Duke of Sutherland

Title in the peerage of the United Kingdom

Dukedom of Sutherland

Arms of Egerton, Dukes of Sutherland: Argent, a lion rampant gules between three pheons sable

Creation date| 14 January 1833
Created by| King William IV
Peerage| Peerage of the United Kingdom
First holder| George Leveson-Gower, 2nd Marquess of Stafford
Present holder| Francis Egerton, 7th Duke of Sutherland
Heir apparent| James Granville Egerton, Marquess of Stafford
Remainder to| the 1st Duke's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titles| Marquess of Stafford
Earl Gower
Earl of Ellesmere
Viscount Trentham
Viscount Brackley
Baron Gower
Seat(s)| Mertoun House
Former seat(s)| Lilleshall Hall
Trentham Hall
Dunrobin Castle
Cliveden
Stafford House
George Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland, by Thomas Phillips John Egerton, 6th Duke of Sutherland, by Allan Warren

Duke of Sutherland is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom which was created by William IV in 1833 for George Leveson-Gower, 2nd Marquess of Stafford. A series of marriages to heiresses by members of the Leveson-Gower family made the dukes of Sutherland one of the richest landowning families in the United Kingdom. The title remained in the Leveson-Gower family until the death of the 5th Duke of Sutherland in 1963, when it passed to the 5th Earl of Ellesmere from the Egerton family.

The subsidiary titles of the Duke of Sutherland are Marquess of Stafford (created 1786), Earl Gower (1746), Earl of Ellesmere, of Ellesmere in the County of Shropshire (1846), Viscount Trentham, of Trentham in the County of Stafford (1746), Viscount Brackley, of Brackley in the County of Northampton (1846), and Baron Gower, of Sittenham in the County of York (1703). The marquessate of Stafford, the earldom of Gower and the viscountcy of Trentham are in the Peerage of Great Britain, the dukedom, the earldom of Ellesmere and the viscountcy of Brackley in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, and the barony of Gower in the Peerage of England. The Duke is also a Baronet, of Sittenham in the County of York, a title created in the Baronetage of England in 1620.[1] Between 1839 and 1963 the Dukes also held the titles of Lord Strathnaver and Earl of Sutherland, both in the Peerage of Scotland. The Scottish titles came into the family through the marriage of the first Duke to Elizabeth Sutherland, 19th Countess of Sutherland.

## Family history

[edit]

Thomas Gower was created a baronet, of Sittenham in the County of York, by James I of England in 1620. This title was in the Baronetage of England. His son Thomas, the second Baronet, married Frances, daughter of John Leveson. Their grandson William, the fourth Baronet (who succeeded his unmarried elder brother), assumed the additional surname of Leveson. William married Lady Jane (d. 1696), daughter of John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath and sister of Grace Carteret, 1st Countess Granville (see Earl Granville). Their son John, the fifth Baronet, was raised to the Peerage of England as Baron Gower, of Sittenham in the County of York, in 1706. His son, the second Baron, served three times as Lord Privy Seal. In 1746 he was created Viscount Trentham, of Trentham in the County of Stafford, and Earl Gower. Both titles are in the Peerage of Great Britain. His eldest surviving son from his first marriage, Granville, the second Earl, was also a prominent politician. In 1786 he was created Marquess of Stafford in the Peerage of Great Britain. Lord Stafford married secondly Lady Louisa Egerton, daughter of Scroop Egerton, 1st Duke of Bridgewater. His son from his third marriage to Lady Susanna Stewart, Lord Granville Leveson-Gore, was created Earl Granville in 1833, a revival of the title created for his great-great-aunt in 1715. Lord Stafford was succeeded by his eldest son from his second marriage, George. He married Elizabeth Sutherland, 19th Countess of Sutherland. In 1803 he succeeded to the vast estates of his maternal uncle Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater. In 1833 he was created Duke of Sutherland in the Peerage of the United Kingdom for his support for the Reform Act 1832.

## Clearances

[edit]

Main article: Highland Clearances

The Emigrants Statue commemorates the flight of Highlanders during the Highland Clearances, but is also a testament to their accomplishments in the places they settled. Located in the Sutherland village of Helmsdale, Scotland.

The 1st Duke and Duchess of Sutherland remain controversial for their role in the Highland Clearances, when thousands of tenants were evicted and resettled in coastal villages. This allowed the vacated land to be used for extensive sheep farming, replacing the mixed farming carried out by the previous occupants. This was part of the Scottish Agricultural Revolution. The changes on the Sutherland estate were motivated by two major objectives. The first was to increase the rental income from the estate: sheep farmers could afford much higher rents. The second was to remove the population from the recurrent risks of famine.[2]: 157  Historical opinion differs on the relevance and severity of famine years, but most do not dispute that the Highland region remained the only part of mainland Britain that was affected in this way at this time.[2]: 48

The future 1st Duke became the proprietor of the Sutherland Estate (which comprised much of the county of Sutherland) on his marriage to Lady Elizabeth Sutherland, the Countess of Sutherland, in 1785. Despite the conventions of the day, Lady Sutherland[a] retained control of the management of the estate, rather than passing this responsibility to her husband.[2]: 154–155

The Sutherland Clearances did not start until the 19th century, mainly due to insufficient capital – a problem that was solved when, in 1803, George Leveson-Gower, the future 1st Duke inherited a huge fortune from the Duke of Bridgewater. The remaining delay was that many leases did not expire until 1807 or later, but plans were put together for the interior of the estate to be devoted to large sheep farms, with new settlements to be built for the displaced inhabitants.[2]: 162  A tentative start was made to this with the letting of the first big sheep farm at Lairg in 1807, involving the removal of about 300 people. Many of these did not accept their new homes and emigrated, to the dissatisfaction of the estate management and Lady Sutherland.[2]: 164–165

Lady Sutherland was not happy with the estate factor and, in 1811, replaced him with William Young and Patrick Sellar.[b][3]: xvi–xxi  Young had a proven track record of agricultural improvement in Moray and Sellar was a lawyer educated at the University of Edinburgh; both were fully versed in the modern ideas of Adam Smith. They provided an extra level of ambition for the estate. [2]: 166  New industries were added to the plans, to employ the resettled population. A coal mine was sunk at Brora, and fishing villages were built to exploit the herring shoals off the coast.[4]: 71  Other ideas were tanning, flax, salt and brick manufacturing. [2]: 167

The next clearances were in Assynt in 1812, under the direction of Sellar, establishing large sheep farms and resettling the old tenants on the coast. Sellar had the assistance of the local tacksmen in this and the process was conducted without unrest – despite the unpopularity of events. However, in 1813, planned clearances in the Strath of Kildonan were accompanied by riots: an angry mob drove prospective sheep farmers out of the valley when they came to view the land, and a situation of confrontation existed for more than six weeks, with Sellar failing to successfully negotiate with the protesters. Ultimately, the army was called out and the estate made concessions such as paying very favourable prices for the cattle of those being cleared. This was assisted by landlords in surrounding districts taking in some of those displaced and an organised party emigrating to Canada. The whole process was a severe shock to Lady Sutherland and her advisers, who were, in the words of historian Eric Richards, "genuinely astonished at this response to plans which they regarded as wise and benevolent".[2]: 168–172

Further clearances were scheduled in Strathnaver starting at Whitsun, 1814. These were complicated by Sellar having successfully bid for the lease of one of the new sheep farms on land that it was now his responsibility, as factor, to clear. (Overall, this clearance was part of the removal of 430 families from Strathnaver and Brora in 1814 – an estimated 2,000 people.[2]: 180 ) Sellar had also made an enemy of the local law officer, Robert Mackid, by catching him poaching on the Sutherlands' land.[2]: 178  There was some confusion among the tenants as Sellar made concessions to some of them, allowing them to stay in their properties a little longer. Some tenants moved in advance of the date in their eviction notice – others stayed until the eviction parties arrived.[2]: 181

As was normal practice, the roof timbers of cleared houses were destroyed to prevent re-occupation after the eviction party had left. On 13 June 1814, this was done by burning in the case of Badinloskin, the house occupied by William Chisholm. Accounts vary, but it is possible that his elderly and bedridden mother-in-law was still in the house when it was set on fire. In James Hunter's understanding of events, Sellar ordered her to be immediately carried out as soon as he realised what was happening. The old lady died six days later.[5]: 197  Eric Richards suggests that the old woman was carried to an outbuilding before the house was destroyed.[2]: 183  Whatever the facts of the matter, Sellar was charged with culpable homicide and arson, in respect of this incident and others during this clearance. The charges were brought by Robert Mackid.[2]: 170

As the trial approached, the Sutherland estate was reluctant to assist Sellar in his defence, distancing themselves from their employee.[2]: 170  He was acquitted of all charges at his trial in 1816. The estate were hugely relieved, taking this as a justification of their clearance activity. (Robert Mackid became a ruined man and had to leave the county to rebuild his career elsewhere, providing Sellar with a grovelling letter of apology and confession.)[4]: 209–212

Despite the acquittal, this event, and Sellar's role in it, was fixed in the popular view of the Sutherland Clearances. James Loch, the Stafford estate commissioner was now taking a greater interest in the Northern part of his employer's holdings; he thought Young's financial management was incompetent, and Sellar's actions among the people deeply concerning. Both Sellar and William Young soon left their management posts with the Sutherland estate (though Sellar remained as a major tenant). Loch, nevertheless, also subscribed to the theory that clearance was beneficial for the tenants as much as for the estate.[4]: 215–217 [2]: 189

Lady Sutherland's displeasure with events was added to by critical reports in a minor London newspaper, the Military Register, from April 1815. These were soon carried in larger newspapers. They originated from Alexander Sutherland, who, with his brother John Sutherland of Sciberscross,[c] were opponents of clearance. Alexander, after serving as a captain in the army had been thwarted in his hopes to take up leases on the Sutherland estate and now worked as a journalist in London. He was therefore well placed to cause trouble for the estate.[5]: 183–187, 203

The (effective) dismissal of Sellar placed him in the role of scapegoat, thereby preventing a proper critical analysis of the estate's policies.[6]: 388  Clearances continued under the factorship of Frances Suther and the overall control of James Loch. Through 1816 and 1817, famine conditions affected most of the inland areas and the estate had to provide relief to those who were destitute. This altered policy on emigration: if tenants wanted to emigrate, the estate would not object, but there was still no active encouragement.

In 1818 a large (perhaps the largest) clearance program was put into effect, lasting until 1820. Loch gave emphatic instructions intended to avoid another public relations disaster: rent arrears could be excused for those who co-operated, time was to be taken and rents for the new crofts were to be set as low as possible.

The process did not start well. The Reverend David Mackenzie of Kildonan wrote to Loch on behalf of the 220 families due to be cleared from his parish. He challenged the basic premise of the clearance: that the people from an inland region could make a living on their new coastal crofts. Loch was adamant that the removals would go ahead regardless of objections. Yet, at the same time, Suther and the local ground officer of the estate were pointing out to Loch that few of the new crofts were of an acceptable quality. Some tenants were considering moving off the estate, either to Caithness or emigrating to America or the Cape of Good Hope, which Suther encouraged by writing off their rent arrears. More positively, cattle prices were high in 1818. Ultimately, that year's clearances passed without serious protest.

The next two years had much bigger clearances: 425 families (about 2,000 people) in 1819 and 522 families in 1820. Loch was anxious to move quickly, whilst cattle prices were high and there was a good demand for leases of sheep farms. There was no resistance in 1819, but Suther, despite precise instructions to the contrary, used fire to destroy cleared houses.

## Estates

[edit]

According to the will of the Duke of Bridgewater, the Egerton estates passed on the death of the first Duke of Sutherland to his third but second-surviving son Lord Francis Leveson-Gower, who changed his surname to Egerton by Royal licence. In 1846 he was created Viscount Brackley and Earl of Ellesmere.

The Duke was succeeded by his eldest son and namesake George, the second Duke. In 1839 he also succeeded his mother in the ancient Scottish titles of Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver. His eldest son, the third Duke, married Anne Hay-Mackenzie, who in 1864 was created Countess of Cromarty, with remainder to their younger sons (see Earl of Cromarty).

His grandson, the fifth Duke, succeeded to the title at the age of 25 in 1913. In 1914 he decided on the outbreak of the First World War that it was unwise to have so much of his riches tied up in land and property. He sold the family's Staffordshire estate except Lilleshall Hall and 50 acres (20 ha) of gardens. He then decided he wanted to live closer to London, and sold the whole package in 1917 to John Lee. The Duke was childless; on his death in 1963, the line of the eldest son of the first Duke failed. He was succeeded in the earldom of Sutherland and lordship of Strathnaver, which could be inherited by females, by his niece Elizabeth. Elizabeth also inherited most of her uncle's wealth, but the dukedom and other titles could only be passed on to male heirs, and they were inherited by his third cousin once removed, John Sutherland Egerton, 5th Earl of Ellesmere, who became the 6th Duke of Sutherland as well. He was a great-great-grandson of the first Earl of Ellesmere, third son of the first Duke of Sutherland. He also died childless and was succeeded by his first cousin once removed, Francis Ronald Egerton, the seventh and present duke, a grandson of the Hon. Francis William George Egerton, second son of the third Earl of Ellesmere.

Today most of the Duke's wealth is in the form of the art collection put together by the first duke's uncle, Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, which had been inherited by the Ellesmere line of the family. In 2003 the new Duke sold Titian's Venus Anadyomene to the National Gallery of Scotland. In 2009 he sold the two other masterpieces by Titian: Diana and Callisto and Diana and Actaeon, but he is still the owner of other masterpieces, such as a 1657 self-portrait by Rembrandt, the Bridgewater Madonna by Raphael and the Sacraments series by French master Nicolas Poussin.[7]

## Other family members

[edit]

William Gower, youngest son of William the fourth Baronet, was Member of Parliament for Ludlow.

William Leveson-Gower, second son of John, first Baron Gower and grandson of the fourth Baronet, was Member of Parliament for Stafford. Thomas Leveson-Gower, third son of the first Baron, was Member of Parliament for Newcastle-under-Lyme. Baptist Leveson-Gower, fourth son of the first Baron, was also Member of Parliament for Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Richard Leveson-Gower, fourth son of the first Earl, was Member of Parliament for Lichfield. John Leveson-Gower (1740–1792), sixth son of the first Earl, was an Admiral in the Royal Navy.

Frederick Neville Sutherland Leveson-Gower, son of Lord Albert Leveson-Gower, younger son of the second Duke, sat as Member of Parliament for Sutherland. Lord Ronald Gower, youngest son of the second Duke, was a politician, sculptor and writer.

Henry 'Shrimp' Leveson Gower, was born in Titsey Place near Oxted in Surrey, the seventh of twelve sons of Granville William Gresham Leveson-Gower JP DL FSA, by his wife The Hon Sophia Leveson Gower LJStJ (née Leigh). Captain of England Cricket v South Africa in 1909–10, captained England in all three of the Test matches in South Africa. Leveson Gower became an England Test selector in 1909, and was chairman of selectors in 1924 and from 1927 to 1930. [1] H. D. G. Leveson Gower

## Seats

[edit]

The family seat was originally Lilleshall Hall and later, grander, family seats included Trentham Hall, Dunrobin Castle, and Cliveden. The traditional burial place of the Dukes of Sutherland from the Leveson-Gower family was Trentham Mausoleum, a grade I listed mausoleum in Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent.

In the 19th and early 20th century the family's London residence was Stafford House, which was rated as the most valuable private residence in London.

The duke's current seat is at Mertoun House in St. Boswells, in the Scottish Borders.

## Coat of arms

[edit]

When members of the Leveson-Gower family held the dukedom of Sutherland, the arms were: Quarterly, Gules a Cross Flory Sable (Gower), Azure three Laurel Leaves Or (Leveson); Gules three Mullets Or on a Bordure of the second a Double Tressure flory counterflory of the first (Sutherland); Crest: A Wolf passant Argent collared and lined Or; Supporters: a Wolf Argent plain collared and Line reflexed over the back Or.

Since the passing of the dukedom of Sutherland to the Egerton family in 1963, the 6th Duke and his successors have used the Egerton family coat of arms: Argent a Lion rampant Gules between three Pheons Sable.

Coat of arms of Duke of Sutherland  |

Coronet
The coronet of a Duke
Crest
On a Chapeau Gules turned up Ermine a Lion rampant of the first supporting an Arrow Or feathered and headed Argent
Escutcheon
Argent a Lion rampant Gules between three Pheons Sable[8] (Egerton family)
Supporters
Dexter: a Horse Argent ducally gorged Or
Sinister: a Griffin Or ducally gorged Azure
Motto
Sic Donec (Latin for "Thus until")

|

## Gower, later Leveson-Gower Baronets, of Stittenham (1620)

[edit]

* Thomas Gower, 1st Baronet (1584–c. 1665) was descended in the direct male line from a number of knights
* Thomas Gower, 2nd Baronet (c. 1605–1672), son of the 1st Baronet
* Edward Gower, an elder son of the 2nd Baronet, presumably predeceased his father
* Thomas Gower, 3rd Baronet (c. 1666–1689), a son of Edward, died unmarried
* William Leveson-Gower, 4th Baronet (c. 1647–1691), a younger son of the 2nd Baronet
* John Leveson-Gower, 5th Baronet (1675–1709) (created Baron Gower in 1703)

## Barons Gower (1703)

[edit]

* John Leveson-Gower, 1st Baron Gower (1675–1709), eldest son of the 4th Baronet
* John Leveson-Gower, 2nd Baron Gower (1694–1754) (created Earl Gower in 1746)

## Earls Gower (1746)

[edit]

Other titles: Viscount Trentham, of Trentham in the county of Stafford (1746) and Baron Gower (1703)

* John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower (1694–1754), eldest son of the 1st Baron
* Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Gower (1721–1803) (created Marquess of Stafford in 1786)

## Marquesses of Stafford (1786)

[edit]

Other titles: Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham, of Trentham in the county of Stafford (1746) and Baron Gower (1703)

* Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford (1721–1803), third (eldest surviving) son of the 1st Earl
* George Leveson-Gower, 2nd Marquess of Stafford (1758–1833) (created Duke of Sutherland in 1833)

## Dukes of Sutherland (1833)

[edit]

Other titles (1st Duke onwards): Marquess of Stafford (1786), Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham, of Trentham in the county of Stafford (1746) and Baron Gower (1703)

* George Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland (1758–1833), eldest son of the 1st Marquess

Other titles (2nd–5th Dukes): Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver (Sc 1235)

* George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland (1786–1861), eldest son of the 1st Duke
* George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 3rd Duke of Sutherland (1828–1892), eldest son of the 2nd Duke
* George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Earl Gower (1850–1858), eldest son of the 3rd Duke (then Lord Stafford), died in childhood
* Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 4th Duke of Sutherland (1851–1913), second son of the 3rd Duke
* George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 5th Duke of Sutherland (1888–1963), eldest son of the 4th Duke, died without issue

Other titles (6th Duke onwards): Earl of Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley, of Brackley in the county of Northamptonshire (1846)

* John Sutherland Egerton, 6th Duke of Sutherland (1915–2000). Third cousin of the 1st Duke; already 5th Earl of Ellesmere, great-great-grandson of Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere (previously Lord Francis Leveson-Gower), third son of the 1st Duke, died without issue
* Francis Ronald Egerton, 7th Duke of Sutherland (b. 1940), first cousin once removed of the 6th Duke and great-grandson of Francis Charles Granville Egerton, 3rd Earl of Ellesmere
* Heir apparent: James Granville Egerton, Marquess of Stafford (b. 1975), eldest son of the 7th Duke. He has four daughters.

The second in line is Lord Henry Alexander Egerton (b. 1977), younger son of the 7th Duke, who has three daughters.[9]

## Succession and family tree

[edit]

Line of succession[10]

* George Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland (1758–1833)
* George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland (1786–1861)
* George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 3rd Duke of Sutherland (1828–1892)
* Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 4th Duke of Sutherland (1851–1913
* George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 5th Duke of Sutherland (1888–1963)
* Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere (1800–1857)
* George Egerton, 2nd Earl of Ellesmere (1823–1862)
* Francis Egerton, 3rd Earl of Ellesmere (1847–1914)
* John Egerton, 4th Earl of Ellesmere (1872–1944)
* John Egerton, 6th Duke of Sutherland, 7th Marquess of Stafford, 5th Earl of Ellesmere (1915–2000)
* Hon. Thomas Henry Frederick Egerton (1876–1953)
* Reginald Cyril Egerton (1905–1992)
* Francis Egerton, 7th Duke of Sutherland, 8th Marquess of Stafford, 6th Earl of Ellesmere (born 1940)
* (1). James Granville Egerton, Marquess of Stafford (born 1975)
* (2). Lord Henry Alexander Egerton (born 1977)
* Admiral Hon. Francis Egerton (1824–1895)
* William Francis Egerton (1868–1949)
* Francis Egerton (1896–1935)
* Anthony Francis Egerton (1921–1985)
* (3). Simon Francis Cavendish Egerton (born 1949)
* Michael Godolphin Egerton (1924–1979)
* (4). Nicholas Egerton (born 1967)
* David William Egerton (1930–2012)
* (5). Frank Egerton (born 1959)

There are other heirs in remainder to the marquessate of Stafford descended from the younger brothers of the first duke of Sutherland, and further heirs in remainder to the earldom of Gower descended from the younger brothers of the first marquess of Stafford.

* v
* t
* e

Gordon, Leveson-Gower, and Egerton family trees: Earls Gower, Marquesses of Stafford, Earls and Dukes of Sutherland and subsidiary titles

| | | | | Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver, 1228 or 1231

|
|
|
|

| | | | William de Moravia a.k.a. Sutherland
c. 1210–1248
1st Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver
| | | | | | |
| | | | William de Moravia a.k.a. Sutherland
c. 1235–1307
2nd Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver
| | | | | | | |
| | | | |
William de Moravia a.k.a. Sutherland
(fl. Early 14th century)
3rd Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver| | Kenneth de Moravia a.k.a. Sutherland
d. 1333
4th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver
| | | | | | |
| | | | William de Moravia a.k.a. Sutherland
d. 1370
5th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver
| | | | | | |
| | | | Robert Sutherland
d. 1444
6th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver
| | | | | | |
| | | | John Sutherland
d. 1460
7th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver
| | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Alex Sutherland
d. 1456
Master of Sutherland| | John Sutherland
d. 1508
8th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver
| | | | | | | |
| | | | |
John Sutherland
d. 1514
9th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver| | Elizabeth Sutherland
d. 1535
10th Countess of Sutherland and Lady Strathnaver
| | | | Earldom of Sutherland resigned, 1527
| | | | | | |
| | | | Alexander Gordon
c. 1505-1530
Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver, 1527
| | | | | | |
| | | | John Gordon
1525–1567
11th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver
| | | | | | |
| | | | Alexander Gordon
d. 1594
12th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver
| | | | | | |
| | | | John Gordon
1576–1615
13th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver
| | | | | | |
| | | | John Gordon
1609–1679
14th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver
| | | | | | |
| | | | George Gordon
1633–1703
15th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver
| | | | | | |
| | | | John Gordon
1661–1733
16th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Baron Gower of Sittenham in the County of York, 1703
| | | | William Gordon
1683–1720
Lord Strathnaver| | | | | | John Leveson-Gower
1675–1709
1st Baron Gower, 5th Baronet
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham of Trentham in the County of Stafford, 1746
| | | | William Sutherland
1708–1750
17th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver| | | | | | John Leveson-Gower
1694–1754
1st Earl Gower, Viscount Trentham,
2nd Baron Gower
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Marquess of Stafford, 1786
| | | | William Sutherland
1735–1766
18th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver| | | | | | Granville Leveson-Gower
1721–1803
1st Marquess of Stafford,
2nd Earl Gower, Viscount Trentham,
3rd Baron Gower
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Duke of Sutherland, 1833| | | | | | Viscount Granville, of Stone Park in the County of Stafford, 1815
Earl Granville (2nd creation) and Baron Leveson of Stone Park in the County of Stafford, 1833
| | | | Lady Elizabeth Sutherland
1765–1839
19th Countess of Sutherland and Lady Strathnaver suo jure| | George Granville Leveson-Gower
1758–1833
1st Duke of Sutherland, 2nd Marquess of Stafford,
3rd Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham,
4th Baron Gower| | | | | | Granville Leveson-Gower
1773–1846
1st Earl Granville, Viscount Granville, and Baron Leveson

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Earl of Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley of Brackley in the County of Northampton, 1846| | | | | | | | |
| | | | George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower
1786–1861
2nd Duke of Sutherland, 3rd Marquess of Stafford, 20th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver,
4th Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham,
5th Baron Gower| | Francis Egerton
1800–1857
1st Earl of Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower
1828–1892
3rd Duke of Sutherland, 4th Marquess of Stafford, 21st Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver,
5th Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham,
6th Baron Gower| | George Granville Francis Egerton
1823–1862
2nd Earl of Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley| | | | | | Granville George Leveson-Gower
1815–1891
2nd Earl Granville, Viscount Granville, and Baron Leveson
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower
1850–1858
Earl Gower| | Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower
1851–1913
4th Duke of Sutherland, 5th Marquess of Stafford, 22nd Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver,
6th Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham,
7th Baron Gower| | Francis Charles Granville Egerton
1847–1914
3rd Earl of Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower
1888–1963
5th Duke of Sutherland, 6th Marquess of Stafford, 23rd Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver,
7th Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham,
8th Baron Gower| | Lord Alastair St Clair
1890–1921
Sutherland-Leveson-Gower| | John Francis Granville Scrope Egerton
1872–1944
4th Earl of Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley| | Thomas Henry Frederick Egerton
1876–1953| | Granville George Leveson-Gower
1872–1939
3rd Earl Granville, Viscount Granville, and Baron Leveson| | William Spencer Leveson-Gower
1880–1953
4th Earl Granville, Viscount Granville, and Baron Leveson
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Elizabeth Millicent Sutherland
1921–2019
24th Countess of Sutherland and Lady Strathnaver suo jure| | John Sutherland Egerton
1915–2000
6th Duke of Sutherland, 7th Marquess of Stafford, 5th Earl of Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley,
8th Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham,
9th Baron Gower| | Reginald Cyril Egerton
1905–1992| | | | | | Granville James Leveson-Gower
1918–1996
5th Earl Granville, Viscount Granville, and Baron Leveson
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Alastair Charles St Clair Sutherland
b. 1947
25th Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver| | | | | | Francis Ronald Egerton
b. 1940
7th Duke of Sutherland, 8th Marquess of Stafford, 6th Earl of Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley,
9th Earl Gower and Viscount Trentham,
10th Baron Gower| | | | | | (Granville George) Fergus Leveson-Gower
b. 1959
6th Earl Granville, Viscount Granville, and Baron Leveson
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | | | Rachel Elizabeth Sutherland
b. 1970
styled Mistress of Sutherland| | Alexander Charles Robert Sutherland
1981–2022
styled Lord Strathnaver| | James Granville Egerton
b. 1975
styled Marquess of Stafford| | | | | | George James Leveson-Gower
b. 1999
| | | | Heir presumptive to the Earldom of Sutherland| | | | | | Heir apparent to the Dukedom of Sutherland and Earldom of Ellesmere| | | | | | Heir apparent to the Earldom of Granville

## See also

[edit]

* Earl of Sutherland
* Duke of Bridgewater
* Earl Granville
* Earl of Bath (1661 creation)
* Earl of Cromartie
* Earl of Ellesmere
* Highland Clearances
* Sutherland

## Notes

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1. ^ The first Duchess of Sutherland was known by several different names as she acquired titles throughout her life. She was the Countess of Sutherland from the age of 1, and continued to be known by that title by her tenants. Later she was the Marchioness of Stafford (from her husband's title) and became the Duchess-Countess of Sutherland when her husband became Duke. Fortunately, throughout this time, she was often referred to simply as Lady Sutherland.
2. ^ There was some ambiguity over the precise roles of these two men. At one stage of the recruitment process, they arguably had equal and independent powers. This shifted to Young having the role of commissioner and Sellar being factor, so placing Young in overall control. This process involved much argument from Sellar, with Lady Sutherland considering seeking his resignation before he had even completed a year in the position.
3. ^ The territorial designation after his name denotes that the Sutherland brothers were members of the daoine uaisle or tacksman class, sometimes described as 'gentry'.

## References

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1. ^ George Edward Cokayne Complete Baronetage Volume 1 1900
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Richards, Eric (2000). The Highland Clearances People, Landlords and Rural Turmoil (2013 ed.). Edinburgh: Birlinn. ISBN 978-1-78027-165-1.
3. ^ Adams, R. J., ed. (1972). Papers on Sutherland Estate Management 1802-1816, Volume 1. Edinburgh: Scottish History Society. ISBN 0950026042.
4. ^ a b c Richards, Eric (1999). Patrick Sellar and the Highland Clearances: Homicide, Eviction and the Price of Progress. Edinburgh: Polygon. ISBN 1-902930-13-4.
5. ^ a b Hunter, James (2015). Set Adrift Upon the World: the Sutherland Clearances. Edinburgh: Birlinn. ISBN 978-1-78027-268-9.
6. ^ Richards, Eric (1985). A History of the Highland Clearances, Volume 2: Emigration, Protest, Reasons. Beckenham, Kent and Sydney, Australia: Croom Helm. ISBN 0709922590.
7. ^ Top 10 Private Art Collections in the world
8. ^ Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.1077, Duke of Sutherland
9. ^ Debretts Peerage 2019 Edition
10. ^ Morris, Susan; Bosberry-Scott, Wendy; Belfield, Gervase, eds. (2019). "Sutherland, Duke of (Egerton)". Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. Vol. 1 (150th ed.). London: Debrett's. pp. 3376–3382\. ISBN 978-1-9997-6705-1.

## External links

[edit]

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