Mary Grey, Countess of Kent (died 1 November 1702), ''

suo jure ''Suo jure'' is a Latin phrase, used in English to mean 'in his own right' or 'in her own right'. In most nobility-related contexts, it means 'in her own right', since in those situations the phrase is normally used of women; in practice, especi ...

'' 1st Baroness Lucas of Crudwell (née Mary Lucas), was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

peeress in her own right.

Origins

She was the only surviving child of

John Lucas, 1st Baron Lucas John Lucas, 1st Baron Lucas of Shenfield (23 October 1606 – 2 July 1671) was an English Royalist soldier, industrialist and landowner. Lucas was the son of Sir Thomas Lucas and Elizabeth Leighton. He was one of eight children which included ot ...

(1606–1671) of Shenfield, Essex.

Marriage

On 2 March 1662/63 she married Anthony Grey, 11th Earl of Kent.

''Suo jure'' peerage

Following her marriage Mary was created, at her father's request, ''

'' Baroness Lucas of Crudwell on 7 May 1663. This new creation was granted a special remainder to Mary's

heirs male In inheritance, a hereditary successor is a person who inherits an indivisible title or office after the death of the previous title holder. The hereditary line of succession may be limited to heirs of the body, or may pass also to collateral l ...

by her husband Anthony Grey, 11th Earl of Kent, and failing which, to her heirs female ''without division''. This was a unique remainder for the

English peerage The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain. There are five peerages in the ...

as it can not fall into

abeyance Abeyance (from the Old French ''abeance'' meaning "gaping") is a state of expectancy in respect of property, titles or office, when the right to them is not vested in any one person, but awaits the appearance or determination of the true owner. ...

between female co-heiresses but is inherited by the senior co-heiress alone.

Death and succession

Mary, Countess of Kent and Baroness Lucas, died in November 1700 and was succeeded in the barony by her eldest son

Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Kent Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Kent, KG, PC (16715 June 1740) was a British politician and courtier. None of his sons outlived him, so his new title became extinct on his death. Though the house he built at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire has gone, parts ...

, who in August 1702 also succeeded his father as 12th Earl of Kent and was created

Duke of Kent Duke of Kent is a title that has been created several times in the peerages of peerage of Great Britain, Great Britain and the peerage of the United Kingdom, United Kingdom, most recently as a Royal dukedoms in the United Kingdom, royal dukedom ...

on 28 April 1710.

Notes

References