Viscount Scarsdale

Viscount Scarsdale, of Scarsdale in the County of Derby, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1911 for the prominent Conservative politician and former Viceroy of India George Curzon, 1st Baron Curzon of Kedleston, who was created Earl Curzon of Kedleston at the same time and was later made Marquess Curzon of Kedleston. The first member of the Curzon family to hold a hereditary title was John Curzon, who created a baronet, of Kedleston in the County of Derby, in both the Baronetage of Nova Scotia (18 June 1636) and the Baronetage of England (11 August 1641). His grandson, the third Baronet, sat as a Member of Parliament for Derbyshire. His younger brother, the fourth Baronet, represented Derby, Clitheroe and Derbyshire in the House of Commons. His eldest son, the fifth Baronet, also sat as a Member of Parliament for Clitheroe and Derbyshire. In 1761 he was created Baron Scarsdale, of Scarsdale in the County of Derby, in the Peerage of Great Britain. Lord Scarsdale later served as Chairman of Committees in the House of Lords. His son, the second Baron, represented Derbyshire in the House of Commons. His grandson, the fourth Baron, was Rector of Kedleston.

The latter's eldest son George Curzon was a distinguished Conservative politician. On his appointment as Viceroy of India in 1898 he was created Baron Curzon of Kedleston, in the County of Derby, in the Peerage of Ireland, to enable him to potentially return to the House of Commons (as Irish peers did not have an automatic right to sit in the House of Lords). In the event he never returned to the House of Commons and following his return from India was elected an Irish Representative Peer in 1908. The barony of Curzon of Kedleston was to be the last title created in the Peerage of Ireland. In 1911 Curzon was made (1) Baron Ravensdale, of Ravensdale in the County of Derby, with remainder in default of male issue to his eldest daughter and the heirs of her body, failing whom to his other daughters in like manner in order of primogeniture (2) Viscount Scarsdale, of Scarsdale in the County of Derby, with remainder in default of male issue to his father and the male heirs of his body, and (3) Earl Curzon of Kedleston, in the County of Derby, with remainder to the heirs male of his body. All these titles were in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. In 1916 he also succeeded his father in the barony of Scarsdale. In 1921 he was further honoured when he was created Earl of Kedleston, in the County of Derby, and Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, with remainder to the male heirs of his body. Both titles were in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

Lord Curzon had no sons and on his death the barony of Curzon of Kedleston, the earldoms of Curzon of Kedleston and of Kedleston and the marquessate became extinct while he was succeeded in the barony of Ravensdale according to the special remainder by his daughter Mary Irene. The viscountcy of Scarsdale passed according to the special remainder to his nephew, the second Viscount, who also succeeded as sixth Baron Scarsdale and as tenth Baronet. On the second Viscount's death the titles passed to his first cousin, the third Viscount. He was the son of the Hon. Francis Nathaniel Curzon, third son of the fourth Baron. As of 2010 the titles are held by the latter's son, the fourth Viscount Scarsdale.

As of 30 June 2006, the present holder of the Viscountcy has not successfully proven his succession to the Baronetcy and is therefore not on the Official Roll of the Baronetage. However, the case is under review by the Registrar of the Baronetage.

Assheton Curzon, second son of the fourth Curzon Baronet, was created Viscount Curzon in 1802 and is the ancestor of the Earls Howe (see this title for more information).