Halford Baronets - Halford Baronets, of Wistow, Co Leicester (27 September 1809; Extinct 1897)

Halford Baronets, of Wistow, Co Leicester (27 September 1809; Extinct 1897)

This baronetcy was created on 27 September 1809 for Henry Halford (2 October 1766 - 9 March 1844), a prominent society physician who was physician extraordinary to the King since 1793. Halford was born Henry Vaughan in 1766, son of Dr. James Vaughan, and changed his name to Halford by Act of Parliament in expectation of inheriting Wistow Hall and the Halford wealth from the last of the Halfords. The baronetcy became extinct with his grandson, the fourth baronet, in 1897.

• Sir Henry Halford, 1st Baronet, born Henry Vaughan (1766–1844) who inherited Wistow Hall in 1814 with the death of Lady Denbigh, the long-lived widow of the last of the previous Halford baronets. He was President of the Royal College of Physicians 1820-1844 (his death). He was succeeded by his only son:
• Sir Henry Halford, 2nd Baronet (22 April 1797-22 May 1868); he was MP for Leicestershire South 1832-1857. Like his father, he was a classical scholar. His wife was Barbara Vaughan (26 July 1806 - 24 June 1869); she was his first cousin and daughter of Rt Hon. Sir John Vaughan (brother of the first baronet) by his wife Hon. Augusta St. John, widow of Andrew St John, 13th Baron St John of Bletso. Their son was:
• Sir Henry St. John Halford, 3rd Baronet (9 August 1828-4 January 1897), the last baronet, who was the first Chairman of Leicestershire County Council (established 1889) and a very prominent Volunteer and marksman. He married Elizabeth Ursula Bagshawe (27 October 1829-30 January 1897), daughter of W.J. Bagshawe,of The Oaks near Sheffield. The last Sir Henry had no direct descendants. On his death, Wistow Hall was inherited by his friend the 3rd Lord Cottesloe, who as T F Fremantle had joined with him and W E Metford in their experimental work on the rifle. The 4th Baron Cottesloe, whose daughter and son-in-law inherited Wistow Hall in 1958, was named partly for this friend of his father.
• Reverend Sir John Frederick Halford, 4th and last Baronet (16 May 1830 - 4 April 1897). He married Ismena Andrews (19 April 1838 -6 February 1912), third daughter of John S. Andrews.