Dashwood Baronets

Dashwood Baronets

There have been two baronetcies created for members of the Dashwood family, one in the Baronetage of England and one in the Baronetage of Great Britain. Both creations are extant as of 2008.

The Dashwood Baronetcy, of Kirtlington Park in the County of Oxford, was created in the Baronetage of England on 16 September 1684 for Robert Dashwood, later Member of Parliament for Banbury and Oxfordshire, with remainder, in default of male issue of his own, to the heirs male of his father. He was the son of George Dashwood, an Alderman of London and Commissioner of Revenue. George Dashwood was offered a baronetcy but did not take up the patent, and consequently a new patent was granted to his son. At the same time the widow of George Dashwood was granted the rank of a Baronet's widow. He was succeeded by his grandson, James, the second Baronet. He also represented Oxfordshire in the House of Commons. On his death in 1779 the title passed to his eldest son, Henry, the third Baronet. He was Member of Parliament for Woodstock for 36 years. His eldest son, George, the fourth Baronet, sat as Member of Parliament for Truro. When he died in 1861 the title passed to his son, Henry, the fifth Baronet. He served as Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire. As of 2008 the baronetcy is held by his great-great-grandson (the title having descended from father to son), Richard, who succeeded in 1972. See also the Dashwood Baronetcy of West Wycombe below.

Several other members of the family may also be mentioned. Arthur Paul Dashwood (1882–1964), third son of the sixth Baronet, was an engineer and the husband of the novelist E. M. Delafield. Henry Dashwood, brother of the first Baronet, assumed the surname of Peyton in lieu of Dashwood. He was a Member of Parliament and the ancestor of Henry Peyton, who was created a baronet in 1776 (see Peyton baronets for more information on this branch of the family). The Peyton baronets were in special remainder to the Baronetcy of Kirtlington Park until the extinction of the title in 1962.

The Dashwood Baronetcy, of West Wycombe in the County of Buckingham, was created in the Baronetage of Great Britain on 28 June 1707 for Francis Dashwood, a merchant and subsequently Member of Parliament for Winchelsea. He was the son of Alderman Francis Dashwood, brother of George Dashwood, father of the first Baronet of Kirtlington Park. He married Lady Mary, daughter of Vere Fane, 4th Earl of Westmorland and 11th Baron Le Despencer. Dashwood was succeeded by his son from his first marriage, Francis, the second Baronet. He was a prominent politician and served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1762 to 1763, but is probably best remembered as the founder of the Hellfire Club. In 1762 Dashwood succeeded his uncle as fifteenth Baron Le Despencer. He died without male issue in 1781 when the barony fell into abeyance (see Baron Le Despencer for further history of this title). The baronetcy was inherited by his half-brother, John, the third Baronet. He assumed the additional surname of King. For further history of the title, see the list of holders below. The Dashwood Baronetcy of West Wycombe is the Premier Baronetcy in the Baronetage of Great Britain. The family seat is West Wycombe Park, West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.