Baron Lyttelton

Baron Lyttelton

Lord Lyttelton, Baron of Frankley, in the County of Worcester, is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain, created in 1794. Since 1889 it is a subsidiary title of the viscountcy of Cobham.

The Lyttelton family descends from Thomas Lyttelton, who in 1618 he was created a Baronet, of Frankley in the County of Worcester, in the Baronetage of England. He later represented Worcestershire in the House of Commons. His son, the second Baronet, sat as Member of Parliament for Lichfield. On his death the titles passed to his younger brother, the third Baronet, He represented Bewdley in Parliament. He was succeeded by his son, the fourth Baronet. He was Member of Parliament for Worcester and Camelford. Lyttelton married Christian, daughter of Sir Richard Temple, 3rd Baronet, and sister of Richard Temple, 1st Viscount Cobham, and Hester Grenville, 1st Countess Temple. The viscountcy of Cobham and its junior title the barony of Cobham were created with remainder, failing male issue, to (1) Lord Cobham's eldest sister Hester Grenville (who succeeded as second Viscountess in 1749 and was created Earl Temple in 1750) and the heirs male of her body and (2) to his third sister Christian, with remainder to the heirs male of her body.

Lyttelton was succeeded by his eldest son, the fifth Baronet, who was a prominent politician. In 1755 he was created Lord Lyttelton, Baron of Frankley, in the County of Worcester, in the Peerage of Great Britain. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baron. He briefly represented Bewdley in the House of Commons. Lord Lyttelton had no legitimate issue and on his death in 1779 the barony became extinct. However, he was succeeded in the baronetcy by his uncle, the seventh Baronet. He also represented Bewdley in Parliament and served as Governor of South Carolina and of Jamaica. In 1776, three years before he succeeded in the baronetcy, he was created Baron Westcote, of Balamere in the County of Longford, in the Peerage of Ireland. In 1794 the barony of Lyttelton created for his brother in 1755 was revived when he was raised to the Peerage of Great Britain as Lord Lyttelton, Baron of Frankley, in the County of Worcester.

His eldest son, the second Baron, also sat as Member of Parliament for Bewdley. He was succeeded by his half-brother, the third Baron. He represented Worcestershire in the House of Commons and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire. His son, the fourth Baron, was briefly Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies in 1846 under Sir Robert Peel and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire. On his death the titles passed to his son, the fifth Baron. In 1889 he succeeded his distant relative Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, as eighth Baron and Viscount Cobham, according to the aforementioned special remainder in the letters patent. For later history of the titles, see the Viscount Cobham.

Another member of the Lyttelton family was the prominent sportsman and politician the Hon. Alfred Lyttelton. He was the eighth son of the fourth Baron Lyttelton. His son was the politician Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos.