This is a modern degree of honour, instituted by king James I. on the 22nd of May, 1611; and the 9th year of his reign; who made it hereditary in the male line, as an encouragement to those of his subjects who assisted in the reduction of the province of Ulster in Ireland. The number of baronets was first restricted to 200; but it is now enlarged at the king's pleasure, without limitation. The title of baronet is conferred by patent under the great seal; and, like other knights, he is distinguished by the appellative Sir, prefixed to his Christian name, in speaking and writing.

No person could be admitted into this order, unless he was a gentleman of unblemished morals, and possessed of an yearly income of £1000. in land; and the express condition of his admission was, that he should pay £95 l. for the maintenance of 30 soldiers, for three years on the military establishment of Ireland. As an armorial badge of distinction, a baronet wears, in a canton or escutcheon, the arms of the baronet, viz. Argent, a sinister Hand couped at the wrist, Gules.

Baronet of Scotland. The order of baronets in Scotland was also projected by king James I. for the plantation and cultivation of the province of Nova Scotia, in America; and his son king Charles I. executed his royal father's plan by instituting this order soon after his accession to the throne; the first person dignified with this title was Sir Robert Gordon, of Gordonstone, a younger son of the earl of Sutherland, whose patent bears date the 28th of May 1625. His majesty king Charles I. 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 this country, 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.

Baronet of Ireland. This order was likewise instituted by king James I. in the 18th year of his reign, for the same purpose and with the same privileges within the kingdom of Ireland, as he had conferred on the like order in England; for which the Irish baronets paid the same fees into the treasury of Ireland. The first of that kingdom that was advanced to this hereditary dignity was Sir Francis Blandell, then secretary for the affairs of Ireland. Since his time, several have been created, no number being limited.