Viscount Ridley
Encyclopedia
Viscount Ridley is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
. It was created in 1900 for the Conservative
politician Sir Matthew White Ridley, 5th Baronet, Home Secretary
from 1895 to 1900. He was made Baron Wensleydale, of Blagdon and Blyth in the County of Northumberland, at the same time, also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The latter title was a revival of the barony held by his maternal grandfather James Parke, Baron Wensleydale. Lord Ridley was succeeded by his son, the second Viscount. He represented Stalybridge
in the House of Commons
. His son, the third Viscount, was Chairman of the Northumberland County Council
. the titles are held by the latter's son, the fourth Viscount, who succeeded in 1965. He notably served as Lord Steward of the Household from 1989 to 2001.
The Baronetcy, of Blagdon in the County of Northumberland, was created in the Baronetage of Great Britain in 1756 for Matthew White, with remainder to the heirs male of his sister Elizabeth, wife of Matthew Ridley. He was succeeded according to the special remainder by his nephew, the second Baronet. He represented Morpeth
and Newcastle-upon-Tyne
in Parliament. On his death the title passed to his eldest son, the third Baronet. He was also a Member of Parliament
for Newcastle-upon-Tyne
. He was succeeded by his son, the fourth Baronet. He represented Northumberland North in Parliament as a Conservative
. Ridley was the husband of Cecilia Anne Parke, daughter of James Parke, 1st Baron Wensleydale
. When he died the title was inherited by his son, the fifth Baronet, who was raised to the peerage as Viscount Ridley in 1900.
Two other members of the family have also gained distinction. Nicholas Ridley-Colborne
, younger son of the second Baronet, was a politician and was created Baron Colborne in 1839. Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale
, younger son of the third Viscount, was a Conservative politician.
The family seat is Blagdon Hall
, near Cramlington
, Northumberland
.
The heir apparent
is the present holder's son, the science writer and businessman the Hon. Matthew White Ridley
(b. 1958)
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...
. It was created in 1900 for the 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 Sir Matthew White Ridley, 5th Baronet, Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
from 1895 to 1900. He was made Baron Wensleydale, of Blagdon and Blyth in the County of Northumberland, at the same time, also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The latter title was a revival of the barony held by his maternal grandfather James Parke, Baron Wensleydale. Lord Ridley was succeeded by his son, the second Viscount. He represented Stalybridge
Stalybridge (UK Parliament constituency)
Stalybridge was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1868 until 1918. It was based around the borough of Stalybridge, partly situated in Lancashire and partly in Cheshire....
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 Viscount, was Chairman of the Northumberland County Council
Northumberland County Council
Northumberland County Council is a unitary authority in North East England. It was originally formed in 1889 as the council for the administrative county of Northumberland and reformed in 1974 to cover a the newly formed non-metropolitan county of Northumberland...
. the titles are held by the latter's son, the fourth Viscount, who succeeded in 1965. He notably served as Lord Steward of the Household from 1989 to 2001.
The Baronetcy, of Blagdon in the County of Northumberland, was created in the Baronetage of Great Britain in 1756 for Matthew White, with remainder to the heirs male of his sister Elizabeth, wife of Matthew Ridley. He was succeeded according to the special remainder by his nephew, the second Baronet. He represented Morpeth
Morpeth (UK Parliament constituency)
Morpeth was a borough constituency centred on the town of Morpeth in Northumberland represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and then the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
and Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK Parliament constituency)
Newcastle-upon-Tyne was a borough constituency in the county of Northumberland of the House of Commons of England to 1706 then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918...
in Parliament. On his death the title passed to his eldest son, the third Baronet. He was also a 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 Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK Parliament constituency)
Newcastle-upon-Tyne was a borough constituency in the county of Northumberland of the House of Commons of England to 1706 then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918...
. He was succeeded by his son, the fourth Baronet. He represented Northumberland North in Parliament as 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...
. Ridley was the husband of Cecilia Anne Parke, daughter of James Parke, 1st Baron Wensleydale
James Parke, 1st Baron Wensleydale
James Parke, 1st Baron Wensleydale PC was a British barrister and judge. After an education at The King's School, Macclesfield and Trinity College, Cambridge he studied under a special pleader, before being called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 1813...
. When he died the title was inherited by his son, the fifth Baronet, who was raised to the peerage as Viscount Ridley in 1900.
Two other members of the family have also gained distinction. Nicholas Ridley-Colborne
Nicholas Ridley-Colborne, 1st Baron Colborne
Nicholas William Ridley-Colborne, 1st Baron Colborne was a British politician.-Background:Born Nicholas Ridley, he was the younger son of Sir Matthew White Ridley, 2nd Baronet, and Mary , daughter of Benjamin Colborne...
, younger son of the second Baronet, was a politician and was created Baron Colborne in 1839. Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale
Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale
Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale, PC was a British Conservative Party politician and government minister.-Personal life:...
, younger son of the third Viscount, was a Conservative politician.
The family seat is Blagdon Hall
Blagdon Hall
Blagdon Hall is a privately owned country mansion near Seaton Burn, Northumberland which has Grade I listed building status.The estate has been in the ownership of the White Ridley family since 1698....
, near Cramlington
Cramlington
Cramlington is a town and civil parish in the county of Northumberland, North East England, situated north of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. The town's name suggests a probable founding by the Danes or an Anglo-Saxon origin, the word "ton" meaning town. The population was estimated as 39,000 in...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
.
Ridley Baronets, of Blagdon (1756)
- Sir Matthew White, 1st Baronet (c. 1727-1763)
- Sir Matthew White Ridley, 2nd BaronetSir Matthew Ridley, 2nd BaronetSir Matthew White Ridley, 2nd Baronet was a Northumbrian politician and landowner.He was the son of Matthew Ridley and Elizabeth White , daughter of Matthew White, a prominent Newcastle...
(1745–1813) - Sir Matthew White Ridley, 3rd BaronetSir Matthew Ridley, 3rd BaronetSir Matthew White Ridley, 3rd Baronet was a politician in the United Kingdom. He was Member of Parliament for Newcastle-upon-Tyne from 1813 until his death in 1836....
(1778–1836) - Sir Matthew White Ridley, 4th BaronetSir Matthew Ridley, 4th BaronetSir Matthew White Ridley, 4th Baronet was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom.He was appointed High Sheriff of Northumberland for 1841 and then served as Member of Parliament for Northumberland North from 1859 to 1868.He inherited the baronetcy on the death in 1836 of his father...
(1807–1877) - Sir Matthew White Ridley, 5th BaronetMatthew Ridley, 1st Viscount RidleyMatthew White Ridley, 1st Viscount Ridley PC, DL , known as Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bt from 1877 to 1900, was a British Conservative politician and statesman...
(1842–1904) (created Viscount Ridley in 1900)
Viscounts Ridley (1900)
- Matthew White Ridley, 1st Viscount RidleyMatthew Ridley, 1st Viscount RidleyMatthew White Ridley, 1st Viscount Ridley PC, DL , known as Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bt from 1877 to 1900, was a British Conservative politician and statesman...
(1842–1904) - Matthew White Ridley, 2nd Viscount RidleyMatthew White Ridley, 2nd Viscount RidleyMatthew White Ridley, 2nd Viscount Ridley was a British Conservative politician, elected as the Member of Parliament for Stalybridge at the 1900 general election. He vacated the seat on succeeding to his father's peerage in 1904.Ridley was the son and heir of Sir Matthew White Ridley, 1st Viscount...
(1874–1916) - Matthew White Ridley, 3rd Viscount Ridley (1902–1964)
- Matthew White Ridley, 4th Viscount RidleyMatthew Ridley, 4th Viscount RidleyMatthew White Ridley, 4th Viscount Ridley, is a British nobleman, who served for approximately a decade as Lord Steward of the Household....
(b. 1925)
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 science writer and businessman the Hon. Matthew White Ridley
Matt Ridley
Matthew White Ridley, FRSL, FMedSci is an English journalist, writer, biologist, and businessman.-Career:...
(b. 1958)