Duke of Leeds

Duke of Leeds was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1694 for the prominent statesman Thomas Osborne, 1st Marquess of Carmarthen. He had already succeeded as 2nd Baronet, of Kiveton, and been created Viscount Osborne, of Dunblane, in 1673, Baron Osborne, of Kiveton in the County of York, and Viscount Latimer, of Danby in the County of York, in 1673, Earl of Danby, in the County of York, in 1674, and Marquess of Carmarthen in 1689. All these titles were in the Peerage of England, except for the viscountcy of Osborne, which was in the Peerage of Scotland. He resigned the latter title in favour of his son in 1673. The Earldom of Danby was a revival of the title held by his great-uncle, Henry Danvers, 1st Earl of Danby (see Earl of Danby).

The Dukedom was named for Leeds in Yorkshire, and did not (as is sometimes claimed) refer to Leeds Castle in Kent. The principal ducal seat was Hornby Castle, Yorkshire.

Upon the death of the 7th Duke of Leeds in 1859, the dukedom passed to his cousin, the 2nd Baron Godolphin, whose father (the second son of the 5th Duke of Leeds) had been created Baron Godolphin, of Farnham Royal in the County of Buckingham, in 1832. The Barony of Godolphin and the Dukedom remained united until they became extinct on the death of the 12th Duke of Leeds in 1964.

The heir apparent to the Duke of Leeds was styled Marquess of Carmarthen, Lord Carmarthen's heir apparent was styled Earl of Danby, and Lord Danby's heir apparent was styled Viscount Latimer.