Lord Somerville
Encyclopedia
Lord Somerville was a title in the Peerage of Scotland
which is subject to a number of ambiguities. The date of creation is not known with certainty but it was probably created about 1435 for Thomas Somerville, Justiciar of Scotland
. The title was omitted in 1606 when an ordered list of the Scottish peerage was produced following the union of the Scottish and English crowns, and the title was not used during the 17th century. In 1723, however, the House of Lords
ratified and acknowledged the title for James Somerville the 13th Lord. The consecutive numbers ascribed to the numerous Lords differ according to which authority is consulted. The list below uses the numbers favoured by Burkes Peerage.
The Somervilles were descended from Sir Gualter de Somerville of Normandy
, whose son William de Somerville was created Lord of Carnwath
by David I of Scotland
in the 12th century.
A family history was written by James Somerville, 11th Lord Somerville in 1679. He related that William the Lion made John Somerville, his falconer, baron of Linton in Roxburghshire
for killing a monstrous worm in 1174. The Worm of Linton
was three Scots yards long and coloured like an adder. After stalking the beast for several days, Sir John killed it with a long iron-clad lance with a Catherine wheel
fitted near its point. From this exploit the Somervilles used a wyvern
in their heraldry. The poet Blind Harry
mentions the knighting of Walter Somerville of Newbigging
and his son David at the battle of Biggar
by Alexander III of Scotland
.
The later family seat at Drum House, Gilmerton, near Edinburgh
was acquired as a result of the marriage of Sir Walter Somerville of Linton and Carnwath to the daughter and heiress of Sir John Herring. Carnwath was sold in the 16th century and Hugh Somerville, the 7th Lord, built a substantial tower house
at Drum in 1585 which was replaced between 1726 and 1734 with a Palladian mansion designed by architect William Adam. The Drum estate was sold in 1862.
The title became extinct on the death of the 19th Lord Somerville in 1870.
Peerage of Scotland
The Peerage of Scotland is the division of the British Peerage for those peers created in the Kingdom of Scotland before 1707. With that year's Act of Union, the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England were combined into the Kingdom of Great Britain, and a new Peerage of Great Britain was...
which is subject to a number of ambiguities. The date of creation is not known with certainty but it was probably created about 1435 for Thomas Somerville, Justiciar of Scotland
Justiciar of Scotia
The Justiciar of Scotia was the most senior legal office in the High Medieval Kingdom of Scotland. Scotia in this context refers to Scotland to the north of the River Forth and River Clyde....
. The title was omitted in 1606 when an ordered list of the Scottish peerage was produced following the union of the Scottish and English crowns, and the title was not used during the 17th century. In 1723, however, the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
ratified and acknowledged the title for James Somerville the 13th Lord. The consecutive numbers ascribed to the numerous Lords differ according to which authority is consulted. The list below uses the numbers favoured by Burkes Peerage.
The Somervilles were descended from Sir Gualter de Somerville of Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, whose son William de Somerville was created Lord of Carnwath
Carnwath
Carnwath is a moorland village on the southern edge of the Pentland Hills of Lanarkshire, Scotland. The village lies about south of both Edinburgh and Glasgow...
by David I of Scotland
David I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
in the 12th century.
A family history was written by James Somerville, 11th Lord Somerville in 1679. He related that William the Lion made John Somerville, his falconer, baron of Linton in Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh is a registration county of Scotland. It borders Dumfries to the west, Selkirk to the north-west, and Berwick to the north. To the south-east it borders Cumbria and Northumberland in England.It was named after the Royal Burgh of Roxburgh...
for killing a monstrous worm in 1174. The Worm of Linton
Worm of Linton
The Linton Worm is a mythical beast referred to in a Scottish borders legend dating back to the 12th century. "Wyrm" is the Old English for serpent...
was three Scots yards long and coloured like an adder. After stalking the beast for several days, Sir John killed it with a long iron-clad lance with a Catherine wheel
Catherine wheel (firework)
The Catherine wheel is a type of firework consisting of a powder-filled spiral tube, or an angled rocket mounted with a pin through its centre...
fitted near its point. From this exploit the Somervilles used a wyvern
Wyvern
A wyvern or wivern is a legendary winged reptilian creature with a dragon's head, two legs , and a barbed tail. The wyvern is found in heraldry. There exists a purely sea-dwelling variant, termed the Sea-Wyvern which has a fish tail in place of a barbed dragon's tail...
in their heraldry. The poet Blind Harry
Blind Harry
Blind Harry , also known as Harry, Hary or Henry the Minstrel, is renowned as the author of The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallace, also known as The Wallace...
mentions the knighting of Walter Somerville of Newbigging
Newbigging, South Lanarkshire
Newbigging, South Lanarkshire is a village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.It is near Dunsyre at the southern end of the Pentland Hills. It is on the A72 Carnwath to Peebles road.-References:...
and his son David at the battle of Biggar
Biggar, South Lanarkshire
Biggar is a town and former burgh in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is situated in the Southern Uplands, near the River Clyde, around 30 miles from Edinburgh along the A702. The closest towns are Lanark and Peebles, and as such Biggar serves a wide rural area...
by Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III was King of Scots from 1249 to his death.-Life:...
.
The later family seat at Drum House, Gilmerton, near Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
was acquired as a result of the marriage of Sir Walter Somerville of Linton and Carnwath to the daughter and heiress of Sir John Herring. Carnwath was sold in the 16th century and Hugh Somerville, the 7th Lord, built a substantial tower house
Tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
at Drum in 1585 which was replaced between 1726 and 1734 with a Palladian mansion designed by architect William Adam. The Drum estate was sold in 1862.
The title became extinct on the death of the 19th Lord Somerville in 1870.
Lord Somerville (c1435)
- Thomas Somerville, 1st Lord SomervilleThomas Somerville, 1st Lord SomervilleThomas Somerville, 1st Lord Somerville, , was a Lord of the Parliament of Scotland.In 1423 Thomas Somerville, as Lord of Carnwath came to London as an ambassador to treat for the release of James I of Scotland, who had been captive in England for many years. Somerville was also recorded as a Warden...
(c. 1370–1444) - William Somerville, 2nd Lord SomervilleWilliam Somerville, 2nd Lord SomervilleWilliam Somerville, 2nd Lord Somerville was a member of the Scottish Parliament in the mid-15th century. He is the first person to have clearly held the title Lord Somerville, having been created such in 1445, although other sources suggest that his father was the first Lord.William Somerville...
(c. 1400–1456) - John Somerville, 3rd Lord SomervilleJohn Somerville, 3rd Lord SomervilleJohn Somerville, 3rd Lord Somerville was the son of William Somerville, 2nd Lord Somerville and Janet Mowat. He was a member of the Scottish Parliament. In 1449 he fought with the Scots who defeated the English at Sark. He was also present at the siege of Roxburgh in 1460 during which James II...
(d. 1491) - John Somerville, 4th Lord SomervilleJohn Somerville, 4th Lord SomervilleJohn Somerville, 4th Lord Somerville, , was a Lord of the Parliament of Scotland. John was the eldest son of William Somerville, Master of Somerville, who was the son of John Somerville, 3rd Lord Somerville and Marjory Montgomerie...
(c. 1484–1523) - Hugh Somerville, 5th Lord SomervilleHugh Somerville, 5th Lord SomervilleHugh Somerville, 5th Lord Somerville was a lord of the Parliament of Scotland. He is sometimes reckoned to be the 4th Lord Somerville. He succeeded his brother, John Somerville, 4th Lord Somerville...
(c. 1484–1549) - James Somerville, 6th Lord SomervilleJames Somerville, 6th Lord SomervilleJames Somerville, 6th Lord Somerville, was a Lord of the Parliament of ScotlandJames was the son of Hugh Somerville, 5th Lord Somerville and Jonet Maitland...
(c. 1518–1569) - Hugh Somerville, 7th Lord Somerville (1547–1597)
- Gilbert Somerville, 8th Lord Somerville (1568–1618)
- Hugh Somerville, 9th Lord Somerville (c. 1573–1640)
- James Somerville, 10th Lord Somerville (1595–1677)
- James Somerville, 11th Lord Somerville (1632–1693)
- James Somerville, 12th Lord Somerville (1674–1709)
- James Somerville, 13th Lord Somerville (1698–1765)
- James Somerville, 14th Lord Somerville (1727–1796)
- John Southey Somerville, 15th Lord Somerville (1765–1819)
- Mark Somerville, 16th Lord Somerville (1784–1842)
- Kenelm Somerville, 17th Lord Somerville (1787–1864)
- Hugh Somerville, 18th Lord Somerville (1839–1868)
- Aubrey John Somerville, 19th Lord Somerville (1838–1870) Extinct on his death