Shelley Baronets - Shelley of Castle Goring

Shelley of Castle Goring

The Shelley Baronetcy, of Castle Goring in the County of Sussex, was created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 3 March 1806 for Bysshe Shelley . Sir Bysshe Shelley was succeeded by his eldest son, Timothy, from his first marriage. Upon his death, Sir Timothy became the second Baronet. His eldest son and heir apparent was the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Percy Bysshe Shelley died before his father, leaving two sons: Charles Bysshe Shelley by his first wife Harriet Westbrook, and Percy Florence Shelley, Shelley's son from his second marriage to the author Mary Shelley. Upon the death of Sir Timothy, Percy Florence Shelley became the third Baronet. However, he died childless and the title passed to his first cousin, Edward Shelley, who then became the fourth Baronet.

Sir Bysshe Shelley had one son from his second marriage, John Shelley. His name was changed to Shelley-Sidney in 1795. He was created a Baronet, of Penshurst Place, in 1818. (see below)

Edward Shelley was the son of John Shelley, the second son of Sir Timothy Shelley. On his death in 1890 the title passed to his younger brother, Lt.-Col. Sir Charles Shelley, the fifth Baronet. He was succeeded by his son, Sir John Courtown Edward Shelley-Rolls, the sixth Baronet. Sir John married the Hon. Eleanor Georgiana Rolls, daughter of the 1st Baron Llangattock, and in 1917 they assumed the additional surname and arms of Rolls. When he died the title passed to his younger brother, Sir Percy Bysshe Shelley, the seventh Baronet. On Sir Percy's death in 1965 this line of the family failed and the title was inherited by the late Baronet's kinsman, William Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle, who became the eighth Baronet of Castle Goring as well. For further history of the title, see the Viscount De L'Isle.