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Father of the House (United Kingdom)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Father of the House
since 5 July 2024
House of Commons of the United Kingdom
Member ofHouse of Commons
SeatWestminster
First holderWilliam Wither Bramston Beach
c. 1899

The father of the House is a title that is bestowed on the male member of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom who has the longest continuous service.[1] If two or more members have the same length of current uninterrupted service, then whoever was sworn in earliest, as listed in Hansard, is named as Father of the House.[2]

The only formal duty of the father of the House is to preside over the election of the speaker of the House of Commons. However, the relevant Standing Order does not refer to this member by the title of "Father of the House", but instead to the longest-serving member of the House present who is not a minister of the Crown. Until 1971, the clerk of the House of Commons presided over the election of the Speaker. As the clerk is never a member, and therefore is not permitted to speak, he would silently stand and point at the Member who was to speak. However, this procedure broke down at the election of a new Speaker in 1971 and was changed upon the recommendation of a select committee.[3][failed verification]

Since the 2024 general election, Sir Edward Leigh has been Father of the House, having been an MP continuously for Gainsborough (previously Gainsborough and Horncastle) since 1983.[4] While other MPs such as Roger Gale and Jeremy Corbyn have also served continuously since 1983, Leigh was sworn in first.[5]

The previous Father was Sir Peter Bottomley,[6] who was an MP continuously from 1975 until he lost his seat to Labour's Beccy Cooper in the 2024 general election. Bottomley was the first Father to be unseated rather than retire or die in office.

History

[edit]
Sir Peter Bottomley presiding over the chamber in 2019

Historically, the father of the House was not a clearly defined term, and it is not clear by what process it was used for individual Members. The first recorded usage of the term dates to 1788, in an obituary of Thomas Noel; it is also attested in an engraved portrait of Whitshed Keene by Charles Picart, from 1816. It may have been interpreted at various times as the oldest member, the member with the longest total service, the member with the longest unbroken service (the modern definition), or the member who entered the House longest ago. There is also some evidence that in the late 19th century, the position may have been elected. The modern definition was not settled upon until the late 1890s.[7]

After the Second World War, a convention arose that the father would normally be a member of the Select Committee on Privileges, but this lapsed following the establishment of the modern Standards and Privileges Committee in the 1990s.[7]

Among the twentieth-century fathers, there were several very prominent figures; four former Prime Ministers became Father of the House, and a fifth, Henry Campbell-Bannerman was simultaneously Father of the House and Prime Minister from May 1907 until soon before his death during April 1908. Almost all have been Privy Councillors.[7]

There has been criticism of the term Father of the House being used instead of Elder of the House as a relic of the "legacy of women’s historic under-representation in the House" and the way in which gendered language affected representation.[8][9]

To date, all holders of the position have been men.[7] In 2015 Harriet Harman described herself as the 'Mother of the House' as she was the longest continuously serving woman MP.[10] David Cameron referred to her as the Mother the week after,[11] and Theresa May referred to Harriet Harman as the Mother of the House in 2017.[12] Harman had in fact been the longest serving female MP since at least 2010. Following the 2024 general election and Harman's retirement, Diane Abbott became Mother of the House.[13] During speeches at the re-opening of Parliament after the 2024 general election, Diane Abbott was described as the "Mother of the House" by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and then Leader of the Opposition Rishi Sunak.[citation needed]

List of fathers of the House since 1899

[edit]

This list covers all fathers of the House since W.W. Beach, the first to become Father after the modern approach (longest period of continuous service) was agreed in 1898.[7] Those who died as fathers are indicated by a †. Unseated is indicated by a U

Name Entered Parliament Father (Standing Order No 1) Left House Party Constituency
William Wither Bramston Beach 1857 1899 1901† Conservative North Hampshire (1857–85)
Andover (1885–1901)
Michael Hicks Beach 1864 1901 1906 Conservative Gloucestershire East (1864–85)
Bristol West (1885–1906)
George Finch 1867 1906 1907† Conservative Rutland
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman 1868 1907 1908† Liberal Stirling Burghs
Sir John Kennaway, 3rd Baronet 1870 1908 1910 Conservative East Devon (1870–85)
Honiton (1885–1910)
Thomas Burt 1874 1910 1918 Lib-Lab Morpeth
T. P. O'Connor 1880 1918 1929† Irish Nationalist Galway Borough (1880–85)
Liverpool Scotland (1885–1929)
David Lloyd George 1890 1929 1945 Liberal Caernarvon Boroughs
The Earl Winterton 1904 1945 1951 Conservative Horsham (1904–18, 1945–51)
Horsham and Worthing (1918–45)
Sir Hugh O'Neill 1915 1951 1952 UUP Mid Antrim (1915–22)
Antrim (1922–50)
North Antrim (1950–52)
David Grenfell 1922 1952 1959 Labour Gower
Sir Winston Churchill 1900
continuous from 1924 		1959 1964 Conservative Oldham (1900–04)
Liberal Oldham (1904–06)
Manchester North West (1906–08)
Dundee (1908–22)
Conservative Epping (1924–45)
Woodford (1945–64)
R. A. Butler 1929 1964 1965 Conservative Saffron Walden
Sir Robin Turton 1929 1965 1974 Conservative Thirsk and Malton
George Strauss 1929
continuous from 1934		 1974 1979 Labour Lambeth North (1929–31, 1934–50)
Vauxhall (1950–79)
John Parker 1935 1979 1983 Labour Romford (1935–45)
Dagenham (1945–83)
James Callaghan 1945 1983 1987 Labour Cardiff South (1945–50)
Cardiff South East (1950–83)
Cardiff South and Penarth (1983–87)
Sir Bernard Braine 1950 1987 1992 Conservative Billericay (1950–55)
South East Essex (1955–83)
Castle Point (1983–92)
Sir Edward Heath 1950 1992 2001 Conservative Bexley (1950–74)
Sidcup (1974–83)
Old Bexley and Sidcup (1983–2001)
Tam Dalyell 1962 2001 2005 Labour West Lothian (1962–83)
Linlithgow (1983–2005)
Alan Williams 1964 2005 2010 Labour Swansea West
Sir Peter Tapsell 1959
continuous from 1966		 2010 2015 Conservative Nottingham West (1959–64)
Horncastle (1966–83)
East Lindsey (1983–97)
Louth and Horncastle (1997–2015)
Sir Gerald Kaufman 1970 2015 2017† Labour Manchester Ardwick (1970–83)
Manchester Gorton (1983–2017)
Kenneth Clarke 1970 2017 2019 Conservative (1970–2019) Rushcliffe
Independent (2019)
Sir Peter Bottomley 1975 2019 2024U Conservative Woolwich West (1975–83)
Eltham (1983–97)
Worthing West (1997–2024)
Sir Edward Leigh 1983 2024 present Conservative Gainsborough and Horncastle (1983–97)
Gainsborough (1997–present)

Earlier "fathers"

[edit]

This list covers all those who would have been considered Father of the House, by the modern definition, since an arbitrary date of 1701. Many of these will not have been considered "Father of the House" by contemporaries, and some men who were described as such are not listed here. These men served in the Parliament of England until the 1707 Acts of Union and from thereafter until the end of 1800 in the Parliament of Great Britain.

Name Entered Parliament Father (Standing Order No 1) Left House Party Constituency
Sir John Fagg 1645
continuous from 1653		 1701 1701† Steyning
Thomas Turgis 1659 1701 1704† Gatton
Sir Christopher Musgrave, 4th Baronet 1661 1704 1704† Westmorland
Thomas Strangways 1673 1704 1713 Dorset
Sir Richard Onslow 1679 1713 1715 Whig Guildford (1713–14)
Surrey (1714–15)
Thomas Erle 1679 1715 1718 Whig Wareham
Edward Vaughan 1679 1718 1718† Whig Cardiganshire
Richard Vaughan 1685
continuous from 1689		 1718 1724† Whig Carmarthen
Lord William Powlett 1689 1724 1729† Tory Winchester (1689–1710, 1715–29)
Lymington (1710–15)
Sir Justinian Isham, 4th Baronet 1685
continuous from 1694		 1729 1730† Tory Northampton (1685–90, 1694–98)
Northamptonshire (1698–30)
Sir Charles Turner, 1st Baronet 1695 1730 1738† Tory King's Lynn
Sir Roger Bradshaigh 1695 1738 1747† Tory Wigan
Sir Edward Ashe 1695 1747 1747 Tory Heytesbury
Sir Thomas Cartwright 1695
continuous from 1701		 1747 1748† Tory Northamptonshire
Sir Richard Shuttleworth 1705 1748 1749† Tory Lancashire
Phillips Gybbon 1707 1749 1762† Whig Rye
Sir John Rushout, 4th Baronet 1713 1762 1768 Tory Malmesbury (1713–22)
Evesham (1722–68)
William Aislabie 1721 1768 1781† Whig Ripon
Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore 1733 1781 1782† Whig Thetford (1733–54, 1774–82)
Hereford (1754–68)
Heytesbury (1768–74)
The Earl Nugent 1741 1782 1784 Tory St Mawes (1741–54, 1774–84)
Bristol (1754–74)
Sir Charles Frederick 1741 1784 1784 Tory New Shoreham (1741–54)
Queenborough (1754–84)
The Lord Mendip 1741 1784 1790 Tory Cricklade (1741–47)
Weymouth and Melcombe Regis (1747–61, 1774–90)
Aylesbury (1761–68)
Petersfield (1768–74, 1791–95)
William Drake 1746 1790 1796† Amersham
Sir Philip Stephens, 1st Baronet 1759 1796 1806 Tory Liskeard (1759–68)
Sandwich (1768–1801)
Clement Tudway 1761 1806 1815† Tory Wells
Sir John Aubrey, 6th Baronet 1768 1815 1826† Tory Wallingford (1768–74, 1780–84)
Aylesbury (1774–1780)
Buckinghamshire (1780–90)
Clitheroe (1790–96)
Aldeburgh (1796–1812)
Steyning (1812–20)
Horsham (1820–26)
Sir Samuel Smith 1788 1826 1832 Tory St Germans (1788–90)
Leicester (1790–1818)
Midhurst (1818–20)
Wendover (1820–32)
George Byng 1790 1832 1847† Whig Middlesex
Charles Williams-Wynn 1797 1847 1850† Tory (1797–1834) Old Sarum (1797–99)
Montgomeryshire (1797–1850)
Conservative (1834–50)
George Harcourt 1806 1850 1861† Whig (1806–35) Lichfield (1806–31)
Oxfordshire (1831–61)
Conservative (1835–57)
Peelite (1857–59)
Liberal (1859–61)
Sir Charles Burrell, 3rd Baronet 1806 1861 1862† Tory (1806–34) New Shoreham
Conservative (1834–62)
Henry Cecil Lowther 1812 1862 1867† Tory (1812–34) Westmorland
Conservative (1834–67)
Thomas Peers Williams 1820 1867 1868 Tory (1820–34) Marlow
Conservative (1834–68)
Henry Lowry-Corry 1825 1868 1873† Tory (1825–34) Tyrone
Irish Conservative
(1834–73)
George Weld-Forester 1828 1873 1874 Tory (1828–34) Wenlock
Conservative (1834–74)
Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot 1830 1874 1890† Whig (1830–59) Glamorganshire (1830–85)
Mid Glamorganshire (1885–90)
Liberal (1859–90)
Charles Pelham Villiers 1835 1890 1898† Liberal (1835–86) Wolverhampton (1835–85)
Wolverhampton South (1885–98)
Liberal Unionist (1886–98)
Sir John Mowbray, 1st Baronet 1853 1898 1899† Conservative Durham City (1853–85)
Oxford University (1885–99)

Longest-serving member of the House of Lords

[edit]

The title 'Father of the House' is not used in the House of Lords.[7] The longest-serving member is recorded on the House website, though no duties or special distinctions are associated with the position.[14] As of 2024, the longest-serving member is The Lord Trefgarne (Conservative), who first took his seat on 3 July 1962[15] (having succeeded his father in the peerage in 1960 while still a minor). The House of Lords Act 1999 repealed the automatic right of hereditary peers to be members of the House of Lords; Trefgarne was one of those elected to continue as a member under section 2 of the Act.

As of 2024, the longest-serving life peer is The Baroness Cox (Crossbencher), who is also the longest-serving female member of the House. She first took her seat on 2 March 1983.[16]

The below table lists the longest continuously serving members of the House of Lords since the Acts of Union 1707, in the order they achieved that status. Prior to 1707, all members of the Lords were members of the Parliament of England. Until 1898, the longest continuously-serving member of the Lords, as with his counterpart in the Commons, was not necessarily considered the senior-most member of that chamber.

Peer Most senior title
in the peerage of 		Entitled to seat in Lords as
(if with a different peerage or as an elected peer) 		Party affiliation Time served
(from when first taking seat) 		Tenure Became
longest-serving
member 		Tenure as
longest-serving
member
Thomas Leigh, 2nd Baron Leigh England - - 26 January 1673–12 November 1710[17] 37 years, 290 days 23 October 1707 (1st Parliament of Great Britain) 3 years, 20 days
Thomas Osborne, 1st Duke of Leeds England 1st Viscount Latimer (England, from 1673)

1st Earl of Danby (England, from 1674)

1st Marquess of Carmarthen (England, from 1689)

1st Duke of Leeds (England, from 1694)

Tory 20 October 1673–26 July 1712[17] 38 years, 280 days 12 November 1710 1 year, 257 days
Thomas Grey, 2nd Earl of Stamford England Whig 13 April 1675–31 January 1720[17] 44 years, 293 days 26 July 1712 7 years, 189 days
Charles Mordaunt, 3rd Earl of Peterborough and 1st Earl of Monmouth England 2nd Viscount Mordaunt (England, from 1675)

1st Earl of Monmouth (England, from 1689)

3rd Earl of Peterborough (England, from 1697)

Whig 21 December 1680–25 October 1735[18][17] 54 years, 308 days 31 January 1720 15 years, 267 days
Thomas Bruce, 2nd Earl of Ailesbury and 3rd Earl of Elgin England - - 9 November 1685–16 December 1741[19][17] 56 years, 37 days 25 October 1735 6 years, 52 days
Charles Butler, 1st Earl of Arran Ireland 1st Baron Butler of Weston (England, from 1694) - 16 February 1694–17 December 1758[20][17] 64 years, 304 days 16 December 1741 17 years, 1 day
Lionel Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset Great Britain 7th Earl of Dorset and 2nd Earl of Middlesex (England, from 1706)

1st Duke of Dorset (Great Britain, from 1720)

- 19 January 1708–10 October 1765[21][17] 57 years, 264 days 17 December 1758 6 years, 297 days
Allen Bathurst, 1st Earl Bathurst Great Britain 1st Baron Bathurst (Great Britain, from 1712)

1st Earl Bathurst (Great Britain, from 1772)

Tory 2 January 1712–16 September 1775[22][17] 63 years, 257 days 10 October 1765 9 years, 341 days
John Manners, 3rd Duke of Rutland England - Whig 22 March 1721–29 May 1779[23][17] 58 years, 68 days 16 September 1775 3 years, 255 days
Francis North, 1st Earl of Guilford Great Britain 3rd Baron Guilford (England, from 1729)

1st Earl of Guilford (Great Britain, from 1752)

Whig 13 January 1730–4 August 1790[24][17] 60 years, 203 days 29 May 1779 11 years, 67 days
Robert Marsham, 2nd Baron Romney Great Britain - - 17 January 1733–16 November 1793[25][17] 60 years, 303 days 4 August 1790 3 years, 104 days
Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford Great Britain 2nd Baron Conway of Ragley (England, from 1732)

1st Earl of Hertford (Great Britain, from 1750)

1st Marquess of Hertford (Great Britain, from 1793)

- 15 November 1739–14 June 1794[26][17] 54 years, 211 days 16 November 1793 210 days
William Byron, 5th Baron Byron England - 1 December 1743–19 May 1798[27][17] 54 years, 169 days 14 June 1794 3 years, 339 days
John Ashburnham, 2nd Earl of Ashburnham Great Britain - 18 November 1746–8 April 1812[28][17] 65 years, 142 days 19 May 1798 13 years, 325 days
Thomas Brudenell-Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury Great Britain 2nd Baron Bruce
(Great Britain, from 1747)

1st Earl of Ailesbury (Great Britain, from 1776)

- 28 November 1754–19 April 1814[29][17] 59 years, 142 days 8 April 1812 2 years, 11 days
John Peyto-Verney, 14th Baron Willoughby de Broke England - - 3 December 1759–15 February 1816[30][17] 56 years, 74 days 19 April 1814 1 year, 302 days
George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough England - - 8 February 1760–29 January 1817[31][17] 56 years, 356 days 15 February 1816 349 days
Charles Bennet, 4th Earl of Tankerville Great Britain - - 24 November 1767–10 December 1822[32][17] 55 years, 16 days 29 January 1817 5 years, 315 days
Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon Scotland Scottish Representative Peer (1768–1784)[a]

1st Earl of Norwich
(Great Britain, from 1784)

 Tory 20 January 1768–17 June 1827[33][17] 59 years, 148 days 10 December 1822 4 years, 189 days
William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl Fitzwilliam Great Britain - Whig 9 January 1770–8 February 1833[34][17] 63 years, 30 days 17 June 1827 5 years, 236 days
George Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont Great Britain - Whig 15 February 1773–11 November 1837[35][17] 64 years, 269 days 8 February 1833 4 years, 276 days
John Fane, 10th Earl of Westmorland England - Tory 8 February 1780–15 December 1841[36][17] 61 years, 310 days 11 November 1837 4 years, 34 days
Henry Nevill, 2nd Earl of Abergavenny Great Britain - Whig 23 January 1787–27 March 1843[37][17] 56 years, 63 days 15 December 1841 1 year, 102 days
William Cathcart, 1st Earl Cathcart Scotland Scottish Representative Peer (1788–1812)[a]

1st Viscount Cathcart
(United Kingdom, from 1807)

1st Earl Cathcart
(United Kingdom, from 1814)

- 1 February 1788–16 June 1843[38][17] 55 years, 135 days 27 March 1843 81 days
George Boyle, 4th Earl of Glasgow Scotland Scottish Representative Peer (1790–1818)[a]

1st Baron Ross
(United Kingdom, from 1815)

Tory 25 November 1790–6 July 1843[39][17] 52 years, 223 days 16 June 1843 20 days
George Rice, 3rd Baron Dynevor Great Britain - Tory 17 April 1793–9 April 1852[40][17] 58 years, 358 days 6 July 1843 8 years, 278 days
Edward Digby, 2nd Earl Digby Great Britain - - 14 May 1794–12 May 1856[41]

[17]

61 years, 364 days 9 April 1852 4 years, 33 days
William Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst United Kingdom 2nd Baron Amherst
(Great Britain, from 1797)

1st Earl Amherst
(United Kingdom, from 1826)

- 8 November 1797–13 March 1857[42][17] 59 years, 125 days 12 May 1856 305 days
John Rushout, 2nd Baron Northwick Great Britain - - 17 April 1801–20 January 1859[43][17] 57 years, 278 days 13 March 1857 1 year, 313 days
Thomas de Grey, 2nd Earl de Grey United Kingdom 3rd Baron Grantham
(Great Britain, from 1803)

2nd Earl de Grey
(United Kingdom, from 1833)

Tory 23 May 1803–14 November 1859[44]

[17]

56 years, 175 days 20 January 1859 298 days
Robert Haldane-Duncan, 1st Earl of Camperdown United Kingdom 2nd Viscount Duncan
(Great Britain, from 1806)

1st Earl of Camperdown
(United Kingdom, from 1831)

- 15 April 1806–22 December 1859[45][17] 53 years, 251 days 14 November 1859 38 days
George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen Scotland Scottish Representative Peer (1806–1818)[a]

1st Viscount Gordon
(United Kingdom, from 1814)

Tory
(1806–1834)

Conservative (1834–1846; Peelite: 1846–1859)

Liberal (1859-1860)

17 December 1806–14 December 1860[46] 53 years, 363 days 22 December 1859 358 days
Thomas Hay-Drummond, 11th Earl of Kinnoull Scotland 4th Baron Hay of Pedwardine
(Great Britain)[a] 		Conservative 11 March 1807–18 February 1866[47] 58 years, 344 days 14 December 1860 5 years, 66 days
Augustus FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster Ireland 3rd Viscount Leinster
(Great Britain) 		- 3 February 1813–10 October 1874[48][49] 61 years, 249 days 18 February 1866 8 years, 234 days
Henry Gage, 4th Viscount Gage Ireland 3rd Baron Gage
(Great Britain) 		- 18 February 1813–20 January 1877[50] 63 years, 337 days 10 October 1874 2 years, 102 days
Thomas Egerton, 2nd Earl of Wilton United Kingdom Conservative 22 June 1821–7 March 1882[51][49] 60 years, 258 days 20 January 1877 5 years, 46 days
Stephen Moore, 3rd Earl Mount Cashell Ireland Irish Representative Peer - 19 February 1827–10 October 1883[52] 56 years, 233 days 7 March 1882 1 year, 217 days
Henry Pelham, 3rd Earl of Chichester United Kingdom - 26 February 1827–15 March 1886[53] 59 years, 17 days 10 October 1883 2 years, 156 days
John Freeman-Mitford, 1st Earl of Redesdale United Kingdom 2nd Baron Redesdale (United Kingdom, from 1830)

1st Earl of Redesdale (United Kingdom, from 1877)

- 22 February 1830–2 May 1886[54] 56 years, 69 days 15 March 1886 48 days
John Townshend, 1st Earl Sydney United Kingdom 3rd Viscount Sydney (Great Britain, from 1831)

1st Earl Sydney
(United Kingdom, from 1874)

Liberal 25 February 1831–14 February 1890[55] 58 years, 354 days 2 May 1886 3 years, 288 days
William King-Noel, 1st Earl of Lovelace United Kingdom 8th Baron King
(Great Britain, from 1833)

1st Earl of Lovelace
(United Kingdom, from 1838)

- 26 July 1833–29 December 1893[55] 60 years, 156 days 14 February 1890 3 years, 318 days
Hungerford Crewe, 3rd Baron Crewe United Kingdom - - 15 February 1836–3 January 1894[55] 57 years, 322 days 29 December 1893 5 days
William Murray, 4th and 3rd Earl of Mansfield Great Britain - Conservative 12 May 1840–1 August 1898[55] 58 years, 81 days 3 January 1894 4 years, 210 days
Harry Chichester, 2nd Baron Templemore United Kingdom - - 15 June 1842–10 June 1906[55] 63 years, 360 days 1 August 1898 7 years, 313 days
Thomas Coke, 2nd Earl of Leicester United Kingdom - - 29 April 1844–24 January 1909[55] 64 years, 270 days 10 June 1906 2 years, 228 days
Horatio Nelson, 3rd Earl Nelson United Kingdom - Conservative 4 February 1845–25 February 1913[56] 68 years, 21 days 24 January 1909 4 years, 32 days
Henry Reynolds-Moreton, 3rd Earl of Ducie United Kingdom - Liberal 22 July 1853–28 October 1921[55] 68 years, 98 days 25 February 1913 8 years, 245 days
George Coventry, 9th Earl of Coventry England - Conservative 6 June 1859–13 March 1930[57] 70 years, 280 days 28 October 1921 8 years, 136 days
Robert Devereux, 16th Viscount Hereford England - - 13 June 1864–27 March 1930[58] 65 years, 287 days 13 March 1930 14 days
Charles Gordon, 11th Marquess of Huntly Scotland 3rd Baron Meldrum (United Kingdom)[a] Liberal 3 May 1869–20 February 1937[59] 67 years, 293 days 27 March 1930 6 years, 330 days
Archibald Kennedy, 3rd Marquess of Ailsa United Kingdom - - 4 June 1872–9 April 1938[60] 65 years, 309 days 20 February 1937 1 year, 48 days
Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn United Kingdom - - 8 June 1874–16 January 1942[61] 67 years, 222 days 9 April 1938 3 years, 282 days
John Norton, 5th Baron Grantley Great Britain - - 24 May 1878–5 August 1943[62] 65 years, 73 days 16 January 1942 1 year, 201 days
Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale United Kingdom - - 31 May 1883–13 April 1944[63] 60 years, 318 days 5 August 1943 252 days
Aldred Lumley, 10th Earl of Scarbrough England - - 19 February 1885–4 March 1945[64] 60 years, 13 days 13 April 1944 325 days
Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe United Kingdom 2nd Baron Houghton
(United Kingdom, from 1885)

1st Earl of Crewe
(United Kingdom, from 1895)

1st Marquess of Crewe (United Kingdom, from 1911)

Liberal 28 January 1886–20 June 1945[65] 59 years, 143 days 4 March 1945 108 days
George Rous, 3rd Earl of Stradbroke United Kingdom - Conservative 4 March 1886–20 December 1947[66] 61 years, 291 days 20 June 1945 2 years, 183 days
Charles FitzRoy, 4th Baron Southampton Great Britain - - 23 January 1891–7 December 1958[67] 67 years, 287 days 20 December 1947 10 years, 352 days
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 9th Earl of Shaftesbury England - - 4 June 1891–25 March 1961[68] 69 years, 294 days 7 December 1958 2 years, 108 days
Henry Paulet, 16th Marquess of Winchester England - - 18 June 1900–28 June 1962[69] 62 years, 10 days 25 March 1961 1 year, 95 days
Bertram Gurdon, 2nd Baron Cranworth United Kingdom - - 12 June 1903–4 January 1964[70] 60 years, 206 days 28 June 1962 1 year, 190 days
Ralph Stonor, 5th Baron Camoys England - - 13 February 1906–3 August 1968[71] 62 years, 172 days 4 January 1964 4 years, 212 days
George Parker, 7th Earl of Macclesfield Great Britain - - 28 February 1910–20 September 1975[72] 65 years, 204 days 3 August 1968 7 years, 48 days
Roger Grey, 10th Earl of Stamford England - - 15 January 1918–18 August 1976[73] 58 years, 216 days 20 September 1975 333 days
William Compton, 6th Marquess of Northampton United Kingdom - Liberal 11 March 1919–30 January 1978[74] 58 years, 325 days 18 August 1976 1 year, 165 days
Randolph Stewart, 12th Earl of Galloway Scotland 6th Baron Stewart of Garlies
(Great Britain, from 1920)

12th Earl of Galloway
(Scotland, from 1963)[a]

- 28 April 1920–13 June 1978[75] 58 years, 46 days 30 January 1978 134 days
Arthur Hill, 7th Marquess of Downshire Ireland 7th Earl of Hillsborough
(Great Britain) 		- 18 May 1920–28 March 1989[76] 68 years, 314 days 13 June 1978 10 years, 288 days
Jeffery Amherst, 5th Earl Amherst United Kingdom - Liberal Democrat 17 May 1927–4 March 1993[77][78] 65 years, 291 days 28 March 1989 3 years, 341 days
Dominick Browne, 4th Baron Oranmore and Browne Ireland 2nd Baron Mereworth
(United Kingdom) 		- 26 July 1927 – 11 November 1999[b][79][80] 72 years, 108 days 4 March 1993 6 years, 252 days
Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu United Kingdom Elected to remain in October 1999. Conservative 7 November 1947–31 August 2015[81] 67 years, 297 days 11 November 1999[c] 15 years, 293 days
Bertram Bowyer, 2nd Baron Denham United Kingdom Elected to remain in October 1999. Conservative 13 December 1949–26 April 2021[d][84] 71 years, 134 days 31 August 2015 5 years, 238 days
David Trefgarne, 2nd Baron Trefgarne United Kingdom Elected to remain in October 1999. Conservative 3 July 1962[85] 62 years, 190 days 26 April 2021 3 years, 258 days

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Until 31 July 1963, when the Peerage Act 1963 came into effect, peers in the Peerage of Scotland did not have the automatic right to sit in the House of Lords unless they were also peers in the peerages of England, Great Britain or the United Kingdom.
  2. ^ Removed by the House of Lords Act 1999.
  3. ^ Though at their deaths (in 2007 and in 2018, respectively) the Earl Jellicoe and the Lord Carrington were the longest-serving peers, neither had had an unbroken tenure as both had automatically lost their seats on 11 November 1999, and had returned to the Lords the following week as life peers.[82][83]
  4. ^ Retired under the provisions of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Pickover, Ella (5 July 2024). "Abbott hailed as 'trailblazer' as she becomes Mother of the House". The Independent. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  2. ^ Moss, Stephen (2 May 2015). "Labour's Dennis Skinner at 83: 'Father of the House? You must be joking'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  3. ^ "The Speaker" (PDF). Westminster, United Kingdom: House of Commons Information Office. September 2003. pp. 4–5.
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