Baron Harmsworth Explained

Barony Harmsworth
Creation Date:7 February 1939
First Holder:Cecil Harmsworth
Present Holder:Thomas Harmsworth
Heir Apparent:Dominic Harmsworth
Remainder To:the 1st baron's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten

Baron Harmsworth, of Egham in the County of Surrey, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1939 for the Liberal politician Cecil Harmsworth, Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs between 1919 and 1922. the title is held by his grandson, the third Baron, who succeeded his uncle in 1990.

The first Baron Harmsworth was the younger brother of Alfred Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe, and Harold Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Rothermere, and the elder brother of Sir Leicester Harmsworth, 1st Baronet, and Sir Hildebrand Harmsworth, 1st Baronet.

The family seat is The Old Rectory, near Stoke Abbott, Dorset.

History

Rothermere had tried repeatedly to secure a title for his younger brother Cecil, finally succeeding in 1939, the year before he died.[1] At the New Year Honours that year, Cecil Harmsworth received a barony 'for political and public services'. Taking the title of Baron Harmsworth of Egham, younger members of the family joked that he was the "Lord Ham of Egg". The first Baron Harmsworth enjoyed his title for nine years and died in 1948.

Barons Harmsworth (1939)

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, the Hon. Dominic Michael Eric Harmsworth (b. 1973)
The heir apparent's heir apparent is his eldest son, Thomas John Mark Harmsworth (b. 2003)

Male-line family tree

See also

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Book: Ferris, Paul . The House of Northcliffe: the Harmsworths of Fleet Street . 1971 . Weidenfeld and Nicolson . 0297993860 . London . 304.