Baron Wrottesley, ofWrottesley in theCounty of Stafford, is a title in thePeerage of the United Kingdom.[1] It was created on 11 July 1838 forSir John Wrottesley, 9th Baronet. He was aMajor-General in the Army and also representedLichfield,Staffordshire andStaffordshire South inHouse of Commons. The Wrottesley family's original patronymic was 'de Verdun' (otherwise 'de Verdon'),[2] which meant that the creation of the title Baron Wrottesley represented the third barony created by a branch of the de Verdun family in England. The other two were established byTheobald de Verdun, 1st Baron Verdun ofAlton Castle andSir John de Verdon, 1st Baron Verdon, lord of Brixworth in Northamptonshire and Bressingham in Norfolk.[3]
He was succeeded by his son, the second Baron. He was President of theRoyal Astronomical Society as well as of theRoyal Society. His son, the third Baron, held junior positions in the first twoLiberal administrations ofWilliam Ewart Gladstone. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the fourth Baron. On his death in 1962 the titles passed to his nephew, the fifth Baron who was the only son of the Hon. Walter Bennet Wrottesley, youngest son of the third Baron. In 1941 he married into theNobleHouse of Stratford, from which all subsequent Barons Wrottesley descend, and in 1963 he sold the Staffordshire estate. As of 2010[update] the titles are held by the fifth Baron's grandson, the sixth Baron, who succeeded in 1977. He is the only son of the Hon. Richard Francis Gerard Wrottesley, second son of the fifth Baron.
TheWrottesley Baronetcy, of Wrottesley in the County of Stafford, was created in theBaronetage of England on 30 August 1642 for Walter Wrottesley.[4] He fought on the Royalist side in theCivil War. His great-grandson, the fourth Baronet, briefly represented Staffordshire in the House of Commons. His younger son, the seventh Baronet (who had succeeded his elder brother, who in his turn had succeeded his elder brother), sat as aMember of Parliament forTavistock but later tookHoly Orders and served as Dean of Worcester. His son, the eighth Baronet, representedNewcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire in Parliament. He was succeeded by his son, the ninth Baronet, who was raised to the peerage in 1838.
The family seat wasWrottesley Hall near Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. Several of the Baronets served asHigh Sheriff of Staffordshire.
Theheir apparent is the present holder's eldest son the Hon. Victor Ernest Francis de Verdon Wrottesley (b. 2004)
Walter Wrottesley (d. 1473)
