Alas, red-bound bibles are a rarity these days.
Burke’s Peerage and Baronetage, Debrett’s Peerage and Baronetage, Burke’s Landed Gentry, Baily’s Hunting Directory – all of the greatest interest to those listed within their red covers – are of less interest to hoi polloi. I thought Who’s Who 2022 was the last of the breed extant in hard copy but I was wrong.
The Standing Council of the Baronetage periodically publish this magnificent tome and ruddy good it is. (The previous edition was in 2017.) It is edited by Stephen Kershaw CBE and he is realistic about the Baronetcy today and its future.
“On 1 January 1965 there were 1,470 baronets in Britain (taking into account all those given reasonable credence by Debrett’s Peerage & Baronetage at the time). Of these, 153 were baronets of England; 108 of Nova Scotia/Scotland; 66 of Ireland; 136 of Great Britain; and 1,007 of the United Kingdom. 270 baronets were also peers (one a disclaimed peer). How has this landscape changed since?
At the beginning of 2023 there are 1,192 baronets – a reduction of almost five a year on average, and 18 per cent overall. Of these, 134 are baronets of England; 103 of Nova Scotia/Scotland; 57 of Ireland; 121 of Great Britain; and 777 of the United Kingdom. 240 are also peers.
Of the original 1,470 baronetcies, 279 have become extinct or fallen dormant; and seven have merged with older titles. On the other hand, seven baronetcies dormant in 1965 have been revived; and there has been one new creation. A handful of other changes to subsidiary baronetcies have not affected these headline numbers directly.”
Making some assumptions, Kershaw estimates there may be about 600 baronetcies in fifty years time, down 23 per cent from today. They aren’t making them anymore. The last baronetcy was created in 1990 for Denis Thatcher. Kershaw concludes:
”As with the hereditary peerage, both the size and cohesion of the baronetage are diminishing in a changing world, and we can expect these trends to continue. Sadly, while baronets are well represented among Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Crossbench peers in the House of Lords, for the first time since 1611 there are none in the House of Commons. But baronets and their families continue to make an important contribution to British life, as Lords Lieutenant and High Sheriffs, custodians of great houses, campaigners for important causes, clan chiefs, armed forces leaders, creators and managers of successful businesses and patrons and chairs of the myriad of local endeavours that shape and support our communities. And the Standing Council will remain a valuable point of focus for them Order as a whole, honouring the Royal Warrants and safeguarding the interests of those distinguished in this way.”
You may, if you feel inclined, read The Official Roll of the Baronetage (as at 13th February 2023) HERE.
The Thatcher baronetcy was created for Dennis not Margaret, surely?
What a howler! And it was created in 1990. Both mistakes corrected, thank you for your vigilance.