Baron Clifton

Baron Clifton, of Leighton Bromswold in the County of Huntingdon,[1][2] is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1608 for Sir Gervase Clifton,[3][4] who commissioned Prebendal house[5] which was built by John Thorpe and later owned by the Clifton baronets branch of the family.[4] The peerage was created by writ, which means that it can descend through both male and female lines. Lord Clifton died without surviving male issue and was succeeded by his daughter Katherine, the second Baroness. She married Esmé Stewart, 3rd Duke of Lennox (see the Duke of Lennox (1581 creation) for earlier history of this title).[4] They were both succeeded by their eldest son James, the fourth Duke and third Baron. When he died the titles passed to his son, the fifth Duke and fourth Baron. On his death in 1660 at the age of 11, the barony separated from the dukedom. The barony was inherited by the late Duke's sister Mary, the fifth Baroness. She married Richard Butler, 1st Earl of Arran, but died aged only 18. She was succeeded by her first cousin the sixth Duke of Lennox, who became the sixth Baron Clifton as well. He was the son of Lord George Stuart, the fourth son of the third Duke and the second Baroness Clifton. On his death, the barony and dukedom again separated.

Arms of Clifton of Clifton, Nottinghamshire (Baron Clifton of Leighton Bromswold): Sable semée of cinquefoils and a lion rampant argent

The dukedom became extinct (although this has later been questioned; see the Earl of Darnley) while the barony was passed on to the Duke's sister Katherine, the seventh Baroness. She was the wife of Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibracken, eldest son of Henry O'Brien, 7th Earl of Thomond. She established her claim to the peerage in 1674. She was succeeded by her daughter Katherine, the eighth Baroness. She was the wife of Edward Hyde, Viscount Cornbury (who after his wife's death succeeded as third Earl of Clarendon). Lady Clifton was succeeded by their son Edward, the ninth Baron. He predeceased his father and never succeeded in the earldom. He was succeeded in the barony by his sister Theodosia, the tenth Baroness. She married John Bligh, 1st Earl of Darnley. For further history of the barony, see the Earl of Darnley (1725 creation). Since then in 1900, the 17th baroness inherited the barony on the death of her father when she was seven months old.[4][6]