Baronet

A baronet is a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. It is a rank of honor below the peerage but above most knights. A baronet is a commoner who holds a hereditary knighthood, and his title is inherited by his male heirs. The holder is styled Sir followed by his forename and surname, with the post-nominal Bt or Bart.

Baronetcies were created by King James I in 1611 as a means to raise funds for military expenses and colonial ventures. Over time, they were issued in several jurisdictions: the Baronetage of England (1611 onward), the Baronetage of Nova Scotia (1625; intended to promote colonization of that colony), the Baronetage of Ireland, and later the Baronetages of Great Britain (1707) and the United Kingdom (1801–present). The title carries no entitlement to a seat in Parliament.

Inheritance and succession generally follow the rule of primogeniture: the title is passed to the eldest male heir under a limitation phrased as “to the heirs male of the body.” If a line fails, the title becomes extinct or dormant. The wife of a baronet is commonly styled as Lady [Surname], and daughters do not inherit the title.

Today baronetcies remain hereditary honors and are non-peerage titles. They are listed on the Official Roll of the Baronetage. Holders may participate in public life and ceremonial duties, and they often maintain family genealogies, but the title does not confer a seat in the House of Lords.