British knighthood, peerage and other stuff

[Bill Henry]

I am reading a series of books about the late 18th and early 19th century British Navy. In it the hero (a Richard Bolitho) is knighted, so people call him “Sir Richard”. Can a British citizen be elevated i.e. be made a “Lord”, or is that title strictly hereditary?

If so, how would this character be addressed, “Sir Richard Lord Bolitho”, or would people drop the “sir” and refer to him as “Richard Lord Bolitho”, or still refer to him as, “Sir Richard”?

Can a woman be knighted? (No, I don’t mean in that way … get your mind out of the gutter! ). If so, would her title be “Lady so-in-so"? If a woman can receive such a title, would her husband automatically be called “Sir somebody-or-other”?

And what the heck is a Viscount? Is that better or worse than a Count? And, where does a Duke fit into all of this?

[Dermot]

Good subject Bill…however it is very complex and I don’t really understand

Knighthoods:- Sir is male and Dame is female…

This is a link I found that has some information ….
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orders,_de ... Knighthood

[prospero]

Good topic Bill. It's all very weird and few people understand all the whole protocols involved.

If a man is 'knighted' he is called 'Sir' wotisname. Only if he is a UK citizen. Bob Geldof was knighted, but can't call himself Sir Bob because he is Irish. The wife of a Knight takes the title 'Lady......' But the husband of a Dame doesn't get a Knighthood.

Honours and titles are awarded annually at the end of the year. Basically, anyone who has done something laudable (or is very rich or has reached a certain weight) can be given an honour ranging from a medal to being elevated to the peerage. Some peerages are hereditary. A Duke is the highest.
Generally, people who have inherited a title are regarded as having more gravitas than those who have 'come up through the ranks'.

[Dermot]

Yet Sir Anthony (Tony) O’Reilly who is Irish can call himself Sir because he was born before 1937 or something like that……….

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_O%27Reilly

Intriguing subject how the whole thing works …

[Roboframer]

I have a few 'lords' as customers - and some of those, well, at least one, bought the title!

Colin Cowdrey was one of those customers, he was a Baron! No idea what that is and nor did he really - think it's one up from a lord!

[Jonny2morsos]

I think this would be like us trying to explain to you the rules of cricket or you explaining to us the rules of baseball.

John.

[Moglet]

I am reading a series of books about the late 18th and early 19th century British Navy. In it the hero (a Richard Bolitho) is knighted, so people call him “Sir Richard”. Can a British citizen be elevated i.e. be made a “Lord”, or is that title strictly hereditary?'

Some "lordships" are hereditary, but there are also "lordships" awarded as life peerages (i.e. the title cannot be passed on to heirs once the recipient shuffles of their mortal coil).

And what the heck is a Viscount? Is that better or worse than a Count?

A Viscount is a yummy chocolate-coated biscuit with a minty cream center, encased in lovely, crinkly mint green foil! Definitely a sugary treat for those with a predilection for the rituals and protocols of correct enjoyment of cult confecctioneries (such as foil-wrapped KitKat bars..... sigh). Much, MUCH better than some stuffy twat with a title that is supposed to give kudos to his attempts to pass himself by default as a member of the higher echelons of the class structure (or what's left of it), IMO.

[Spit]

Viscount mint biscuits...... worth a whole thread on their own!

[prospero]

Why is it, no matter what subject a topic starts of with, it always gravitates toward feeding ones face?

Are we not all a bunch of gannet-gobs?

[Bill Henry]

Why is it, no matter what subject a topic starts of with, it always gravitates toward feeding ones face?

Are we not all a bunch of gannet-gobs?

At least The Framers Forum doesn’t degenerate into vitriolic politics like it does on The Grumble. One can post a question concerning pencils over there and it will turn into a diatribe on tax and spend liberals vs. uncaring, vicious conservatives each blaming the other for how sharp the point is.

Still, getting back on topic , (if you please), if someone were to receive a life peerage who had already been knighted, how would you address him?

[prospero]

Your Lordship I think.

or if you want to be a little less formal, "Oi! Buggerlugs!"


Elevated peers usually take the name of a town or city where they were born or somewhere they are asscoiated with.

Lord William, 1st Earl of Litchfield.

That's got a nice ring to it.
Then you can apply to the Colledge of Heralds for you coat of arms.
A Morso rampant emblazoned on a field of 8-ply rag-mat or other such cobblers.

[Bill Henry]

Your Lordship I think.

Thank you.

Lord William, 1st Earl of Litchfield.
That's got a nice ring to it.

Man, that’s cool! I like that.

Now, if I can just get my wife to stop referring to me as “Your Inadequacy” …

[Bill Henry]

I also wonder if Queen Elizabeth ever gets mail at Buckingham Palace addressed to "Occupant"?

[Moglet]

[Spit]

I also wonder if Queen Elizabeth ever gets mail at Buckingham Palace addressed to "Occupant"?

Doubt it, she has an an army of serfs to take care of that sort of thing.

[framejunkie]

Lord William, 1st Earl of Litchfield.

That's got a nice ring to it.

Sorry Prospero, but i there's already a Lord Litchfield. He's a bit like Highlander, in that he looks a little like Christopher Lambert, but also because

There can be only one

[Moglet]

There are worse people to look like than Christophe Lambert! (Be still my beating heart... )

[prospero]

Sorry Prospero, but i there's already a Lord Litchfield. He's a bit like Highlander, in that he looks a little like Christopher Lambert, but also because

There can be only one

I wouldn't put up with that Bill. Gather about ye thy men at arms and confront this vile usurper.

I once had a cheque from the Earl of Yarborough. Immpressed the hell out of them in the bank.

[Bill Henry]

Sorry Prospero, but i there's already a Lord Litchfield.

There can be only one

Aw, nuts! Stripped of my title before I even got to gather an army.

Life ain’t fair, I tell ya!

[Merlin]

Coming back on topic Bill

The British Honours System
http://www.churchill-society-london.org ... Systm.html

This goes a bit deeper

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peerage


Enjoy