. 18, 1789. Eod. Reg. Aged 39. 35. His Lordship, the Most Hon. Thomas, MARQUESs of Bath, cre. Aug. 18, 1789. Eod. Reg. Aged 65. 36. His Lordship, the Most Hon. John-James, MARQUESS OF ABERCORN, cre. Oct. 2, 1790, Eod. Reg. Aged 19. 37. His Lordship, the Most Hon. Francis-Charles, MARQUESS OF HERTFORD, cre. June 29, 1793. Eod. Reg. Aged 53. 38. His Lordship, the Most Hon. John, MARQUESS OF BUTE, cre. March 11, 1796. Eod. Reg. Aged 37. 39. E. R. P. His Lordship, the Most Hon. William, MARQUESS OF THOMOND*, cre. Dec. 29, 1800. Eod. Reg. Aged 65. 40. His Lordship, the Most Hon. Brownlow, MARQUESS OF EXETER, cre. Feb. 4, 1801. Eod. Reg. Aged 35. 41. His Lordship, the Most Hon. Spencer-Joshua-Alwyne, MARQUESS OF NORTHAMPTON, cre. Aug. 15, 1812. Administratione Regni, Georgii Principis Wallia. Aged 40. 42. His Lordship, the Most Hon. John-Jeffreys, MARQUESS CAMDEN, cre. Aug. 15, 1812. Eadem Administratione. Aged 71. 43. His Lordship, the Most Hon. Henry-William, MARQUESS OF ANGLESEY, cre. June 23, 1815. Ead. Adm. Aged 61. 44. His Lordship, the Most Hon. George-James-Horatio, MARQUESS OF CHOLMONDELEY, cre. Sept. 30, 1815. Ead. Adm. Aged 38. * Created BARON TADCASTER, of the united kingdom, on the 13th June, 1826; but retains his rank as a representative peer of Ireland. 1 45. I. K. P. His Lordship, the Most Hon. Henry, MARQUESS CONYNGHAM *, cre. Jan. 22, 1816. Ead. Adm. Aged 63. 46. His Lordship, the Most Hon. George-Augustus-Francis, MARQUESS OF HASTINGS, cre. Dec. 7, 1816. Ead. Adm. Aged 22. 47. His Lordship, the Most Hon. Charles, MARQUESs of Ailesbury, cre. July 9, 1821. Reg. Georgii Quarti. Aged 57. 48. His Lordship, the Most Hon. Frederick-William, MARQUESS of BRISTOL, Cre. June 13, 1826. Eod. Reg. Aged 61. 49. His Lordship, the Most Hon. William-Harry, MARQUESS OF CLEVELAND, cre. Sept. 17, 1827. Eod. Reg. Aged 64. In ancient times the LORDS MARQUESSES, or MARCHES, guarded the frontiers and limits of the kingdom; as between England and Wales, and between Scotland and England, whilst each continued to be an enemy's country; the word marche signifying a boundary. These national guardians were invested with both military and civil authority; they had their own peculiar laws; and they exercised almost regal sway over the borderers of each kingdom, who were either their vassals, or subject to them during the time of their command. These outposts served as shields to all other parts of both kingdoms; and although almost continual warfare raged between them, their institution was so far advantageous, that invasion was guarded against and repelled, and the petty quarrels of both parties were prevented from becoming national by being settled on the spot; either by contest in the field, or by reprisal for depredations committed on the goods and cattle of either party. In short, they stood in the same relation to both nations, and prevented a more general effusion of blood in the same manner, that the Horatii and Curiatii did on one occasion, in regard to the armies of ancient Rome and Alba. The authority of the Lords Marches, or Marquesses, was abolished by statute in the 27th year of the reign of Henry the Eighth. The earliest instances on record of their creation are in the reign of Richard the Second, who conferred this dignity upon Robert de Vere, as Marquess of Dublin, in 1386; and upon John Beaufort, Earl of Somerset, as Marquess of Dorset, in 1397. From that period until the reign of Edward the Sixth, Marquesates appear to have lain dormant in England. They were then resumed merely as ensigns of honour; and they soon became a regular grade of nobility, invariably created by letters patent from the king, who, whenever he addresses BARON MINSTER of the united kingdom; so created July 9, 1821; but retaining the above rank as an Irish representative peer. |