Lord Sempill facts for kids

The Sempill family crest, showing their special symbols.

The title Lord Sempill (sometimes spelled Semple or Semphill) is a special noble rank in Scotland. It was first created around 1489 for Sir John Sempill. He was also the founder of a church in Lochwinnoch. Sir John Sempill sadly died in a battle called the Battle of Flodden in 1513.

His grandson, the third Lord Sempill, was known as "The Great Lord Sempill" because he was very important. Another grandson, the fourth Lord, served as an Ambassador for King James VI of Scotland in Spain in 1596. Over time, the family line changed. When the eighth Lord Sempill died in 1684, he had no sons to inherit the title. So, his sister Anne became the next Lady Sempill. She was married to Robert Abercromby. In 1688, a new rule was made that allowed the Sempill title to pass to her daughters if she had no sons.

Her younger son, the twelfth Lord Sempill, was a military leader. He commanded part of the government army at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

The Sempill Family Title

The Sempill title has a long and interesting history, passing through many generations of the family.

How the Sempill Title Changed Hands

The fifteenth Lord Sempill passed away in 1835 without marrying or having children. His younger sister, Maria, then inherited the title. Maria was married to Edward Chandler. In 1853, they were given special permission by the King to use the Sempill name. However, they also had no children.

After Maria, the title went to her cousin, Sir William Forbes. He was already a Baronet of Craigievar, which is another old Scottish title. Sir William was the grandson of the Hon. Sarah Sempill, who was the eldest daughter of the thirteenth Lord Sempill. In 1885, he also received permission to add Sempill to his last name.

His son, the eighteenth Lord, was a Scottish Representative Peer in the House of Lords (part of the UK Parliament) from 1910 to 1934. This meant he represented Scottish nobles in the government. His son, the nineteenth Lord, was known as an aviation pioneer. He also served as a Scottish Representative Peer from 1935 to 1963. He had one daughter.

The Sempill Title Today

When the nineteenth Lord Sempill died in 1965, his two titles were separated. The Lord Sempill title went to his daughter, Ann, who became the twentieth Lady Sempill. However, the baronetcy (the other title) could only be inherited by male family members.

After a legal discussion about who should inherit the baronetcy, the nineteenth Lord's younger sibling, Sir Ewan Forbes, 11th Baronet, became the eleventh Baronet. When Sir Ewan passed away in 1991, the baronetcy was inherited by his cousin, Sir John Alexander Cumnock Forbes, 12th Baronet. You can find more information about the Forbes baronets in their own article.

The twentieth Lady Sempill married Eric Holt, and they later divorced. She then married Stuart Whitemore Chant. In 1966, a Scottish official called the Lord Lyon allowed Stuart to add Sempill to his last name. As of 2017, the title is held by Lady Sempill's eldest son from her second marriage, the twenty-first Lord Sempill. He inherited the title in 1995.

In 1712, James Francis Edward Stuart, who was in exile, recognized Robert Sempill as the rightful holder of the Sempill title. He even gave him the title of Lord Sempill of Dykehead in what was called the Jacobite peerage. However, the British government never officially recognized this claim or title.

Lords Sempill (since 1489)

Here is a list of the people who have held the title of Lord Sempill:

• John Sempill, 1st Lord Sempill (died 1513)
• William Sempill, 2nd Lord Sempill (died 1552)
• Robert Sempill, 3rd Lord Sempill (around 1505–1576)
• Robert Sempill, 4th Lord Sempill (died 1611)
• Hugh Sempill, 5th Lord Sempill (died 1639)
• Francis Sempill, 6th Lord Sempill (around 1622–1644)
• Robert Sempill, 7th Lord Sempill (died 1675)
• Francis Sempill, 8th Lord Sempill (around 1660–1684)
• Anne Abercromby, 9th Lady Sempill (died 1695)
• Francis Sempill, 10th Lord Sempill (around 1685–1716)
• John Sempill, 11th Lord Sempill (died 1727)
• Hugh Sempill, 12th Lord Sempill (1688–1746)
• John Sempill, 13th Lord Sempill (died 1782)
• Hugh Sempill, 14th Lord Sempill (1758–1830)
• Selkirk Sempill, 15th Lord Sempill (1788–1835)
• Maria Janet Sempill, 16th Lady Sempill (1790–1884)
• William Forbes-Sempill, 17th Lord Sempill (1836–1905)
• John Forbes-Sempill, 18th Lord Sempill (1863–1934)
• William Francis Forbes-Sempill, 19th Lord Sempill (1893–1965)
• Ann Moira Forbes-Sempill, 20th Lady Sempill (1920–1995)
• James William Stuart Whitemore Sempill, 21st Lord Sempill (born 1949)

The person who is next in line to inherit the title is the current Lord's son, Hon. Francis Henry William Sempill, who is called the Master of Sempill (born 1979). The person after him in line is his son, Felix Hew Forbes Sempill (born 2012).

See also

• Forbes baronets, of Craigievar