Baron Southampton

Baron Southampton, of Southampton in the County of Southampton, is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1780 for the soldier and politician Charles FitzRoy. He was the third son of Lord Augustus FitzRoy, second son of Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton, while Prime Minister Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton was his elder brother. Lord Southampton was also the great-great-grandson (through an illegitimate line) of King Charles II by his mistress Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland. The Southampton title had previously been created for Charles FitzRoy, eldest natural son of Charles II and the Duchess of Cleveland and the elder brother of Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton, but had become extinct in 1774 on the death of his son William FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Cleveland and 2nd Duke of Southampton, six years before the creation of the barony of Southampton.

The first Baron Southampton's grandson, the third Baron, notably served as Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire from 1867 to 1872. Lord Southampton was succeeded by his eldest son, the fourth Baron. He held the title for 86 years and 144 days, the second longest time anyone has held a peerage (the only person to have held a title longer was Charles St Clair, 13th Lord Sinclair, who held this Scottish Lordship for 87 years and 104 days). His son, the fifth Baron, disclaimed the title on 16 March 1964. On his death in 1989 the title passed to his son, the sixth and (As of 2010) present Baron. As a descendant of the second Duke of Grafton he is also in remainder to this peerage and its subsidiary titles.

Two other members of this branch of the FitzRoy family also gained distinction. The Hon. Henry FitzRoy, second son of the second Baron, was a politician. The Hon. Edward FitzRoy, second son of the third Baron, served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1928 until his death in 1943. In 1943 his widow was created Viscountess Daventry in his honour.