Dryden baronets facts for kids

A baronetcy is a special title that a king or queen can give to someone. It's like being a knight, but the title can be passed down through the family, usually to the oldest son. It's a bit like a noble title, but it's not a peerage (which means you don't get to sit in the House of Lords).

The Dryden family had three different baronetcy titles created for them over time. One was created in 1619, and two others were created later in 1733 and 1795. Today, two of these titles are held by the same person, meaning they are "united."

The famous poet John Dryden was related to the first Baronet of the 1619 creation. He was the grandson of the first Baronet and the father of the fifth Baronet.

The First Dryden Baronetcy (1619)

This picture shows the Dryden family's coat of arms. It has a blue shield with a golden lion, a golden sphere, and two golden stars.

The very first Dryden baronetcy was created on 16 November 1619. It was given to Sir Erasmus Dryden, 1st Baronet, who lived in a place called Canons Ashby in Northamptonshire, England. Sir Erasmus was also a Member of Parliament, which means he was elected to help make laws for the country.

His grandson was the famous poet, John Dryden.

This title eventually ended in 1770 when the seventh Baronet, Sir John Dryden, passed away without anyone to inherit it. When a title ends, it's called "extinct." However, this title was brought back later in 1795!

Who held the 1619 title?

• Sir Erasmus Dryden, 1st Baronet (1553–1632)
• Sir John Dryden, 2nd Baronet (around 1580–around 1658)
• Sir Robert Dryden, 3rd Baronet (around 1638–1708)
• Sir John Dryden, 4th Baronet (around 1635–1710)
• Sir Erasmus Henry Dryden, 5th Baronet (1669–1710)
• Sir Erasmus Dryden, 6th Baronet (1636–1718)
• Sir John Dryden, 7th Baronet (around 1704–1770)

The Turner, later Page-Turner, later Dryden Baronetcy (1733)

This is the grave of Sir Edward Henry Page Turner (1823-1874) in Brompton Cemetery, London.

Another baronetcy was created on 24 August 1733 for Edward Turner, who lived in Ambrosden in Oxfordshire. This title was first known as the "Turner Baronetcy."

The second Baronet, Sir Edward Turner, was also a Member of Parliament for several areas. His second son, John, later received his own baronetcy in 1795 (we'll talk about that next!).

The third Baronet, Sir Gregory Page-Turner, inherited a lot of land and money from his great-uncle in 1775. Because of this, he added "Page" to his last name, becoming Page-Turner. This new surname was used by the next few Baronets too.

In 1874, when the sixth Baronet, Sir Edward Henry Page-Turner, passed away, this title was inherited by Sir Henry Edward Leigh Dryden. He was already the 4th Baronet of the 1795 creation. From that moment on, these two baronetcy titles have been held by the same person.

Who held the 1733 title?

• Sir Edward Turner, 1st Baronet (1691–1735)
• Sir Edward Turner, 2nd Baronet (1719–1766)
• Sir Gregory Page-Turner, 3rd Baronet (1748–1805)
• Sir Gregory Osborne Page-Turner, 4th Baronet (1785–1843)
• Sir Edward George Thomas Page-Turner, 5th Baronet (1789–1846)
• Sir Edward Henry Page-Turner, 6th Baronet (1823–1874)
• Sir Henry Edward Leigh Dryden, 7th Baronet (1818–1899) (He also became the 4th Baronet of Canons Ashby in 1837, uniting the titles in 1874.)

The Second Dryden Baronetcy (1795)

This third baronetcy was created on 2 May 1795 for John Dryden. He was born John Turner, the second son of the second Baronet from the 1733 creation.

John Dryden married the niece of the seventh and last Baronet of the very first 1619 creation. In 1791, he officially changed his surname to Dryden and took on the Dryden family's coat of arms. This is how the original 1619 title was "revived" through a new creation.

The fourth Baronet of this 1795 creation, Sir Henry Edward Leigh Dryden, later became the seventh Baronet of the 1733 creation in 1874. This is when the two titles became united.

Who held the 1795 title?

• Sir John Dryden, 1st Baronet (1752–1797)
• Sir John Edmund Dryden, 2nd Baronet (1782–1818)
• Sir Henry Dryden, 3rd Baronet (1787–1837)
• Sir Henry Edward Leigh Dryden, 4th Baronet (1818–1899) (He also became the 7th Baronet of Ambrosden in 1874, uniting the titles.)

The United Dryden Baronetcies (since 1874)

This is a memorial for Sir Alfred Erasmus Dryden at St Mary's, Putney church in London.

This is a memorial for Sir Alfred Erasmus Dryden's wife at St Mary's, Putney church in London.

Since 1874, the Dryden Baronetcy of Canons Ashby (1795 creation) and the Turner/Page-Turner/Dryden Baronetcy of Ambrosden (1733 creation) have been held by the same person. This means the person holding the title is known as both the Baronet of Canons Ashby and the Baronet of Ambrosden.

Who holds the united titles?

• Sir Henry Edward Leigh Dryden, 4th and 7th Baronet (1818–1899)
• Sir Alfred Erasmus Dryden, 5th and 8th Baronet (1822–1912)
• Sir Arthur Dryden, 6th and 9th Baronet (1852–1938)
• Sir Noel Percy Hugh Dryden, 7th and 10th Baronet (1910–1970)
• Sir John Stephen Gyles Dryden, 8th and 11th Baronet (1943–2022)
• Sir John Frederick Simon Dryden, 9th and 12th Baronet (born 1976)

The person who is expected to inherit the baronetcy next is William Frederick John Dryden (born 2012). He is the only son of the current Baronet.