User:Proteus/Premier Peer

A Premier Peer is the holder of the most senior title of each of the Peerages of England, Scotland and Ireland. As all three Peerages currently have Dukes, in practice the Premier Peer of each Peerage is the holder of its most senior Dukedom.

In turn, the holder of the senior title in each of the five ranks of the Peerage (i.e. Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount and Baron) is described as the Premier Duke, Premier Marquess, etc., of that Peerage. The holder of the senior title in each rank (in practical terms, the holder of the senior title of each rank in the Peerage of England, as that Peerage is the senior Peerage and has titles of every rank) is also termed the Premier Marquess of the Realm, Premier Earl of the Realm, etc. The holder of the most senior title in all the Peerages is termed the Premier Peer of the Realm.

When the senior title of a rank lower than Duke in a particular Peerage is held by a peer of a higher rank, the holder of the most senior title not held by a peer of a higher rank is termed the Premier Marquess, Premier Earl, etc., of that Peerage on the Roll (i.e. on the Roll of the House of Lords ).

When a peerage that would normally entitle its holder to one of these terms is held by a woman, the holder of the most senior title held by a man uses the term instead. The female peer is then instead referred to as the holder of the Premier Dukedom, Premier Marquessate, etc.

A few peers hold more than one of these terms: the Duke of Norfolk is Premier Duke and Earl of England, the Duke of Leinster is Premier Duke, Marquess and Earl of Ireland, the Earl of Shrewsbury is Premier Earl of England and Ireland on the Roll, and the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres is Premier Earl and Lord of Scotland (although he will lose the latter status if either of the Lordships of Strathnaver or Garioch is inherited by a man).

There is no equivalent term for the holders of the senior titles in the Peerages of Great Britain or the United Kingdom, although "of the United Kingdom" ("of Great Britain" before the Acts of Union 1800) is sometimes used instead of "of the Realm" for the holder of the senior title of each rank.

Dukes

 * The Duke of Norfolk - Premier Duke of England (Premier Peer of the Realm)
 * The Duke of Hamilton and Brandon (as Duke of Hamilton) - Premier Duke of Scotland (Premier Peer of Scotland)
 * The Duke of Leinster - Premier Duke of Ireland (Premier Peer of Ireland)

Marquesses

 * The Marquess of Winchester - Premier Marquess of England (Premier Marquess of the Realm)
 * The Marquess of Huntly - Premier Marquess of Scotland
 * The Duke of Leinster (as Marquess of Kildare) - Premier Marquess of Ireland
 * The Marquess of Waterford - Premier Marquess of Ireland on the Roll

Earls

 * The Duke of Norfolk (as Earl of Arundel) - Premier Earl of England (Premier Earl of the Realm)
 * The Earl of Shrewsbury - Premier Earl of England on the Roll
 * The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres (as Earl of Crawford) - Premier Earl of Scotland
 * The Duke of Leinster (as Earl of Kildare) - Premier Earl of Ireland
 * The Earl of Shrewsbury (as Earl of Waterford) - Premier Earl of Ireland on the Roll

Viscounts

 * The Viscount Hereford - Premier Viscount of England (Premier Viscount of the Realm)
 * The Earl of Mar and Kellie (as Viscount of Fentoun) - Premier Viscount of Scotland
 * The Viscount Falkland - Premier Viscount of Scotland on the Roll
 * The Viscount Gormanston - Premier Viscount of Ireland

Barons and Lords of Parliament

 * The Lord de Ros - Premier Baron of England (Premier Baron of the Realm)
 * The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres (as Lord Lindsay) - Premier Lord of Scotland
 * The Lord Forbes - Premier Lord of Scotland on the Roll
 * The Lord Kingsale - Premier Baron of Ireland