Peerage Record – 8533

     William Stratford Dugdale was born on 1 April 1800.¹ He was the son of Dugdale Stratford Dugdale and Hon. Charlotte Curzon.² He married Harriet Ella Portman, daughter of Edward Berkeley Portman and Lucy Whitby, on 1 March 1827.¹ He died on 15 September 1871 at age 71.²
     He was educated at Westminster School, Westminster, London, England^G.¹ He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England^G.¹ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Bramber in 1826.¹ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Shaftesbury in 1830.¹ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for North Warwickshire between 1832 and 1847.¹ He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.)¹ He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.)¹ He lived at Blyth Hall, Warwickshire, England^G.¹ He lived at Merevale Hall, Warwickshire, England^G.³

     William Robert Wellesley Peel, 1st Earl Peel was born on 7 January 1867.¹ He was the son of Arthur Wellesley Peel, 1st Viscount Peel of Sandy and Adelaide Dugdale.² He married Hon. Eleanor Williamson, daughter of James Williamson, 1st and last Baron Ashton and Margaret Gatey, on 11 April 1899.³ He died on 28 September 1937 at age 70.¹
     He was educated at Harrow School, Harrow, London, England.¹ He graduated from Balliol College, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, in 1889 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)¹ He gained the rank of Lieutenant in the 13th Middlesex R.V.¹ He was admitted to Inner Temple in 1893 entitled to practise as a barrister-at-law.¹ He was awarded the Territorial Decoration (T.D.)⁴ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) (Unionist) for Manchester South between 1900 and 1906.¹ He held the office of Member of the London City Council between 1900 and 1919.¹ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) (Unionist) for Taunton between 1909 and 1912.¹ He gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Bedfordshire Yeomanry.¹ He succeeded as the 2nd Viscount Peel of Sandy, co. Bedford [U.K., 1895] on 24 October 1912.¹ He held the office of Joint Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of National Service between 1917 and 1919.¹ He was appointed Knight Grand Cross, Order of the British Empire (G.B.E.) in 1919.⁴ He was appointed Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1919.⁴ He held the office of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster between 1921 and 1922.¹ He held the office of Joint Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Transport between 1921 and 1922.¹ He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for Bedfordshire.⁴ He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) of Bedfordshire.⁴ He was awarded the Territorial Decoration (T.D.)¹ He held the office of Secretary of State, India between 1922 and 1924.¹ He was First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings between 1924 and 1928.¹ He held the office of Secretary of State, India between 1928 and 1929.¹ He was created 1st Viscount Clanfield, of Clanfield, co. Hampshire [U.K.] on 10 July 1929.¹ He was created 1st Earl Peel [U.K.] on 10 July 1929.¹ He was chairman of the Burma Round Table Conference in 1931.¹ He held the office of Lord Privy of the Seal in 1931.¹ He was chairman of the Wheat Conference in 1932.¹ He was appointed Knight Grand Commander, Order of the Star of India (G.C.S.I.) in 1932.⁴ He was governor at Victoria University, Manchester, Lancashire, England.¹ He was awarded the Officier, Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur.¹ He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (D.S.M.) U.S.¹ He was chairman of the Royal Commisison on the Dispatch Business at Common Law between 1934 and 1936.¹ He was chairman of the Palestne Royal Commisison in 1936.¹

     Hon. Eleanor Williamson was born in 1872. She was the daughter of James Williamson, 1st and last Baron Ashton and Margaret Gatey.¹ She married William Robert Wellesley Peel, 1st Earl Peel, son of Arthur Wellesley Peel, 1st Viscount Peel of Sandy and Adelaide Dugdale, on 11 April 1899.¹ She died in 1949.²
     Hon. Eleanor Williamson also went by the nick-name of Ella.² Her married name became Peel. After her marriage, Hon. Eleanor Williamson was styled as Viscountess Peel of Sandy on 24 October 1912. After her marriage, Hon. Eleanor Williamson was styled as Countess Peel on 10 July 1929.

     James Williamson, 1st and last Baron Ashton was born on 31 December 1842.³ He was the son of James Williamson and Eleanor Miller.¹ He married, firstly, Margaret Gatey, daughter of Joseph Gatey, in 1869.³ He married, secondly, Jessy Henrietta Stewart, daughter of James Stewart, in 1880.⁴ He married, thirdly, Florence Maude Daniel, daughter of Reverend Robert Daniel, on 30 July 1909 at Trinity Church, Sloane Street, London, England^G.⁴ He died on 27 May 1930 at age 87, without issue.⁵
     He was educated at Lancashire Grammer School, Lancashire, England^G.³ He was a successful manufacturer of linoleum at Ashton, Lancashire, England^G.³ He held the office of High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1885.³ He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.)⁶ He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) of Lancashire.⁶ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) (Liberal) for North Lancashire, Lancaster Division between 1886 and 1895.³ He was created 1st Baron Ashton, of Ashton, co. Lancaster [U.K.] on 25 July 1895.¹
     On his death, the Barony of Ashton became extinct.⁶

     Margaret Gatey was the daughter of Joseph Gatey.¹ She married James Williamson, 1st and last Baron Ashton, son of James Williamson and Eleanor Miller, in 1869.² She died on 10 April 1877, without male issue.¹
     Her married name became Williamson.

     Jessy Henrietta Stewart was the daughter of James Stewart.¹ She married James Williamson, 1st and last Baron Ashton, son of James Williamson and Eleanor Miller, in 1880.¹ She died on 5 October 1904 at Rylands, Nottinghamshire, England^G, from apoplexy, without issue.¹ She was buried on 10 October 1904.¹
     Her married name became Williamson. After her marriage, Jessy Henrietta Stewart was styled as Baroness Ashton on 25 July 1895.

     James Stewart lived at Clapham, Yorkshire, England^G.¹

     Hon. Maud Williamson was born in 1876. She was the daughter of James Williamson, 1st and last Baron Ashton and Margaret Gatey.

     Arthur William Ashton Peel, 2nd Earl Peel was born on 29 May 1901.² He was the son of William Robert Wellesley Peel, 1st Earl Peel and Hon. Eleanor Williamson.² He married Catherine Kathleen McGrath, daughter of Michael McGrath, on 11 March 1946.² He died in 1969.²
     He was appointed Knight, Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (K.St.J.)² He was educated at Eton College, Windsor, Berkshire, England.² He graduated from Balliol College, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, in 1924 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)² He succeeded as the 2nd Earl Peel [U.K., 1929] on 28 September 1937.² He succeeded as the 3rd Viscount Peel of Sandy, co. Bedford [U.K., 1895] on 28 September 1937.² He succeeded as the 2nd Viscount Clanfield, of Clanfield, co. Hampshire [U.K., 1929] on 28 September 1937.² He succeeded as the 7th Baronet Peel [G.B., 1800] on 5 April 1942.² He was vice-chairman of Nairn & Williamson Ltd.² He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire between 1948 and 1950.²

     Catherine Kathleen McGrath was born on 20 June 1913.¹ She was the daughter of Michael McGrath.¹ She married Arthur William Ashton Peel, 2nd Earl Peel, son of William Robert Wellesley Peel, 1st Earl Peel and Hon. Eleanor Williamson, on 11 March 1946.¹ She died on 27 July 1972 at age 59.¹
     From 11 March 1946, her married name became Peel. After her marriage, Catherine Kathleen McGrath was styled as Countess Peel on 11 March 1946.