Baron Foley
Encyclopedia
Baron Foley is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Great Britain
, both times for members of the same family. The first creation came in 1712 in favour of Thomas Foley
, who had earlier represented Stafford
in the House of Commons. He was the grandson of the prominent ironmaster Thomas Foley and the nephew of Paul Foley
, Speaker of the House of Commons
, and Philip Foley
. However, this creation became extinct in 1766 on the death of his son, the second Baron.
It was revived in 1776 for Thomas Foley
, the cousin, heir and namesake of the last holder of the 1712 creation, who was created Baron Foley, of Kidderminster in the County of Worcester. He was a former Member of Parliament
for Droitwich
and Herefordshire
. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baron. He also represented Droitwich and Herefordshire in Parliament and served as Postmaster General
. On his death the title passed to his son, the third Baron. He notably held office as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords
) in the Whig administration
of Lord Grey
.
He was succeeded by his son, the fourth Baron. He was also a Whig politician and succeeded his father as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms in 1833, a post he held until 1834, and again from 1835 to 1841, from 1846 to 1852, from 1852 to 1858, from 1859 to 1866 and from 1868 to 1869. On the death of his second son, the sixth Baron, in 1918, this line of the family failed. The late Baron was succeeded by his first cousin once removed, the sixth Baron. He was the grandson of General the Hon. Sir St George Gerald Foley
, third son of the third Baron. the title is held by the seventh Baron's son, the eighth Baron, who succeeded to the title in 1927 at the age of three. Lord Foley is a composer and pianist.
The family seat was Witley Court
until this was sold to trustees for William, Lord Ward, later Earl of Dudley
, in 1837.
The heir apparent
is the present holder's son the Hon. Thomas Henry Foley (b. 1961)
Peerage of Great Britain
The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain after the Act of Union 1707 but before the Act of Union 1800...
, both times for members of the same family. The first creation came in 1712 in favour of Thomas Foley
Thomas Foley, 1st Baron Foley (1673–1733)
Thomas Foley, 1st Baron Foley was the eldest son of Thomas Foley and inherited the Great Witley estate on his father's death...
, who had earlier represented Stafford
Stafford (UK Parliament constituency)
Stafford 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. The sitting MP is the Conservative Jeremy Lefroy....
in the House of Commons. He was the grandson of the prominent ironmaster Thomas Foley and the nephew of Paul Foley
Paul Foley (ironmaster)
Paul Foley , also known as Speaker Foley, was the second son of Thomas Foley of Witley Court, the prominent Midlands ironmaster.-Ironmaster:...
, Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
, and Philip Foley
Philip Foley
Philip Foley was the youngest of the three surviving sons of the British ironmaster Thomas Foley . His father transferred to him in 1668 and 1669 all his ironworks in the Midlands for £60,000...
. However, this creation became extinct in 1766 on the death of his son, the second Baron.
It was revived in 1776 for Thomas Foley
Thomas Foley, 1st Baron Foley (1716–1777)
Thomas Foley, 1st Baron Foley was a British politician.Foley was the son of Thomas Foley and his wife Hester , and the cousin, namesake and heir of Thomas Foley, 2nd Baron Foley , thus acquiring Witley Court and the extensive Great Witley estate...
, the cousin, heir and namesake of the last holder of the 1712 creation, who was created Baron Foley, of Kidderminster in the County of Worcester. He was a former 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 Droitwich
Droitwich (UK Parliament constituency)
Droitwich was the name of a constituency of the House of Commons of England in 1295, and again from 1554, then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918...
and Herefordshire
Herefordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
The county constituency of Herefordshire, in the West Midlands of England bordering on Wales, was abolished when the county was divided for parliamentary purposes in 1885...
. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baron. He also represented Droitwich and Herefordshire in Parliament and served as Postmaster General
United Kingdom Postmaster General
The Postmaster General of the United Kingdom is a defunct Cabinet-level ministerial position in HM Government. Aside from maintaining the postal system, the Telegraph Act of 1868 established the Postmaster General's right to exclusively maintain electric telegraphs...
. On his death the title passed to his son, the third Baron. He notably held office as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
) in the Whig administration
Whig Government 1830-1834
The first wholly Whig government since 1783 came to power after the Duke of Wellington's Tory government lost a vote of no confidence on the 15 November 1830. The government passed the Great Reform Act in 1832 and abolished slavery throughout the Empire in 1833. However, King William IV dismissed...
of Lord Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, KG, PC , known as Viscount Howick between 1806 and 1807, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 22 November 1830 to 16 July 1834. A member of the Whig Party, he backed significant reform of the British government and was among the...
.
He was succeeded by his son, the fourth Baron. He was also a Whig politician and succeeded his father as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms in 1833, a post he held until 1834, and again from 1835 to 1841, from 1846 to 1852, from 1852 to 1858, from 1859 to 1866 and from 1868 to 1869. On the death of his second son, the sixth Baron, in 1918, this line of the family failed. The late Baron was succeeded by his first cousin once removed, the sixth Baron. He was the grandson of General the Hon. Sir St George Gerald Foley
St George Gerald Foley
General The Hon. Sir St. George Gerald Foley KCB was a British Army officer who became Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey.-Military career:...
, third son of the third Baron. the title is held by the seventh Baron's son, the eighth Baron, who succeeded to the title in 1927 at the age of three. Lord Foley is a composer and pianist.
The family seat was Witley Court
Witley Court
Witley Court in Worcestershire, England is a Grade 1 listed building and was once one of the great houses of the Midlands, but today it is a spectacular ruin after being devastated by fire in 1937. It was built by Thomas Foley in 1655 on the site of a former manor house near Great Witley...
until this was sold to trustees for William, Lord Ward, later Earl of Dudley
William Ward, 1st Earl of Dudley
William Ward, 1st Earl of Dudley , known as The Lord Ward from 1835 to 1860, was a British landowner and benefactor.-Background and education:...
, in 1837.
Barons Foley; First creation (1712)
- Thomas Foley, 1st Baron FoleyThomas Foley, 1st Baron Foley (1673–1733)Thomas Foley, 1st Baron Foley was the eldest son of Thomas Foley and inherited the Great Witley estate on his father's death...
(1673–1733) - Thomas Foley, 2nd Baron FoleyThomas Foley, 2nd Baron Foley (1703–1766)Thomas Foley, 2nd Baron Foley was the eldest son of Thomas Foley, 1st Baron Foley and inherited the vast Great Witley estate on his father's death in 1733, including ironworks at Wilden and Shelsley Walsh....
(1703–1766)
Barons Foley; Second creation (1776)
- Thomas Foley, 1st Baron FoleyThomas Foley, 1st Baron Foley (1716–1777)Thomas Foley, 1st Baron Foley was a British politician.Foley was the son of Thomas Foley and his wife Hester , and the cousin, namesake and heir of Thomas Foley, 2nd Baron Foley , thus acquiring Witley Court and the extensive Great Witley estate...
(1716–1777) - Thomas Foley, 2nd Baron FoleyThomas Foley, 2nd Baron Foley (1742–1793)Thomas Foley, 2nd Baron Foley was a British peer and politician. He was the eldest son of the first baron, another Thomas Foley...
(1742–1793) - Thomas Foley, 3rd Baron FoleyThomas Foley, 3rd Baron FoleyThomas Foley, 3rd Baron Foley PC , was a British peer and Whig politician. He served as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen Pensioners under Lord Grey between 1830 and 1833.-Background:...
(1780–1833) - Thomas Henry Foley, 4th Baron FoleyThomas Foley, 4th Baron FoleyThomas Henry Foley, 4th Baron Foley was a British peer and Liberal politician. He held office in every Whig/Liberal government between 1833 and 1869.- Family and estate :...
(1808–1869) - Henry Thomas Foley, 5th Baron Foley (1850–1905)
- Fitzalan Charles John Foley, 6th Baron Foley (1852–1918)
- Gerald Henry Foley, 7th Baron Foley (1898–1927)
- Adrian Gerald Foley, 8th Baron FoleyAdrian Foley, 8th Baron FoleyAdrian Gerald Foley, 8th Baron Foley is a British peer and a former composer and pianist.Upon the death of his father, the 7th Baron Foley, in 1927, Foley succeeded to his title at the age of three. In 1946, he composed music for the film Piccadilly Incident and for Bond Street in 1947...
(b. 1923)
The heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
is the present holder's son the Hon. Thomas Henry Foley (b. 1961)