Baron Gerard
Encyclopedia
There have been three baronies created for descendants of the Gerard family who resided at Bryn
, Ashton
in Makerfield
, Lancashire
and Kingsley
, Cheshire
in the 13th century.
The title Baron Gerard of Gerards Bromley, was created in the Peerage of England
on 21 July 1603 for Sir Thomas Gerard (d. 1617), son of Sir Gilbert Gerard (d. 1593) Attorney General
between 1559 and 1581 and Master of the Rolls
in 1581, who acquired estates at Gerards Bromley and Hilderstone, Staffordshire. The first Baron was Lord President of Wales between 1610 and 1617. The barony passed in direct line of succession until the death of the fifth Baron in 1684 when it passed to his second cousin Charles, and upon his death without a male heir , to his brother Philip Gerard, a Jesuit priest who died childless in 1773 when the barony expired.
The title of Baron Gerard of Bryn
in the County Palatine
of Lancaster
, was created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
in 1876 for Sir Robert Gerard, 13th Baronet. The title followed the line of the first Baron's eldest son until the death of the latter's grandson, the fourth Baron, in 1992. He was succeeded by his second cousin once removed, the fifth and present holder of the barony. He is the great grandson of Captain the Hon. Robert Joseph Gerard-Dicconson, second son of the first Baron.
A Gerard Baronetcy had been created in the Baronetage of England in 1611 for Thomas Gerard, Member of Parliament
for Liverpool
, Lancashire
, and Wigan
who was a direct descendant of the family of Bryn. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baronet. He also represented Liverpool in the House of Commons
. His son, the third Baronet, was a Royalist during the Civil War
and spent a large part of his estate in in his support for King Charles I
. His great-great-great-grandson was the aforementioned thirteenth Baronet, who was elevated to the peerage in 1876.
For the title Baron Gerard of Brandon, in the County of Suffolk, created in 1645 for a great-grandson of Sir Gilbert Gerard (mentioned above), see Earl of Macclesfield
.
Bryn
Bryn is a component ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. It is part of the larger town of Ashton-in-Makerfield and is geographically indistinguishable from it. It forms a separate local council ward...
, Ashton
Ashton
-Surname:* Alan Ashton , co-founder of WordPerfect Corporation* Alan Ashton * Brian Ashton , English rugby player* Brian Ashton , Canadian politician* Chris Ashton, English rugby player...
in Makerfield
Makerfield
Makerfield is an area in North West England. It is now split between the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester, and the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens in Merseyside, both within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire....
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and Kingsley
Kingsley
-Places:In Australia:*Kingsley, Western AustraliaIn Canada:*Kingsley No. 124, SaskatchewanIn England:*Kingsley, Cheshire*Kingsley, Hampshire*Kingsley, StaffordshireIn the United States:*Kingsley, Iowa*Kingsley, Kentucky...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
in the 13th century.
The title Baron Gerard of Gerards Bromley, was created in the Peerage of England
Peerage of England
The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain....
on 21 July 1603 for Sir Thomas Gerard (d. 1617), son of Sir Gilbert Gerard (d. 1593) Attorney General
Attorney General for England and Wales
Her Majesty's Attorney General for England and Wales, usually known simply as the Attorney General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown. Along with the subordinate Solicitor General for England and Wales, the Attorney General serves as the chief legal adviser of the Crown and its government in...
between 1559 and 1581 and Master of the Rolls
Master of the Rolls
The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the second most senior judge in England and Wales, after the Lord Chief Justice. The Master of the Rolls is the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal...
in 1581, who acquired estates at Gerards Bromley and Hilderstone, Staffordshire. The first Baron was Lord President of Wales between 1610 and 1617. The barony passed in direct line of succession until the death of the fifth Baron in 1684 when it passed to his second cousin Charles, and upon his death without a male heir , to his brother Philip Gerard, a Jesuit priest who died childless in 1773 when the barony expired.
The title of Baron Gerard of Bryn
Bryn
Bryn is a component ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. It is part of the larger town of Ashton-in-Makerfield and is geographically indistinguishable from it. It forms a separate local council ward...
in the County Palatine
County palatine
A county palatine or palatinate is an area ruled by an hereditary nobleman possessing special authority and autonomy from the rest of a kingdom or empire. The name derives from the Latin adjective palatinus, "relating to the palace", from the noun palatium, "palace"...
of Lancaster
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, was created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
in 1876 for Sir Robert Gerard, 13th Baronet. The title followed the line of the first Baron's eldest son until the death of the latter's grandson, the fourth Baron, in 1992. He was succeeded by his second cousin once removed, the fifth and present holder of the barony. He is the great grandson of Captain the Hon. Robert Joseph Gerard-Dicconson, second son of the first Baron.
A Gerard Baronetcy had been created in the Baronetage of England in 1611 for Thomas Gerard, Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Liverpool
Liverpool (UK Parliament constituency)
Liverpool was a Borough constituency in the county of Lancashire of the House of Commons for the Parliament of England to 1706 then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. It was represented by two Members of Parliament...
, Lancashire
Lancashire (UK Parliament constituency)
Lancashire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from 1290, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
, and Wigan
Wigan (UK Parliament constituency)
Wigan is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
who was a direct descendant of the family of Bryn. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baronet. He also represented Liverpool in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
. His son, the third Baronet, was a Royalist during the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
and spent a large part of his estate in in his support for King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
. His great-great-great-grandson was the aforementioned thirteenth Baronet, who was elevated to the peerage in 1876.
For the title Baron Gerard of Brandon, in the County of Suffolk, created in 1645 for a great-grandson of Sir Gilbert Gerard (mentioned above), see Earl of Macclesfield
Earl of Macclesfield
Earl of Macclesfield is a title that has been created twice. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1679 in favour of the soldier and politician Charles Gerard, 1st Baron Gerard...
.
Barons Gerard, First creation (1603)
- Thomas Gerard, 1st Baron GerardThomas Gerard, 1st Baron GerardThomas Gerard, 1st Baron Gerard was an English politician and peer. He was made Baron Gerard, Custos Rotulorum of Staffordshire, president of the Council of Wales and the Marches and Lord Lieutenant of Wales....
(d. 1617) - Gilbert Gerard, 2nd Baron Gerard (d. 1622)
- Dutton Gerard, 3rd Baron Gerard (1613–1640)
- Charles Gerard, 4th Baron Gerard (1634–1667)
- Digby Gerard, 5th Baron Gerard (1662–1684)
- Charles Gerard, 6th Baron Gerard (1659–1707)
- Philip Gerard, 7th Baron Gerard (1665–1733)
Gerard Baronets, of Bryn (1611)
- Sir Thomas Gerard, 1st BaronetSir Thomas Gerard, 1st BaronetSir Thomas Gerard, 1st Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1597 and 1621.Gerard was the son of Sir Thomas Gerard, of Bryn and his wife Elizabeth Port, daughter of Sir John Port, of Etwall, Derbyshire. He matriculated at Brasenose College,...
(1560–1621) - Sir Thomas Gerard, 2nd Baronet (c. 1584–1630)
- Sir William Gerard, 3rd Baronet (1612–1681)
- Sir William Gerard, 4th Baronet (1638–1702)
- Sir William Gerard, 5th Baronet (1662–1721)
- Sir William Gerard, 6th Baronet (1697–1732)
- Sir William Gerard, 7th Baronet (1721–1740)
- Sir Thomas Gerard, 8th Baronet (c. 1723–1780)
- Sir Robert Gerard, 9th Baronet (c. 1725–1784)
- Sir Robert Gerard, 10th Baronet (d. 1791)
- Sir William Gerard, 11th Baronet (1773–1826)
- Sir John Gerard, 12th Baronet (1804–1854)
- Sir Robert Gerard, 13th Baronet (1808–1887) (created Baron Gerard in 1876)
Barons Gerard, Second creation (1876)
- Robert Tolver Gerard, 1st Baron Gerard (12 May 1808–15 March 1887). Gerard was the younger son of John Gerard and his wife Elizabeth (née Ferrers). He succeeded his elder brother in the baronetcy in 1854. In 1876 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Gerard, of Bryn in the County Palatine of Lancaster. Lord Gerard married Harriet, daughter of Edward Clifton, in 1849. He died in March 1887, aged 78, and was succeeded in his titles by his son William. Lady Gerard died in 1888.
- William Cansfield Gerard, 2nd Baron Gerard (1851–1902)
- Frederic John Gerard, 3rd Baron Gerard (1883–1953)
- Robert William Frederick Alwyn Gerard, 4th Baron Gerard (1918–1992)
- Anthony Robert Hugo Gerard, 5th Baron Gerard (b. 1949)