Thatcher baronets

The Thatcher baronetcy, of Scotney in the County of Kent,[1] is a baronetcy created for the husband of Margaret Thatcher, Denis Thatcher, on 7 December 1990, following the resignation of his wife on 28 November. The current holder is Mark Thatcher, who succeeded his father in 2003.

Thatcher baronets
Creation date	7 December 1990
Monarch	Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Peerage	Baronetage of the United Kingdom
First holder	Denis Thatcher
Present holder	Mark Thatcher
Heir apparent	Michael Thatcher
Remainder to	heirs male (of the body of the grantee)

As of 2020, it is the only baronetcy to have been granted since 1964,[2] and is one of only three extant hereditary titles awarded outside the British royal family since 1965, the other being the earldom of Stockton and viscountcy Macmillan of Ovenden, both conferred on Conservative Party Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in 1984.[3]

History

The baronetcy was created by the Queen on the recommendation of Prime Minister John Major for Denis Thatcher, following the resignation of his wife Margaret Thatcher in November 1990. The Speaker of the House of Commons was pressed to allow a debate relating to the revival of hereditary titles, but referred MPs to Erskine May: Parliamentary Practice and in particular to the guidance that "It has been ruled that the Prime Minister cannot be interrogated as to the advice that he may have given to the sovereign with regard to the grant of honours".[4] Major told the Commons Public Administration Committee in May 2004 that he had been lobbied by "influential figures" in the Conservative Party to make the recommendation, against his personal preference.[5] Former Prime Minister Thatcher was granted the Order of Merit at the same time,[6][7] and was made a life peer after she stood down as an MP in 1992. Later in 1992, Sir Denis Thatcher petitioned for and obtained a grant of arms from the College of Arms for himself and his successors in the baronetcy; at the same time, Baroness Thatcher also received a grant of arms.[8]

Mark Thatcher succeeded to the baronetcy in 2003. Following his conviction for his part in the 2004 Equatorial Guinea coup d'état attempt there was calls from some MPs for him to be stripped of the title but Thatcher ultimately retained it.[9]

Thatcher baronets, of Scotney (1990)

Sir Denis Thatcher, Bt (1990–2003)

• Sir Denis Thatcher, 1st Baronet (1915–2003)
• Sir Mark Thatcher, 2nd Baronet (born 1953)

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, Michael Thatcher (born 1 February 1988).[10][11]

At present, there are no others further in the line of succession.

References

1. "No. 52443". The London Gazette. 7 February 1991. p. 1993.
2. "The Baronetage". Debretts. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013. The creation of baronetcies lapsed in 1964; in 1990 the Conservative Government announced that this honour would be given to Denis Thatcher, but there have been no further creations
3. Viscountcies were conferred on George Thomas (retiring Speaker of the House of Commons) and William Whitelaw (incumbent Deputy Conservative Leader) in 1983. However, both died without male heirs, at which point these titles became extinct.
4. "Points of Order". 18 December 1990.
5. Barnett, Antony; Bright, Martin (16 January 2005). "Pressure grows to strip Thatcher title". The Guardian. London.
6. "Chronicle". The New York Times. 8 December 1990. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
7. "Obituary: Sir Denis Thatcher, Bt". The Daily Telegraph. London. 27 June 2003. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
8. Hardman, Robert. "His and Her coats of arms for a baronet and his Lady". The Electronic Telegraph. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
9. "Sir Mark Thatcher". TheyWorkForYou.
10. Burke's Peerage 106th edition page 2808
11. Debrett's Peerage 1995 edition page B859

External links

• Leigh Rayment's list of baronets