Baron Walpole

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

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

Award

The title was bestowed on Robert Walpole in 1723 . The elevation to the nobility took place in honor of his father Sir Robert Walpole , the first British Prime Minister . The award was made with a special note that not only the male descendants of the first baron, but also the male descendants of his father and grandfather were entitled to inherit the title.

Other titles

On the death of his father, the first baron inherited the title of Earl of Orford , Viscount Walpole and Baron Walpole , of Houghton in the County of Norfolk, created in 1742 . The titles, which had been awarded without special notice and also belonged to the Peerage of Great Britain, expired in 1797 when the fourth earl without a male descendant died.

In 1781 the third Earl and second Baron Walpole inherited from his mother the dignity of Baron Clinton created in 1298 and belonging to the Peerage of England . This title, which can also be inherited in the female line, was suspended after the death of the fourth earl / third baron. It was awarded to a distant relative in 1794.

The fourth Baron, the eldest son of the Prime Minister's younger brother, had inherited the title of his father Baron Walpole of Wolterton (created 1756) as early as 1757 . This title, which also belongs to the Peerage of Great Britain, has since been used by the respective baron.

In 1806 the dignity of Earl of Orford was again created for the fourth baron . This title belonged to the Peerage of the United Kingdom and expired with the death of the fifth earl in 1931.