1st Duke of Leeds

DUKEDOM OF LEEDS

1694-1964

This noble family, like many others in the peerage, traces its origin to the city of London, where it first became of importance through

SIR EDWARD OSBORNE, Knight (c1530-91), who filled the office of Lord Mayor in 1582.

This gentleman discovering an early bias towards commercial pursuits, was put apprentice to Sir William Hewett, of the Clothworkers' Company, one of the most considerable merchants in London; and while serving his apprenticeship, Sir William's only child Anna, having accidentally fallen from the window of his house on London Bridge, into the Thames, Mr Osborne leaped into the river and brought her out in safety, when but little hope remained of her rescue.

This lady was afterwards his wife, and by her he had issue,

HEWETT, his heir;
Edward;
Anne; Alice; Jane.

Sir Edward married secondly, Margaret, who outlived him.

He was MP for the City of London, 1585.

Sir Edward was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR HEWETT OSBORNE (1567-99), who received the honour of knighthood from the Earl of Essex, in Ireland, for his services there.

He wedded Joyce, daughter of Thomas Fleetwood, of The Vache, Buckinghamshire, Master of the Mint, and had, with a daughter, Alice, an only son, his successor in 1614,

SIR EDWARD OSBORNE (1596-1647), Knight, of Kiveton, who was created a baronet in 1620, designated of Kiveton, Yorkshire.

In 1629, when Thomas, Viscount Wentworth (afterwards Earl of Strafford), was made Lord President of the North, Sir Edward Osborne was appointed Vice-President of the Council to CHARLES I for the North of England; and upon the breaking out of the rebellion, 1641, was Lieutenant-General of the forces raised in His Majesty's defence in that part of the country.

He wedded firstly, Margaret, eldest daughter of Thomas, Viscount Fauconberg, and had a son, Edward, who was killed in youth by the fall of some chimneys at his father's residence.

Sir Edward espoused secondly, Anne, daughter of Thomas Walmesley, of Lancashire, and by this lady he had an only son, his successor,

SIR THOMAS OSBORNE, 2nd Baronet (1632-1712), who became Lord High Treasurer of England and was elevated to the peerage, 1673, in the dignities of Viscount Osborne and Earl of Danby.

His lordship was advanced to a marquessate, in 1689, as Marquess of Carmarthen; and further advanced to the dignity of a dukedom, in 1694, as DUKE OF LEEDS.

1st Duke of Leeds (Image: Parliamentary Art Collection)

He was installed a Knight of the Garter, and enrolled amongst the peers of Scotland, 1675, by the title of Viscount Osborne, of Dunblane.

His Grace married Bridget, daughter of Montagu Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsey, LORD GREAT CHAMBERLAIN OF ENGLAND, and was succeeded at his demise, in 1712, by his only surviving son,

PEREGRINE, 2nd Duke (1659-1729), who wedded Bridget, only daughter and heir of Sir Thomas Hyde Bt, by whom he had two sons and two daughters.

His Grace having adopted the naval profession, attained the rank of Vice-Admiral of the Red, 1705, and conveyed the Duke of Marlborough and his army, with six men-of-war, to Holland in the same year.

He was succeeded by his second and only surviving son,

PEREGRINE HYDE, 3rd Duke (1691-1731), who espoused firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert, Earl of Oxford, by whom he had an only son, THOMAS, his successor; and secondly, Anne, daughter of Charles, Duke of Somerset, by whom he had no surviving issue.

His Grace married thirdly, in 1725, Juliana, daughter and co-heir of Roger Hele, of Holwell, Devon.

The 3rd Duke was succeeded by his son,

THOMAS, 4th Duke (1713-89), KG, who wedded, in 1740, Mary, second daughter and eventually sole heir of Francis, Earl of Godolphin, and was succeeded by his only surviving son,

FRANCIS GODOLPHIN, 5th Duke (1751-99), who wedded, in 1773, Amelia, only daughter and heir of Robert D'Arcy, Earl of Holderness, and Baroness Conyers, at the demise of her father, by which marriage he had issue,

GEORGE WILLIAM FREDERICK, his successor;
Francis Godolphin, created 1st BARON GODOLPHIN;
Mary Henrietta Juliana.

This marriage being dissolved by act of Parliament in 1779, His Grace espoused secondly, in 1788, Catherine, daughter of Thomas Anguish, Accountant-General of the Court of Chancery, and had issue,

Sidney Godolphin;
Catherime Anne Sarah.

His Grace was succeeded by his eldest son,

GEORGE WILLIAM FREDERICK, 6th Duke (1775-1838), KG, who inherited the barony of Conyers upon the decease of his mother Amelia, Baroness Conyers in her own right, in 1784.

His Grace espoused, in 1797, Charlotte, daughter of George, 1st Marquess Townshend, and had issue,

FRANCIS GODOLPHIN D'ARCY, his successor;
Conyers George Thomas William;
Charlotte Mary Anne Georgiana.

The 6th Duke was Lord-Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire, Governor of the Scilly Isles, Constable of Middleton Castle, and Ranger of Richmond Forest.

He was appointed Master of the Horse, 1827, sworn of the Privy Council, and appointed a Knight of the Garter on the same day.

At the coronation of WILLIAM IV, the Duke of Leeds was one of the four Knights of the Garter who held over the King's head the pall of gold at the ceremony of anointing.

His Grace was succeeded by his only surviving son,

FRANCIS GODOLPHIN D'ARCY, 7th Duke, who married, in 1828, Louisa Catharine, third daughter and co-heir of Richard Caton, of Maryland, USA, though the marriage was without issue, and the titles devolved upon His Grace's cousin,

GEORGE GODOLPHIN, 2nd Baron Godolphin, as 8th Duke (1802-72), who wedded, in 1824, Harriet Emma Arundel, natural daughter of Granville, 1st Earl Granville,

Francis George Godolphin D'Arcy D'Arcy-Osborne, 7th Duke (1798–1859);
George Godolphin Osborne, 8th Duke (1802–72);
George Godolphin Osborne, 9th Duke (1828–95);
George Godolphin Osborne, 10th Duke (1862–1927);
John Francis Godolphin Osborne, 11th Duke (1901–1963);
Francis D'Arcy Godolphin Osborne, 12th Duke (1884–1964), grandson of Lord Godolphin's third son, died without issue, at which point all of his titles became extinct.

Former seats ~ Hornby Castle, Yorkshire; Godolphin, Cornwall.

First published in July, 2017.