Baron Walpole

Walpole coat of arms: Or, on a fesse between two chevrons sable three crosses crosslet of the field.

Baron Walpole of Walpole in the County of Norfolk is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain.

Since 1797 holders also hold the title of Baron Walpole of Wolterton. Past holders have also held the titles Baron Walpole of Houghton in the County of Norfolk, Viscount Walpole and Earl of Orford (second creation; 1742 to 1797), and Earl of Orford (third creation; 1806 to 1931). One holder held the title of Baron Clinton from 1781 to 1791.

History

Robert Walpole,
1st Earl of Orford

Grants

The title of Baron Walpole of Walpole in the County of Norfolk was created in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1723 for Robert Walpole, in honour of and during the lifetime of his father Sir Robert Walpole, the de facto first Prime Minister of Great Britain, with special remainder, failing male issue, to his brothers Edward and Horace, in default of this to the heirs male of his father, and in default of this to the heirs male of his grandfather Sir Thomas Walpole.

On Sir Robert's retirement from the House of Commons in 1742, he received the titles Baron Walpole of Houghton in the County of Norfolk, Viscount Walpole and Earl of Orford, with the standard remainder.

The title of Baron Walpole of Wolterton in the County of Norfolk was created in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1756 for Horatio Walpole, envoy to Paris and later The Hague, and younger brother of Sir Robert.

Early holders

When Sir Robert, the 1st Earl of Orford, died in 1745, he was succeeded by his eldest son, the aforementioned Robert, Lord Walpole of Walpole, who thus became the 2nd Earl of Orford. He had married Devonshire heiress Margaret Rolle in 1724. In 1751, she, by survival, became one of the co-heirs to the ancient Clinton barony, which was in abeyance. That abeyance was terminated in her favour in 1760, and she became the 15th Baroness Clinton.

The 2nd Earl of Orford was succeeded by his eldest son, the 3rd Earl. He notably served as Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk from 1757 to 1797. In 1781 he also succeeded his mother as 16th Baron Clinton. Lord Orford never married and on his death the barony of Clinton became dormant (see the Baron Clinton article for later history of this peerage), while the other titles were inherited by his uncle, the 4th Earl, at birth known as Horace Walpole, who was a politician and early expounder of the Neo-Gothic in architecture and the Gothic novel. He never married either and so on his death in 1797, three of his titles of different ranks became extinct, while he was succeeded as Baron Walpole of Walpole according to the special remainder by his cousin Horatio Walpole (known as the younger), who had already inherited his own father's title, Baron Walpole of Wolterton.

Horatio Walpole the Younger

As said, Horatio Walpole (the Younger) succeeded his father as Baron Walpole of Wolterton in 1757 and eventually as Baron Walpole of Walpole in 1797. He had earlier represented King's Lynn in Parliament. In favour with those in power, in 1806 the earldom of Orford was recreated for him.

Later holders

Horatio the younger's son sat as Member of Parliament for Wigan and King's Lynn before coming into his earldom. His grandson, the 4th Earl, briefly represented Wigan in the House of Commons.

The baronies of Walpole of Walpole and Walpole of Wolterton were inherited by the late 5th Earl's distant cousin, who was a male-line descendant of the Hon. Thomas Walpole, second son of the 1st Baron Walpole of Wolterton. As of 2021, the two remaining peerages are held by the 9th/7th Baron's grandson, the 11th/9th Baron Walpole. The 10/8th Baron was one of the ninety hereditary peers who remained in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act of 1999, and sat as a cross-bencher, until his retirement on 13 June 2017.

The family seat is Mannington Hall, near Itteringham, Norfolk.

Barons Walpole of Walpole (1723)

• Robert Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole of Walpole (1701–1751) (succeeded as 2nd Earl of Orford in 1745)

Earls of Orford, Viscounts Walpole, Barons Walpole of Houghton (1742)

• Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, 1st Viscount Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole of Houghton (1676–1745)
• Robert Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford, 2nd Viscount Walpole, 2nd Baron Walpole of Houghton, 1st Baron Walpole of Walpole (1701–1751)
• George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford, 3rd Viscount Walpole, 3rd Baron Walpole of Houghton, 2nd Baron Walpole of Walpole (1730–1791) (succeeded as 16th Baron Clinton in 1781)
• Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford, 4th Viscount Walpole, 4th Baron Walpole of Houghton, 3rd Baron Walpole of Walpole (1717–1797)

Barons Walpole of Wolterton (1756)

• Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole of Wolterton (1678–1757)
• Horatio Walpole, 2nd Baron Walpole of Wolterton (1723–1809) (succeeded as 4th Baron Walpole of Walpole in 1797 and created Earl of Orford in 1806)

Earls of Orford (1806), Barons Walpole of Walpole and Barons Walpole of Wolterton

• Horatio Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, 4th Baron Walpole of Walpole, 2nd Baron Walpole of Wolterton (1723–1809)
• Horatio Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford, 5th Baron Walpole of Walpole, 3rd Baron Walpole of Wolterton (1752–1822)
• Horatio Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford, 6th Baron Walpole of Walpole, 4th Baron Walpole of Wolterton (1783–1858)
• Horatio William Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford, 7th Baron Walpole of Walpole, 5th Baron Walpole of Wolterton (1813–1894)
• Robert Horace Walpole, 5th Earl of Orford, 8th Baron Walpole of Walpole, 6th Baron Walpole of Wolterton (1854–1931)

Barons Walpole of Walpole and Barons Walpole of Wolterton following reversion

• Robert Henry Montgomerie Walpole, 9th Baron Walpole of Walpole, 7th Baron Walpole of Wolterton (1913–1989)
• Robert Horatio Walpole, 10th Baron Walpole of Walpole, 8th Baron Walpole of Wolterton (1938–2021)
• Jonathan Robert Hugh Walpole, 11th Baron Walpole of Walpole, 9th Baron Walpole of Wolterton (b. 1967)

The heir presumptive is the present holder's brother, the Hon. Benedict Thomas Orford Walpole (b. 1969).
The heir presumptive's heir apparent is his elder son, Thomas Walpole (b. 2003).

Title succession chart

Title succession chart

Title succession chart, Barons Walpole (of Walpole, of Houghton, and of Wolterton), Viscounts Walpole, and Earls of Orford (second and third creations). Col. Robert Walpole 1650–1700 Earl of Orford (1742 creation) Viscount Walpole Baron Walpole of Houghton Baron Walpole of Wolterton Edward Walpole 1674–? Burwell Walpole 1675–? Robert Walpole 1st Earl of Orford 1st Baron Walpole of Houghton 1676–1745 Prime Minister of Great Britain John Walpole 1677–? Horatio Walpole 1st Baron Walpole of Wolterton 1678–1757 Baron Walpole of Walpole Earl of Orford (1806 creation) Robert Walpole 2nd Earl of Orford 1st Baron Walpole of Walpole 2nd Baron Walpole of Houghton 1701–1751 Hon. Sir Edward Walpole 1706–1784 Horace Walpole 4th Earl of Orford 3rd Baron Walpole of Walpole 4th Baron Walpole of Houghton 1717–1797 Horatio Walpole 1st Earl of Orford 4th Baron Walpole of Walpole 2nd Baron Walpole of Wolterton 1723–1809 Hon. Thomas Walpole 1727–1803 Earldom, viscountcy and barony Walpole of Houghton extinct George Walpole 3rd Earl of Orford 2nd Baron Walpole of Walpole 3rd Baron Walpole of Houghton 16th Baron Clinton 1730–1791 Edward Walpole 1737–1771 Horatio Walpole 2nd Earl of Orford 5th Baron Walpole of Walpole 3rd Baron Walpole of Wolterton 1752–1822 Maj.Gen. Hon. George Walpole 1758–1835 Thomas Walpole 1755–1840 Horatio Walpole 3rd Earl of Orford 6th Baron Walpole of Walpole 4th Baron Walpole of Wolterton 1783–1858 Frederick Walpole 1786–? John Walpole 1787–1859 Rev. Thomas Walpole 1805–1881 Horatio Walpole 4th Earl of Orford 7th Baron Walpole of Walpole 5th Baron Walpole of Wolterton 1813–1894 Hon. Henry Walpole 1818–1876 Cdr. Hon. Frederick Walpole 1822–1876 Henry Vade-Walpole 1837–1913 Robert Walpole 5th Earl of Orford 8th Baron Walpole of Walpole 6th Baron Walpole of Wolterton 1854–1931 Clare Walpole 1858–1906 Thomas Vade-Walpole 1879–1915 Horatio Spencer Walpole 1881–1918 Earldom extinct Baronies inherited from the 5th Earl of Orford Horatio Walpole 1891–1893 Robert Walpole 9th Baron Walpole of Walpole 7th Baron Walpole of Wolterton 1913–1989 Robert Walpole 10th Baron Walpole of Walpole 8th Baron Walpole of Wolterton 1938–2021 Jonathan Walpole 11th Baron Walpole of Walpole 9th Baron Walpole of Wolterton born 1967 Hon. Benedict Walpole born 1969 Thomas Walpole born 2003

Family tree: Earls of Bedford, Dukes of Bedford, Earls of Orford, and Earls Russell

King Edward III 1312–1377 John of Gaunt 1340–1399 Duke of Lancaster King Henry IV 1367–1413 Joan Beaufort c. 1379–1440 Countess of Westmorland Duke of Bedford (1st creation), 1414 Duke of Bedford (2nd creation), 1433 King Henry V 1386–1422 John of Lancaster 1389–1435 Duke of Bedford Dukedom of Bedford (1st creation) extinct, 1432 Dukedom of Bedford (2nd creation) extinct, 1435 Catherine of Valois 1401–1437 Owen Tudor 1400–1461 Cecily Neville 1415–1495 Duchess of York Richard Neville 1400–1460 5th Earl of Salisbury Duke of Bedford (5th creation), 1485 King Henry VI 1421–1471 Edmund Tudor c. 1430–1456 1st Earl of Richmond Jasper Tudor c. 1431–1495 Duke of Bedford King Edward IV 1442–1483 King Richard III 1452–1485 John Neville c. 1431–1471 1st Marquess of Montagu Dukedom of Bedford (5th creation) extinct, 1495 Duke of Bedford (4th creation), 1478 Duke of Bedford (3rd creation), 1470 King Henry VII 1457–1509 Elizabeth of York 1466–1503 George Plantagenet 1477–1479 Duke of Bedford George Neville c. 1457–1483 Duke of Bedford Baron Russell, 1539 Earl of Bedford (3rd creation), 1551 Dukedom of Bedford (4th creation) extinct, 1479 Dukedom of Bedford (3rd creation) extinct, 1478 John Russell c. 1485–1555 1st Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell Francis Russell 1527–1585 2nd Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 1603 Edward Russell 1551–1572 Lord Russell John Russell c. 1553–1584 Lord Russell Francis Russell c. 1554–1585 Lord Russell William Russell c. 1558–1613 1st Baron Russell of Thornhaugh Edward Russell 1572–1627 3rd Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell Francis Russell 1593–1641 4th Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell, 2nd Baron Russell of Thornhaugh Duke of Bedford (6th creation) and Marquess of Tavistock, 1694 Baron Howland, 1695 William Russell 1616–1700 1st Duke of Bedford, Marquess of Tavistock, and Baron Howland 5th Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell, 3rd Baron Russell of Thornhaugh Edward Russell 1626–1665 Earl of Orford (1st creation), Viscount Barfleur and Baron of Shingay, in the County of Cambridge, 1697 Francis Russell 1638–1679 Lord Russell William Russell 1639–1683 Lord Russell Margaret Russell 1656–1702 Edward Russell 1652–1727 Earl of Orford Robert Walpole 1650–1700 Attainted, 1683 Earldom of Orford (1st creation) extinct, 1727 Earl of Orford (2nd creation), Viscount Walpole and Baron Walpole of Houghton in the County of Norfolk, 1742 Baron Walpole of Wolterton in the County of Norfolk Wriothesley Russell 1680–1711 2nd Duke of Bedford, Marquess of Tavistock, and Baron Howland 5th Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell, 6th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh Robert Walpole 1676–1745 1st Earl of Orford, Viscount Walpole, and Baron Walpole of Houghton Horatio Walpole 1678–1757 1st Baron Walpole of Wolterton Baron Walpole of Walpole in the County of Norfolk Earl of Orford (3rd creation), 1806 Wriothesley Russell 1708–1732 3rd Duke of Bedford, Marquess of Tavistock, and Baron Howland 5th Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell, 7th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh John Russell 1710–1771 4th Duke of Bedford, Marquess of Tavistock, and Baron Howland 8th Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell, 6th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh Robert Walpole 1701–1751 2nd Earl of Orford, Viscount Walpole, and Baron Walpole of Houghton, 1st Baron Walpole of Walpole Horace Walpole "Horatio" 1717–1797 4th Earl of Orford, Viscount Walpole, and Baron Walpole of Houghton, 3rd Baron Walpole of Walpole Maria Walpole 1725–1801 Horatio Walpole "the Younger" 1723–1809 1st Earl of Orford, 4th Baron Walpole of Walpole, 2nd Baron Walpole of Wolterton Earldom of Orford (2nd creation) extinct, 1797 Francis Russell 1739–1767 styled Marquess of Tavistock George Walpole 1730–1791 3rd Earl of Orford, Viscount Walpole, and Baron Walpole of Houghton, 2nd Baron Walpole of Walpole Francis Russell 1765–1802 5th Duke of Bedford, Marquess of Tavistock, and Baron Howland 9th Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell, 7th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 7th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh John Russell 1766–1839 6th Duke of Bedford, Marquess of Tavistock, and Baron Howland 10th Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell, 8th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh William Russell 1767–1840 Sophia Churchill d. 1797 Horatio Walpole 1752–1822 2nd Earl of Orford, 5th Baron Walpole of Walpole, 3rd Baron Walpole of Wolterton Earl Russell and Viscount Amberley, 1861 Francis Russell 1788–1861 7th Duke of Bedford, Marquess of Tavistock, and Baron Howland 11th Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell, 9th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh George William Russell 1790–1846 John Russell 1792–1878 1st Earl Russell Horatio Walpole 1783–1858 3rd Earl of Orford, 6th Baron Walpole of Walpole, 4th Baron Walpole of Wolterton Baron Ampthill, 1881 William Russell 1809–1872 8th Duke of Bedford, Marquess of Tavistock, and Baron Howland 12th Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell, 10th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh Francis Charles Hastings Russell 1819–1891 9th Duke of Bedford, Marquess of Tavistock, and Baron Howland 13th Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell, 11th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh Odo William Leopold Russell 1829–1884 1st Baron Ampthill John Russell 1842–1876 Viscount Amberley Horatio Walpole 1813–1858 4th Earl of Orford, 7th Baron Walpole of Walpole, 5th Baron Walpole of Wolterton Robert Walpole 1854–1931 5th Earl of Orford, 8th Baron Walpole of Walpole, 6th Baron Walpole of Wolterton Earldom of Orford (3rd creation) extinct, 1931 George William Francis Sackville Russell 1852–1893 10th Duke of Bedford, Marquess of Tavistock, and Baron Howland 14th Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell, 12th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh Herbrand Arthur Russell 1858–1940 11th Duke of Bedford, Marquess of Tavistock, and Baron Howland 15th Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell, 13th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh John Francis Stanley Russell 1865–1931 2nd Earl Russell Bertrand Arthur William Russell 1872–1970 3rd Earl Russell Hastings William Sackville Russell 1888–1953 12th Duke of Bedford, Marquess of Tavistock, and Baron Howland 16th Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell, 14th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh John Ian Robert Russell 1917–2002 13th Duke of Bedford, Marquess of Tavistock, and Baron Howland 17th Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell, 15th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh John Conrad Russell 1921–1987 4th Earl Russell Conrad Sebastian Robert Russell 1937–2004 5th Earl Russell Henry Robin Ian Russell 1940–2003 14th Duke of Bedford, Marquess of Tavistock, and Baron Howland 18th Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell, 16th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh Andrew Ian Henry Russell 15th Duke of Bedford, Marquess of Tavistock, and Baron Howland 19th Earl of Bedford and Baron Russell, 17th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh b. 1962 Nicholas Lyulph Russell 1968–2014 6th Earl Russell John Francis Russell b. 1971 7th Earl Russell Henry Robin Charles Russell b. 2005 styled Marquess of Tavistock

See also

• Earl of Orford
• Wolterton Hall
• Spencer Horatio Walpole
• Spencer Walpole
• Lady Walpole (disambiguation)

Notes and references

Notes

References

References

• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,
• Burkes Peerage and Baronetage (1939)
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages