The Lyttelton barons of Frankley belong to the
Frankley and Hagley branch of the extended
Littleton/Lyttelton family. In 1618,
Thomas Lyttelton (1593–1650), owner of estates in
Frankley,
Halesowen,
Hagley and
Upper Arley, was created
Baronet of Frankley, in the County of Worcester, in the
Baronetage of England. He later represented
Worcestershire in the
House of Commons. His son, the second Baronet, sat as
Member of Parliament for
Lichfield. On his death the titles passed to his younger brother, the third Baronet, He represented
Bewdley in Parliament. He was succeeded by his son, the fourth Baronet. He was Member of Parliament for
Worcester and
Camelford. Lyttelton married Christian, daughter of Sir Richard Temple, 3rd Baronet, and sister of
Richard Temple, 1st Viscount Cobham, and
Hester Grenville, 1st Countess Temple. The viscountcy of Cobham and its junior title the barony of Cobham were created with remainder, failing male issue, to (1) Lord Cobham's eldest sister Hester Grenville (who succeeded as second Viscountess in 1749 and was created
Earl Temple in 1750) and the heirs male of her body and (2) to his third sister Christian, with remainder to the heirs male of her body. Lyttelton was succeeded by his eldest son, the fifth Baronet, who was a prominent politician. In 1755 he was created
Baron Lyttelton, of Frankley in the
County of Worcester, in the
Peerage of Great Britain. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baron. He briefly represented Bewdley in the House of Commons. Lord Lyttelton had no legitimate issue and on his death in 1779 the barony became extinct. However, he was succeeded in the baronetcy by his uncle, the seventh Baronet. He also represented Bewdley in Parliament and served as
Governor of South Carolina and of
Jamaica. In 1776, three years before he succeeded in the baronetcy, he was created
Baron Westcote, of Balamere in the County of Longford, in the
Peerage of Ireland. In 1794 he was further created
Baron Lyttelton, of Frankley in the
County of Worcester, in the
Peerage of Great Britain. His eldest son, the second Baron, also sat as Member of Parliament for Bewdley. He was succeeded by his half-brother, the third Baron. He represented Worcestershire in the House of Commons and also served as
Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire. His son, the fourth Baron, was briefly
Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies in 1846 under
Sir Robert Peel and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire. On his death, the titles passed to his son, the fifth Baron. In 1889 he succeeded his distant relative
Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, as eighth Baron and Viscount Cobham, according to the aforementioned special remainder in the letters patent. Since 1889 the holders of the Lyttelton titles of 1618 and 1794 have chosen to use the style of
Viscount Cobham (see there for further history). ==Lyttelton baronets, of Frankley (1618)==