Wensleydale's peerage case

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Wensleydale's peerage case. In 1856 Sir James Parke, judge of the Court of Exchequer, was raised to the peerage with the title of Baron Wensleydale. However, the patent which conferred the title stated his barony was to be held ‘for the term of his natural life’. This was an attempt to revive a right not used since the time of Richard II. There was strong feeling in the Lord's against such a move. Lords Lyndhurst, Brougham, and Campbell were united in opposing the change. After great argument, the government gave way and conferred on Parke an ordinary patent of peerage. Life peerages were postponed until 1958.

Richard A. Smith

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Wensleydale's peerage case

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