Earl of Crawford

Earl of Crawford is one of the oldest British hereditary title of nobility. It belongs to the Peerage of Scotland and is supported by the family Lindsay. The name refers to Crawford Castle, near Crawford, South Lanarkshire in Scotland.

The respective Earl is the Head of the Clan Lindsay. Ancestral home of the family is Balcarres House, Colin Burgh, Fife.

The present Earl is considered the first Earl in the Peerage of Scotland, because the older title of Earl of Southerland is currently being worn by a woman.

Ceremony and history

The title was created in 1398 for Sir David Lindsay. This was a well-known jousting champion of his time and a close follower of the Scottish king.

The dignity changed hands several times in addition to lines of the family, although there were direct descendants or more dependents. 1642 was an explicit assignment to John Lindsay, 1st Earl of Lindsay, an uncle of the first Earl. But this is not was a Neuverleihung, but still applies in 1398 as the year of the award.

From 1808 to 1848 the title rested, because at first it was not clear who was the next of kin of the deceased 22 Earls. When this was determined by the House of Lords, this was already dead, so that his son was awarded the title. His father is considered de jure 23rd Earl, although he has the dignity itself never worn.

Subordinate title

The Earl of Crawford also holds the title of Earl of Balcarres, so that the respective winners of the title is often referred to as the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres. The foregoing assignment by the House of Lords was made in 1848 to Alexander Lindsay, 6th Earl of Balcarres. Since both titles are out together. The current, 29th Earl of Crawford is also the 12th Earl of Balcarres.

Further downstream the title earldom are Lord Lindsay of Crawford ( created 1398 ), Lord Lindsay and Balniel ( created 1651) and Baron Wigan of Haigh Hall ( established 1826). While the first two tracks are also included in the Peerage of Scotland, the latter the Peerage of the United Kingdom is assigned. Through him, the respective Earl had a permanent seat in the House of Lords.

As Earl of Balcarres leads the title holder also created in 1633 the title of Lord Balcarres, who also belongs to the Peerage of Scotland.

The eldest son of the Earl takes the courtesy title of Lord Balniel. His eldest son shall be named the Master of Lindsay.

More titles

The 17th Earl was also 1st Earl of Lindsay. Both titles were simultaneously performed by the holder of the title until George Lindsay - Crawford, 22nd Earl of Crawford and 6th Earl of Lindsay died in 1808 without a male descendant. This applies also for the earldom of these subordinate titles Viscount of Garnock ( created 1703), Lord Lindsay of The Byres ( created 1445 ), Lord Parbroath ( created 1633) and Lord Kilbirnie, King Burn and Drumry ( created 1703). All these titles are in the Peerage of Scotland.

The present Earl was raised in 1975 as Baron Balniel for Life Peer. Because of this, he still sits in the House of Lords.

List of Earls of Crawford ( 1398 )

• David Lindsay, 1st Earl of Crawford († 1407)
• Alexander Lindsay, 2nd Earl of Crawford (ca. 1387-1438 )
• David Lindsay, 3rd Earl of Crawford († 1445 )
• Alexander Lindsay, 4th Earl of Crawford († 1453)
• David Lindsay, 1st Duke of Montrose, 5th Earl of Crawford ( 1440-1495 )
• John Lindsay, 6th Earl of Crawford ( † ca 1513)
• Alexander Lindsay, 7th Earl of Crawford († 1517)
• David Lindsay, 8th Earl of Crawford († 1542)
• David Lindsay, 9th Earl of Crawford († 1558 )
• David Lindsay, 10th Earl of Crawford († 1574 )
• David Lindsay, 11th Earl of Crawford (ca. 1547-1607 )
• David Lindsay, 12th Earl of Crawford († 1621)
• Henry Lindsay, 13th Earl of Crawford († 1622)
• George Lindsay, 14th Earl of Crawford († 1633)
• Alexander Lindsay, 15th Earl of Crawford († 1639 )
• Ludovic Lindsay, 16th Earl of Crawford († 1652)
• John Lindsay, 17th Earl of Crawford ( 1st Earl of Lindsay ) (ca. 1598-1678 )
• William Lindsay, 18th Earl of Crawford (2nd Earl of Lindsay ) ( 1644-1698 )
• John Lindsay, 19th Earl of Crawford ( 3rd Earl of Lindsay ) ( † 1713)
• John Lindsay, 20th Earl of Crawford ( 4th Earl of Lindsay ) ( 1702-1749 )
• George Lindsay - Crawford, 21st Earl of Crawford ( 5th Earl of Lindsay ) ( 1723-1781 )
• George Lindsay - Crawford, 22nd Earl of Crawford (6th Earl of Lindsay ) ( 1758-1808 ) ( abeyant 1808)
• Alexander Lindsay, 23rd Earl of Crawford (6th Earl of Balcarres ) ( 1752-1825 ) ( de jure )
• James Lindsay, 24th Earl of Crawford ( 7th Earl of Balcarres ) ( 1783-1869 ) (Suspension ended 1848)
• Alexander Lindsay, 25th Earl of Crawford (8th Earl of Balcarres ) ( 1812-1880 )
• James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford (9th Earl of Balcarres ) ( 1847-1913 )
• David Alexander Edward Lindsay, 27th Earl of Crawford (10th Earl of Balcarres ) ( 1871-1940 )
• David Alexander Robert Lindsay, 28th Earl of Crawford (11th Earl of Balcarres ) ( 1900-1975 )
• Robert Alexander Lindsay, 29th Earl of Crawford (12th Earl of Balcarres ) (* 1927)

The heir apparent is the son of the present Earl, Anthony Robert Lindsay, Lord Balniel (* 1958). Its legacy is his son, The Hon ( the Hon ) Alexander Thomas Lindsay, Master of Lindsay ( * 1991).

Swell

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

• Earldom
• Earl of Crawford