Viscount Ridley

The Viscount Ridley title was created on December 19, 1900 for the conservative politician Sir Matthew White Ridley, 5th Baronet (1842-1904). He was a member of the House of Commons from North Northumberland (1868–1885) and Blackpool (1886–1900), and also served as Under Secretary of the Interior (1878–1880), Treasury Secretary (1885–1886), and British Secretary of the Home (1895) -1900). Together with the title of Viscount in 1900, he received the title of Baron Wensleydale of Blackgdon and Blythe in the county of Northumberland ( United Kingdom Peersty ). The title of Baron Wensleydale since 1856 belonged to his maternal grandfather, James Park, Baron Wensleydale (1782-1868). After his death, the title of baron was interrupted, since not one of his sons survived his father.

Lord Ridley was succeeded by his son, Matthew White Ridley, 2nd Viscount Ridley (1874-1916). He represented Stelibridge in the House of Commons of Great Britain (1900-1905). His son, Matthew White Ridley, 3rd Viscount Ridley (1902-1964), was chairman of the county council of Northumberland . The son of the latter, Matthew White Ridley, 4th Viscount Ridley (1920–2012), was Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland (1984–2000) and Lord Steward (1989–2001).

As of 2014, the title holder was his son, journalist and writer Matthew White Ridley, 5th Viscount Ridley (born 1958), who succeeded his father in 2012 .

The title of a Baronet from Blackdon in Northumberland County ( Baronetry of Great Britain ) was created on May 6, 1756 for Matthew White (c. 1727-1763), with the right of inheritance for the male descendants of his sister Elizabeth (1721-1764), wife of Matthew Ridley (1716-1778 ) He was succeeded by his nephew, Sir Matthew White Ridley, 2nd Baronet (1745-1813). He represented Morpet (1768–1774) and Newcastle upon Tyne (1774–1800, 1801–1812) in the House of Commons . After his death, the title passed to his eldest son, Matthew White Ridley, 3rd baronet (1778-1836). He was a member of the House of Commons from Newcastle upon Tyne (1813-1836). He was succeeded by his son, Matthew White Ridley, 4th Baronet (1807-1877). He sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain from North Northumberland (1859-1868). The 4th Baronet was the husband of Cecilia Ann Park (d. 1845 ), the daughter of James Park, 1st Baron Wensleydale . After the death of the 4th Baronet, the title was inherited by his son, Matthew White Ridley, the 5th Baronet (1842-1904), who became a peer in 1900 , receiving the title of Viscount Ridley.

Three other members of the Ridley family are also known. Nicholas William Ridley-Colbon (1779-1854), the youngest son of the 2nd Baronet, a British politician , was elected to the House of Commons six times. In 1839, the title of Baron Colborn was created for him. The Honorable Sir Jasper Ridley (1887-1951), Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath . Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale (1929-1993), the youngest son of the 3rd Viscount Ridley, a conservative politician. He served as finance secretary of the Treasury (181-1983), Minister of Transport (1983-1986), Minister of the Environment (1986-1989) and Minister of Trade and Industry (1989-1990). In 1992, he received the title of lifetime peer as Baron Ridley of Liddesdale.

The family residence is Blackdon Hall , in the vicinity of Cramlington in Northumberland .

• 1756-1763: Sir Matthew White, 1st Baronet (c. 1727 - March 21, 1763)
• 1763-1813: Sir Matthew White Ridley, 2nd Baronet (October 28, 1745 - April 9, 1813), son of Matthew Ridley (1716-1778) and Elizabeth White (1721-1764), nephew of the previous
• 1813-1836: Sir Matthew White Ridley, 3rd Baronet (April 18, 1778 - July 14, 1836), the eldest son of the previous
• 1836-1877: Sir Matthew White Ridley, 4th Baronet (September 9, 1807 - September 25, 1877), son of the previous
• 1877-1904: Sir Matthew White Ridley, 5th Baronet (July 25, 1842 - November 28, 1904), the only son of the previous, Viscount Ridley since 1900 .

• 1900-1904: Matthew White Ridley, 1st Viscount Ridley (July 25, 1842 - November 28, 1904), the only son of Sir Matthew White Ridley, 4th Baronet
• 1904-1916: Matthew White Ridley, 2nd Viscount Ridley (December 6, 1874 - February 14, 1916), the eldest son of the previous
• 1916-1964: Matthew White Ridley, 3rd Viscount Ridley (December 16, 1902 - February 25, 1964), the only son of the previous
• 1964-2012: Matthew White Ridley, 4th Viscount Ridley (July 29, 1925 - March 22, 2012), the eldest son of the previous
• 2012 - present: Matthew White Ridley, 5th Viscount Ridley (born February 7, 1958), the only son of the previous
  • Heir to the title: Hon. Matthew White Ridley (born 1993), the only son of the previous one.

• Baron Colborn

• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
• The Peerages of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom
• Lundy, Darryl. "FAQ" . The Peerage .