Baron Clifford

Not to be confused with Baron de Clifford (1299) or Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1672)

Arms of Clifford: Checky or and azure, a fesse gules^[1] These are the arms borne by Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford (c. 1274–1314), feudal baron of Skipton, as recorded in the famous Caerlaverock Roll of 1300

Baron Clifford is a barony by writ of summons in the Peerage of England. It was created on 17 February 1628 by virtue of Henry Clifford's summons to Parliament (by writ). Upon his death in 1643, his daughter Elizabeth succeeded to the title (although she never made claim to it). Lady Elizabeth Clifford had married, in 1634, Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Burlington and 2nd Earl of Cork, who was created Baron Clifford of Lanesborough in 1644 so as to provide him with an English peerage and a guaranteed seat in the House of Lords at Westminster.

The Clifford barony of 1628 creation was held by the Earls of Burlington and Cork until the death of the 3rd and last Earl of Burlington in 1753, when that earldom and the Clifford of Lanesborough barony (ie. 1644 creation) became extinct.

The Clifford barony then devolved upon Charlotte Cavendish, Marchioness of Hartington, the wife of the future 4th Duke of Devonshire. Thus the barony of Clifford was held by the Dukes of Devonshire until the death of William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire in 1858, when it fell into abeyance as it still remains.

Barons Clifford (1628)

• Henry Clifford 1st Baron Clifford, 5th Earl of Cumberland (1591–1643) summoned to Parliament as Lord Clifford in 1628; succeeded to the earldom in 1641
• Elizabeth, Countess of Burlington and 2nd Baroness Clifford (1613–1691)
• Charles Boyle, 3rd Viscount Dungarvan, 3rd Baron Clifford (1639–1694)
• Charles Boyle, 4th Baron Clifford, 2nd Earl of Burlington, 3rd Earl of Cork (1660–1704)
• Richard Boyle, 5th Baron Clifford, 3rd Earl of Burlington, 4th Earl of Cork (1694–1753)
• Charlotte Elizabeth Cavendish, 6th Baroness Clifford (1731–1754)
• William Cavendish, 7th Baron Clifford, 5th Duke of Devonshire (1748–1811)
• William Spencer Cavendish, 8th Baron Clifford, 6th Duke of Devonshire (1790–1858), upon whose death in 1858 the barony became abeyant

Current senior co-heirs to the barony include the Earl Granville and the Earl of Carlisle.

See also

• Duke of Devonshire
• Earl of Cumberland
• Earl of Cork
• Earl of Burlington

References