Earl of Dudley
Encyclopedia
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...
, both times for members of the Ward family. This family descends from Sir Humble Ward, the son of a wealthy goldsmith and jeweller to 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...
. He married Frances Dudley, 6th Baroness Dudley, daughter of Sir Ferdinando Dudley, eldest son of Edward Sutton, 5th Baron Dudley (see the Baron Dudley
Baron Dudley
Baron Dudley is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in circa 1440 for John Sutton, a soldier who served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. According to Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage he was actually summoned to Parliament as "Johanni de Sutton de Duddeley militi", whereby he is held to...
for earlier history of the Sutton family). Frances was given away in marriage by her grandfather Lord Dudley in order for him to be able to redeem the heavily mortgaged estates around Dudley, whose mineral resources were the foundation of the family's great wealth. In 1644 Frances's husband Sir Humble Ward was raised to 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....
in his own right as Baron Ward, of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in the County of Warwick. In contrast to the barony of Dudley, which had been created by writ, this peerage was created by letter patent and with remainder to heirs male. Lady Dudley and Lord Ward were both succeeded by their son Edward, the seventh and second Baron respectively. He was styled Lord Dudley and Ward. He was succeeded by his grandson, the eighth and third Baron. He was the son of the Hon. William Ward. On Lord Dudley and Ward's early death the titles passed to his posthumous son, the ninth and fourth Baron. He died unmarried at an early age and was succeeded by his uncle, the tenth and fifth Baron.
On his death in 1740 the two baronies separated. The barony of Dudley, which could pass through female lines, was inherited by the late Baron's nephew Ferdinando Dudley Lea (see the Baron Dudley
Baron Dudley
Baron Dudley is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in circa 1440 for John Sutton, a soldier who served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. According to Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage he was actually summoned to Parliament as "Johanni de Sutton de Duddeley militi", whereby he is held to...
for later history of this title). He was succeeded in the barony of Ward, which could only pass through male lines, by his second cousin John Ward, who became the sixth Baron Ward. He was the grandson of the Hon. William Ward (d. 1714), second son of the first Baron. Lord Ward had earlier represented Newcastle under Lyme in the House of Commons
House of Commons of Great Britain
The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801. In 1707, as a result of the Acts of Union of that year, it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland, as one of the most significant...
. In 1763 he was created Viscount Dudley and Ward, of Dudley in the County of Worcester, in the Peerage of Great Britain
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...
. He was succeeded by his son from his first marriage, the second Viscount. He sat as 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 Marlborough
Marlborough (UK Parliament constituency)
Marlborough was a parliamentary borough in Wiltshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1868, and then one member from 1868 until 1885, when the borough was abolished.e-1295-1640:-1640-1868:...
and for Worcestershire
Worcestershire (UK Parliament constituency)
Worcestershire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It was represented until 1832 by two Members of Parliament, traditionally referred...
. He was childless and on his death the titles passed to his half-brother, the third Viscount. He was also Member of Parliament for Worcestershire. He was succeeded by his son, the fourth Viscount. He was a politician and served as Foreign Secretary from 1827 to 1828. In 1827 he was honoured when he was created Viscount Ednam, of Ednam in the County of Roxburgh, and Earl of Dudley, of Dudley Castle in the County of Stafford. Both titles were in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.
Lord Dudley was childless and on his death in 1833 the two viscountcies and earldom became extinct. He was succeeded in the barony of Ward by his second cousin Reverend William Humble Ward, the tenth Baron. He was the grandson of Reverend William Ward, younger brother of the first Viscount Dudley and Ward. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the eleventh Baron. In 1860 the viscountcy of Ednam and earldom of Dudley were revived when he was created Viscount Ednam, of Ednam in the County of Roxburgh, and Earl of Dudley, of Dudley Castle in the County of Stafford. Both titles are in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. On his death the titles passed to his eldest son, the second Earl. He was a Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician and served as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland from 1902 to 1905 during the Irish Reform Association
Irish Reform Association
The Irish Reform Association was an attempt to introduce limited devolved self-government to Ireland by a group of reform oriented Irish unionist land owners who proposed to initially adopt something less than full Home Rule...
's plan for devolution
Devolution
Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level. Devolution can be mainly financial, e.g. giving areas a budget which was formerly administered by central government...
in Ireland, and as Governor-General of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
from 1908 to 1911. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the third Earl. He represented Hornsey
Hornsey (UK Parliament constituency)
Hornsey was a parliamentary constituency covering what is now the Hornsey district of North London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from the 1885 general election until it was abolished for the 1983 general election...
and Wednesbury
Wednesbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Wednesbury was a borough constituency in England's Black Country which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1868 until it was abolished for the February 1974 general election....
in the House of Commons as a Conservative. the titles are held by his eldest son, the fourth Earl, who succeeded in 1969.
Several other members of the Ward family have also gained distinction. William Dudley Ward
William Dudley Ward
William Dudley Ward PC , was a British sportsman and Liberal politician.-Early life:Dudley Ward was born in London, the son of William Humble Dudley Ward and the great-grandson of William Humble Ward, 10th Baron Ward His mother was the Honourable Eugenie Violet Adele Brett,...
, grandson of the Hon. Humble Dudley Ward, second son of the tenth Baron Ward, was a Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician. He married the socialite Freda May Birkin
Freda Dudley Ward
Winifred May, Marquesa de Casa Maury , universally known by her first married name as Freda Dudley Ward, was an English socialite best known for being a mistress of the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VIII.-Life:Born Winifred May Birkin, she was the second child and eldest of three...
. Their daughter Penelope Dudley Ward
Penelope Dudley Ward
Penelope Ann Rachel, Lady Reed , known as Penelope Dudley-Ward, was an English actress.Born Penelope Anne Rachel Dudley Ward in London, she was the elder daughter of The Right Honourable William Dudley Ward and the leading socialite Freda Dudley Ward, most well-known for being the long-time...
was a well-known actress. The Hon. Sir John Hubert Ward (1870–1938), second son of the first Earl, was a major in the army and courtier. His son John Ward (1909–1990) was a colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the Life Guards
Life Guards (British Army)
The Life Guards is the senior regiment of the British Army and with the Blues and Royals, they make up the Household Cavalry.They originated in the four troops of Horse Guards raised by Charles II around the time of his restoration, plus two troops of Horse Grenadier Guards which were raised some...
. The Hon. Robert Ward, third son of the first Earl, was Conservative Member of Parliament for Crewe
Crewe (UK Parliament constituency)
Crewe was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1983. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
. The Hon. Edward Frederick Ward (1907–1987), third son of the second Earl, was a Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. The Hon. George Ward
George Ward, 1st Viscount Ward of Witley
George Reginald Ward, 1st Viscount Ward of Witley, PC , styled The Honourable George Ward until 1960, was a British Conservative politician...
, fourth and youngest son of the second Earl, was a Conservative politician and was created Viscount Ward of Witley in 1960. The actress Rachel Ward
Rachel Ward
Rachel Claire Ward, AM is a British actress, columnist, film director, and screenwriter who has primarily pursued her career in Australia.-Early life:...
and her sister the environmental campaigner Tracy Louise Ward
Tracy Louise Ward
Tracy Louise Ward, Marchioness of Worcester, frequently referred to as Tracy Worcester is a former actress, now an environmental campaigner.She is a daughter of the Hon...
are both daughters of the Hon. Peter Alistair Ward, third son of the third Earl.
Barons Ward (1644) of Birmingham
- Humble Ward, 1st Baron WardHumble Ward, 1st Baron WardSir Humble Ward, 1st Baron Ward, of Birmingham was the son and heir of William Ward, a London goldsmith. He married Frances Sutton otherwise Dudley, 6th Baroness Dudley, granddaughter and sole heiress of Edward Sutton, 5th Baron Dudley, whose estates including Dudley Castle and Himley Hall were...
(1614–1670) - Edward Ward, 7th Baron Dudley, 2nd Baron Ward (1631–1701)
- Edward Ward, 8th Baron Dudley, 3rd Baron Ward (1683–1704)
- Edward Ward, 9th Baron Dudley, 4th Baron Ward (1704–1731)
- William Ward, 10th Baron Dudley, 5th Baron Ward (1680–1740)
- John Ward, 6th Baron WardJohn Ward, 1st Viscount Dudley and WardJohn Ward, 1st Viscount Dudley and Ward , known as John Ward until 1740 and as the 6th Baron Ward from 1740 to 1763, was a British peer and politician....
(1700–1774) (created Viscount Dudley and Ward in 1763)
Viscounts Dudley and Ward (1763)
- John Ward, 1st Viscount Dudley and WardJohn Ward, 1st Viscount Dudley and WardJohn Ward, 1st Viscount Dudley and Ward , known as John Ward until 1740 and as the 6th Baron Ward from 1740 to 1763, was a British peer and politician....
(1700–1774) - John Ward, 2nd Viscount Dudley and WardJohn Ward, 2nd Viscount Dudley and WardJohn Ward, 2nd Viscount Dudley and Ward was a British peer and politician.Ward was the son of John Ward, 1st Viscount Dudley and Ward, and his first wife Anna Maria . He was returned to Parliament as one of two representatives for Marlborough in 1754, a seat he held until 1761, and then...
(1725–1788) - William Ward, 3rd Viscount Dudley and WardWilliam Ward, 3rd Viscount Dudley and WardWilliam Ward, 3rd Viscount Dudley and Ward was a British peer and politician.Ward was the son of John Ward, 1st Viscount Dudley and Ward, by his second wife Mary . He was elected to the House of Commons for Worcester City in 1780, a seat he held until 1788, when he succeeded his half-brother in...
(1750–1823) - John William Ward, 4th Viscount Dudley and Ward (1781–1833) (created Earl of Dudley in 1827)
Earls of Dudley, First Creation (1827)
- John William Ward, 1st Earl of Dudley (1781–1833)
Barons Ward (1644; Reverted)
- William Humble Ward, 10th Baron Ward (1781–1835)
- William Ward, 11th Baron WardWilliam Ward, 1st Earl of DudleyWilliam Ward, 1st Earl of Dudley , known as The Lord Ward from 1835 to 1860, was a British landowner and benefactor.-Background and education:...
(1817–1885) (created Earl of Dudley in 1860)
Earls of Dudley, Second Creation (1860)
- William Ward, 1st Earl of DudleyWilliam Ward, 1st Earl of DudleyWilliam Ward, 1st Earl of Dudley , known as The Lord Ward from 1835 to 1860, was a British landowner and benefactor.-Background and education:...
(1817–1885) - William Humble Ward, 2nd Earl of DudleyWilliam Ward, 2nd Earl of DudleyWilliam Humble Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley, KP, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, KStJ, PC, TD, DL , styled Viscount Ednam before 1885, was a British Conservative politician...
(1867–1932) - William Humble Eric Ward, 3rd Earl of DudleyWilliam Ward, 3rd Earl of DudleyWilliam Humble Eric Ward, 3rd Earl of Dudley, MC , known as Viscount Ednam until 1932, was a British Conservative politician.-Biography:...
(1894–1969) - William Humble Davis Ward, 4th Earl of DudleyWilliam Ward, 4th Earl of DudleyWilliam Humble David Ward, 4th Earl of Dudley is a British peer, styled Viscount Ednam from 1932 to 1969.He is the son of William Ward, 3rd Earl of Dudley, whom he succeeded in 1969, and Lady Rosemary Millicent Sutherland-Leveson-Gower...
(b. 1920)
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 eldest son William Humble David Jeremy Ward, Viscount Ednam (b. 1947)
See also
- List of earldoms