Baron Ashburton, of Ashburton in the County of Devon, is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of Great Britain and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Since 1835, the title has been held by members of the Baring family.

Alexander Baring,
1st Baron Ashburton
Arms of Dunning, Baron Ashburton: Bendy sinister of eight or and vert, overall a lion rampant sable.

History

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The first creation came in the Peerage of Great Britain 1782 in favour of the barrister and Whig politician Sir John Dunning. This creation became extinct in 1823 on the death of his son Richard, the second Baron.

The title was revived in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1835 for the financier and Tory politician Alexander Baring. He was the first cousin of the last holder of the 1782 creation. A member of the distinguished Baring family, Lord Ashburton was the second son of Sir Francis Baring, 1st Baronet, the uncle of Francis Baring, 1st Baron Northbrook, Evelyn Baring, 1st Earl of Cromer, and Edward Baring, 1st Baron Revelstoke, and the great-uncle of Thomas Baring, 1st Earl of Northbrook, and Evelyn Baring, 1st Baron Howick of Glendale.

Lord Ashburton was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Baron. He held office in the second Tory administration of Sir Robert Peel. His younger brother, the third Baron, represented Thetford in the House of Commons. The town of Ashburton, New Zealand, is named after him. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the fourth Baron, who also sat as Member of Parliament for Thetford. His son, Francis Baring, succeeded as the fifth Baron in 1889. The fifth Baron was married twice; his second wife, Frances Donnelley, having been one of Broadway's celebrated Florodora sextet in New York. His only son, Alexander Baring, the sixth Baron, was a member of the Hampshire County Council and Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire.

As of 2020, the title is held by the latter's grandson, the eighth Baron. His father, the seventh Baron, was a prominent businessman. As a descendant of Sir Francis Baring, 1st Baronet, the eighth Baron is also in remainder to that title, which is now held by his kinsman, the Lord Northbrook.

Both the 6th and the 7th Barons were appointed Knights of the Garter.

The Hon. Guy Baring, younger son of the fourth Baron, was a soldier and Conservative politician. His son Giles Baring was a successful cricketer.

The family seat is The Grange, near Northington, Hampshire.

Barons Ashburton, first creation (1782)

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Heraldic achievement of Dunning, Barons Ashburton: Bendy sinister of eight or and vert, overall a lion rampant sable.

Coat of arms

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  • Arms: Bendy sinister of eight or and vert, overall a lion rampant sable.
  • Crest: On a wreath, an antelope's head couped proper, attired, or.
  • Supporters: Two antelopes proper, attired, hoofed, and charged on the breast with an acorn slipped proper, and gorged with collars, bendy of eight, or and vert.
  • Motto: Studiis et rebus honestis ("for studies and other honest pursuits")

Barons Ashburton, second creation (1835)

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Heraldic achievement of Baring, as borne by John Baring, 7th Baron Ashburton (second creation), as a Knight of the Garter: Azure, on a fess or a cross pattée fitchée of the first in chief a bear's head couped proper muzzled and gorged of the second. The Baring arms otherwise have no charge on the fess.[1]

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, the Hon. Frederick Charles Francis Baring (born 1990).

Coat of arms

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  • Arms: Azure, on a fess or a cross pattée fitchée of the first in chief a bear's head couped[2] proper muzzled and gorged of the second.
  • Crest: A five rays star Erminois between two wings Argent.
  • Supporters: On either side a bear proper muzzled gorged Or, a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back also Or, the bear charged on the shoulder with a cross patée fitchée also Or.
  • Motto: Virtus in arduis ("fortitude under difficulties")[3][4][5][6]

Title succession chart

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Title succession chart, Barons Ashburton (both creations).
Johann (John) Baring
1697–1748
Baring baronetcy
(1793, GB)
Baron Ashburton
(first creation, 1782)
Sir Francis Baring
1st Baronet

1740–1810
John Dunning
1st Baron Ashburton

1731–1783
Elizabeth Dunning
Baroness Ashburton
(née Baring)
1744–1809
Baron Ashburton
(second creation, 1835)
Sir Thomas Baring
2nd Baronet

1772–1848
Alexander Baring
1st Baron Ashburton

1774–1848
Hon.
John Dunning
1781–1783
Richard Dunning
2nd Baron Ashburton

1782–1823
For descendants, see
Baron Northbrook.
Barony extinct
 
Bingham Baring
2nd Baron Ashburton

1799–1864
Francis Baring
3rd Baron Ashburton

1800–1868
Alexander Baring
1828–1830
Alexander Baring
4th Baron Ashburton

1835–1889
Francis Baring
5th Baron Ashburton

1866–1938
Alexander Baring
6th Baron Ashburton

1898–1991
John Baring
7th Baron Ashburton

1928–2020
Mark Baring
8th Baron Ashburton

born 1958
Hon.
Frederick Baring
born 1990
Wider family tree

Line of succession

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Line of succession (second creation)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Montague-Smith, P. W. (ed.), Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Companionage, Kelly's Directories Ltd, Kingston-upon-Thames, 1968, p. 82.
  2. ^ Here shown erased. Bear's head shown couped on the Banner of Alexander Baring, 6th Baron Ashburton (died 1991), KG, in Winchester Cathedral.
  3. ^ , Ashburton Baron (UK, 1835), Cracroft's Peerage [Altered tinctures]. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  4. ^ Image of correct arms (right) St George's Chapel Archived 30 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  5. ^ House of Baring Archived 11 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine. European Heraldry [Correct tinctures]. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  6. ^ Crest of the Baron Ashburton. Heraldic Sculptor. Retrieved 19 December 2013.

References

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  • Kidd, Charles (1903). Debrett's peerage, baronetage, knightage, and companionage. London: London: Dean & son, limited. p. 102. Archived from the original on 20 June 2016. John Debrett Alt URL
  • Hesilrige, Arthur G. M. (1921). Debrett's Peerage and Titles of courtesy. London: London: Dean & son, limited. p. 63.
  • Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages [self-published source] [better source needed]
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