Baron Keith
Encyclopedia
Baron Keith was a title that was created three times in British history, with all three creations in favour of the same person, Admiral the Honourable Sir George Keith Elphinstone
. He was the fifth son of Charles Elphinstone, 10th Lord Elphinstone (see Lord Elphinstone
for earlier history of the Elphinstone family) by his wife Lady Clementine, daughter of John Fleming, 6th Earl of Wigtown and Lady Mary, daughter of William Keith, 8th Earl Marischal (see Earl Marischal
for earlier history of the Keith family). The first creation came in the Peerage of Ireland
in 1797 when he was made Baron Keith, of Stonehaven Marrischal, with remainder in default of issue male of his own to his daughter and only child from his first marriage, Margaret Mercer Elphinstone, and the heirs male of her body. On 15 December 1801 he was created Baron Keith, of Stonehaven Marischal in the County of Kincardine, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
, with normal remainder to heirs male. In 1803 he was made Baron Keith, of Banheath in the County of Dumbarton, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, with remainder to his daughter and only child from his first marriage, Margaret Mercer Elphinstone and the heirs male of her body. In 1814 Lord Keith was further honoured when he was made Viscount Keith in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, with normal remainder to heirs male.
He died on 10 March 1823, when the viscountcy and barony of 1801 became extinct as he had no sons, while the baronies of 1797 and 1803 passed according to the special remainders to his daughter, the second Baroness. She was married to the French aristocrat Charles Joseph, comte de Flahaut
. In 1837 she also succeeded her cousin as 7th Lady Nairne
although she was not recognised in the title. Lady Keith was a prominent society hostess in both London
and Paris
. She had five daughters but no sons and on her death in 1867 the baronies of 1797 and 1803 became extinct as well. She was succeeded in the Scottish lordship of Nairne by her eldest daughter Emily Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marchioness of Lansdowne
, who became the 8th Lady Nairne (see Lord Nairne
for further history of this title).
The title Lord Keith of Inverury was created in the Peerage of Scotland
in 1677. For more information on this creation, see Earl of Kintore
. Three life peer
s have taken the title Baron Keith in United Kingdom
, two Law Lords under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876
: Baron Keith of Avonholm (1953), Baron Keith of Kinkel (1977) and a third life peerage under the Life Peerages Act 1958
, Baron Keith of Castleacre (1980).
George Keith Elphinstone, 1st Viscount Keith
George Keith Elphinstone, 1st Viscount Keith was a British admiral active throughout the Napoleonic Wars.-Career:Fifth son of the 10th Lord Elphinstone, he was born in Elphinstone Tower, near Stirling, Scotland...
. He was the fifth son of Charles Elphinstone, 10th Lord Elphinstone (see Lord Elphinstone
Lord Elphinstone
Lord Elphinstone, of Elphinstone in the County of Stirling, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1510 for Alexander Elphinstone who was killed at the Battle of Flodden three years later. He was succeeded by his son, the second Lord, killed at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547....
for earlier history of the Elphinstone family) by his wife Lady Clementine, daughter of John Fleming, 6th Earl of Wigtown and Lady Mary, daughter of William Keith, 8th Earl Marischal (see Earl Marischal
Earl Marischal
The title of Earl Marischal was created in the peerage of Scotland for William Keith, the Great Marischal of Scotland.The office of "Marischal of Scotland" had been held heritably by the senior member of the Keith family since Hervey de Keith, who held the office of Marischal under Malcolm IV and...
for earlier history of the Keith family). The first creation came in the Peerage of Ireland
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
in 1797 when he was made Baron Keith, of Stonehaven Marrischal, with remainder in default of issue male of his own to his daughter and only child from his first marriage, Margaret Mercer Elphinstone, and the heirs male of her body. On 15 December 1801 he was created Baron Keith, of Stonehaven Marischal in the County of Kincardine, 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...
, with normal remainder to heirs male. In 1803 he was made Baron Keith, of Banheath in the County of Dumbarton, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, with remainder to his daughter and only child from his first marriage, Margaret Mercer Elphinstone and the heirs male of her body. In 1814 Lord Keith was further honoured when he was made Viscount Keith in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, with normal remainder to heirs male.
He died on 10 March 1823, when the viscountcy and barony of 1801 became extinct as he had no sons, while the baronies of 1797 and 1803 passed according to the special remainders to his daughter, the second Baroness. She was married to the French aristocrat Charles Joseph, comte de Flahaut
Charles Joseph, comte de Flahaut
Auguste Charles Joseph de Flahaut de La Billarderie, Comte de Flahaut de La Billarderie was a French general and statesman...
. In 1837 she also succeeded her cousin as 7th Lady Nairne
Lord Nairne
Lord Nairne is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, which since 1995 is held by the Viscount Mersey. It was created in 1681 for the Scottish lawyer Sir Robert Nairne, with remainder to his son-in-law Lord William Murray, fourth son of John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl. Nairne notably served as a...
although she was not recognised in the title. Lady Keith was a prominent society hostess in both London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. She had five daughters but no sons and on her death in 1867 the baronies of 1797 and 1803 became extinct as well. She was succeeded in the Scottish lordship of Nairne by her eldest daughter Emily Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marchioness of Lansdowne
Emily Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marchioness of Lansdowne
Emily Jane Mercer Elphinstone Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marchioness of Lansdowne and 8th Lady Nairne was a British peeress....
, who became the 8th Lady Nairne (see Lord Nairne
Lord Nairne
Lord Nairne is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, which since 1995 is held by the Viscount Mersey. It was created in 1681 for the Scottish lawyer Sir Robert Nairne, with remainder to his son-in-law Lord William Murray, fourth son of John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl. Nairne notably served as a...
for further history of this title).
The title Lord Keith of Inverury was created in the Peerage of Scotland
Peerage of Scotland
The Peerage of Scotland is the division of the British Peerage for those peers created in the Kingdom of Scotland before 1707. With that year's Act of Union, the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England were combined into the Kingdom of Great Britain, and a new Peerage of Great Britain was...
in 1677. For more information on this creation, see Earl of Kintore
Earl of Kintore
Earl of Kintore is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1677 for Sir John Keith, third son of William Keith, 6th Earl Marischal . He was made Lord Keith of Inverurie and Keith Hall at the same time, also in the Peerage of Scotland...
. Three life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
s have taken the title Baron Keith in 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...
, two Law Lords under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876
Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876
The Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that altered the judicial functions of the House of Lords. The act was repealed by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, which transferred the judicial functions from the House of Lords to the Supreme Court of the...
: Baron Keith of Avonholm (1953), Baron Keith of Kinkel (1977) and a third life peerage under the Life Peerages Act 1958
Life Peerages Act 1958
The Life Peerages Act 1958 established the modern standards for the creation of life peers by the monarch of the United Kingdom. Life peers are barons and are members of the House of Lords for life, but their titles and membership in the Lords are not inherited by their children. Judicial life...
, Baron Keith of Castleacre (1980).
Barons Keith; First and third creations (1797/1803)
- George Keith Elphinstone, 1st Viscount Keith, 1st Baron KeithGeorge Keith Elphinstone, 1st Viscount KeithGeorge Keith Elphinstone, 1st Viscount Keith was a British admiral active throughout the Napoleonic Wars.-Career:Fifth son of the 10th Lord Elphinstone, he was born in Elphinstone Tower, near Stirling, Scotland...
(1746–1823) - Margaret Keith, 2nd Baroness Keith (1788–1867)
Barons Keith; Second creation (1801)
- George Keith Elphinstone, 1st Viscount Keith, 1st Baron KeithGeorge Keith Elphinstone, 1st Viscount KeithGeorge Keith Elphinstone, 1st Viscount Keith was a British admiral active throughout the Napoleonic Wars.-Career:Fifth son of the 10th Lord Elphinstone, he was born in Elphinstone Tower, near Stirling, Scotland...
(1746–1823)