BARONET, a dignity or degree of honour next be-
neath a baron, and above a knight; having precedence
of all knights excepting those of the Garter, and being
the only knighthood that is hereditary.
The dignity of baronet is given by patent, and is
the lowest degree of honour that is hereditary. The
order was founded by King James I. at the suggestion
of Sir Robert Cotton, in 1611, when 200 baronets
were created at once; to which number it was intended
they should always be restrained: but it is now enlarged
at the king's pleasure, without limitation.
They had several considerable privileges given them,
with an habendum to them and their heirs male. They
were allowed to charge their coat with the arms of
Ulster, which are, in a field argent, a sinister hand,
gules; and that upon condition of their defending the
province of Ulster in Ireland against the rebels, who
then harassed it extremely: to which end they were
each to raise and keep up 30 soldiers at their own ex-
pence for three years together, or to pay into the ex-
chequer a sum sufficient to do it; which, at 8d. per
day per head, was 10951. So that, including fees,
the expence of this dignity may be about 12001. ster-
ling. To be qualified for it, one must be a gentle-
man born, and have a clear estate of 10001. per an-
num.
Baronets take place according to the dates of their
patents; by the terms of which no honour is to be
erected between barons and baronets. The title Sir is
granted them by a peculiar clause in their patents,
though they be not dubbed knights: but both a baro-
net, and his eldest son, being of full age, may claim
knighthood.—The first baronet who was created was
Sir Nicholas Bacon of Redgrave in Suffolk, whose
successor is therefore styled Primus Baronetorum An-
glie.
BARONETS of Scotland, called also Baronets of Nova
Scotia. The order of knights baronets was also de-
signed to be established in Scotland in the year 1621,
by king James I. for the plantation and cultivation of
the province of Nova Scotia in America; but it was
not actually instituted till the year 1625 by his son
Charles I. when the first person dignified with this title
was Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstone, a younger son
of the earl of Sutherland. The king granted a cer-
tain portion of land in Acadia or New Scotland, to
each of them, which they were to hold of Sir William
Alexander (afterwards earl of Stirling), for their en-
couragement who should hazard their lives for the good
and increase of that plantation, with precedence to
them, and their heirs-male for ever, before all knights
called equites aurati, and all lesser barons called lords,
and all other gentlemen, except Sir William Alexander
and his majesty's lieutenant in Nova Scotia, his heirs,
their wives and children; that the title of Sir should
be prefixed to their Christian name, and Baronet added
to their surname; and that their own and their eldest
sons wives should enjoy the title of Lady, Madame, or
Dame.
Dame.—His majesty was so desirous of adding every mark of dignity to this his favourite order, that, four years after its institution, he issued a royal warrant, granting them the privilege of wearing an orange ribbon and a medal; which last was presented to each of them by the king himself, according to the words of the warrant. All the privileges of the order, particularly this of wearing the medal, were confirmed at the king's request by the convention of estates in the year 1630; and in order to establish them on the most solid foundation, they were again confirmed by an act of the parliament of Scotland in the year 1633. This mark of distinction fell to the ground with all the other honours of Scotland during the usurpation of the long parliament and of Oliver Cromwell. It continued in general, though not total, disuse after the Restoration. There have been former meetings of the order to revive the use of it, one in the year 1721, and another in 1734. These meetings proved ineffectual, because the proper steps towards its revival were not taken; but, under the auspices of our illustrious monarch George III. such measures were concerted in the year 1775 as have effectually established this honourable dignity.