Baron Raglan

For more information on FitzRoy James Henry Somerset 1st Baron Raglan of Raglan, visit Britannica.com.

Raglan, FM FitzRoy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron (1788-1855). Younger son of the Duke of Beaufort, FitzRoy Somerset served on Wellington's staff in the Peninsular war and lost an arm at Waterloo. Appointed secretary to Wellington as Master-General of the Ordnance in 1819, he found that Wellington's many responsibilities meant that he did much of the work. He was promoted major general in 1825. In 1827 Wellington became C-in-C, and Somerset his military secretary. Wellington grew increasingly infirm, and again much of the work was done by Somerset. He came close to succeeding Wellington as C-in-C in 1852, but was appointed Master-General of the Ordnance instead, and was ennobled.

Given command of the British force sent to the Crimea in 1854, Raglan won the battles of the Alma and Inkerman, but was heavily criticized for the administrative failings of his army as it wintered before Sevastopol. He died in June 1855, allegedly of cholera, though recent evidence points to the impact of severe strain. Raglan was more the victim of a long peace and financial retrenchment than guilty of incompetence. Unfailingly courteous, even in adversity, he keenly felt the misfortunes of his men.

Bibliography

• Sweetman, John, Raglan (London, 1993)

— Richard Holmes

Raglan, Fitzroy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron (1788-1855). Lord Fitzroy Somerset, eighth son of the duke of Beaufort, was appointed aide-de-camp to the future duke of Wellington, in 1808. He accompanied the duke throughout his campaigns in the Iberian Peninsula (1808-14) and was badly wounded at Waterloo. In 1852 Somerset was created Baron Raglan, and two years later given command of British forces in the war against Russia. When those forces invaded the Crimea in 1854, it soon became apparent that Raglan was not suited to high command, for although promoted to field marshal, he was widely criticized for orders leading to the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ at Balaclava on 25 October. He died of dysentery in the Crimea on 25 June 1855.

FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan

Baron Raglan, of Raglan in the County of Monmouth, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1852 for the military commander Lord FitzRoy Somerset, chiefly remembered as commander of the British troops during the Crimean War. Somerset was the youngest son of Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort (see Duke of Beaufort for earlier history of the family). His second but eldest surviving son, the second Baron, served as a Lord-in-Waiting (government whip in the House of Lords) from 1866 to 1868 in the Conservative administrations of the Earl of Derby and Benjamin Disraeli. He was succeeded by his son, the third Baron. He held office as Under-Secretary of State for War between 1900 and 1902 in the Conservative government of Lord Salisbury. His eldest son, the fourth Baron, was a soldier and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Monmouthshire. As of 2007 the title is held by the latter's second but eldest surviving son, the fifth Baron, who succeeded in 1964. He was previously active in the House of Lords but lost his seat in the upper chamber of parliament after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999. As a descendant of the fifth Duke of Beaufort Lord Raglan is also in remainder to this peerage and its subsidiary titles.

Like their Beaufort relatives, the Barons of Raglan can boast an unbroken line of male (but illegitimate) descent from Henry II and the earliest Plantagenets.

The family seat is Cefntilla Court near Usk in Monmouthshire.

Barons Raglan (1852)

• FitzRoy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788–1855)
• Richard Henry FitzRoy Somerset, 2nd Baron Raglan (1817–1884)
• George FitzRoy Henry Somerset, 3rd Baron Raglan (1857–1921)
• FitzRoy Richard Somerset, 4th Baron Raglan (1885–1964)
• FitzRoy John Somerset, 5th Baron Raglan (b. 1927)

The Heir Presumptive is the present holder's brother the Hon. Geoffrey Somerset (b. 1932)

The Heir Presumptive's Heir Apparent is his son Arthur Geoffrey Somerset (b. 1960)

See also

• Duke of Beaufort
• Viscount Somerset

References

• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page
• www.thepeerage.com

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