The title was created for the third time in 1766 for
Hugh Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland (formerly Sir Hugh Smithson, 4th Baronet), who had assumed in 1750, by an act of Parliament,
Hugh Earl of Northumberland's Name and Arms Act 1749 (
23 Geo. 2. c.
14 ), for himself and his descendants the surname Percy, due to his having married in 1740 the daughter of
Algernon Seymour, 7th Duke of Somerset (1684–1750), whose mother
Lady Elizabeth Percy (1667–1722) was the last of the senior blood line of the ancient
House of Percy, being the only surviving child of
Josceline Percy, 11th Earl of Northumberland (1644–1670). In 1749 King George II created Algernon (who had inherited the Dukedom of Somerset in 1748)
Earl of Northumberland and
Baron Warkworth, of
Warkworth Castle in the County of Northumberland, with special remainder to his son-in-law Sir Hugh Smithson, 4th Baronet. The above steps formed a deliberate move to allow ancient names and titles of the Percys to be revived in the male-heir exhausted senior branch of the Dukedom of Somerset, which at that time was about to see its largest removal – to another noble but very cadet branch (a fourth cousin) on Algernon's death. Algernon was also created
Earl of Egremont at the same time, with a different remainder. In 1784 the 1st Duke was also granted the substantive title
Lord Lovaine, Baron of Alnwick in the County of Northumberland, in the Peerage of Great Britain, with remainder to his second son
Lord Algernon Percy, who succeeded and who was created
Earl of Beverley in 1790, and thus it too became a courtesy title. The 1st Duke was succeeded in the dukedom and associated titles by his eldest son,
Hugh, the 2nd Duke, a
lieutenant-general in the
British Army. The 2nd Duke was in his turn succeeded by his eldest son,
Hugh, the 3rd Duke, who in 1812, five years before he succeeded in the dukedom, had been summoned to the
House of Lords through a
writ of acceleration in his father's junior title of Baron Percy. The 3rd Duke later held office as
Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland from 1829 to 1830. He was childless and was succeeded by his younger brother,
Algernon, 1st Baron Prudhoe, the 4th Duke, who in 1814 had been created
Baron Prudhoe, of Prudhoe Castle in the County of Northumberland, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The 4th Duke was an
admiral in the
Royal Navy and notably served as
First Lord of the Admiralty in 1852. He was also childless and on his death in 1865 the barony of Prudhoe became extinct while the barony of Percy (which could be passed on through the female line) was inherited by his great-nephew,
John Stewart-Murray, 7th Duke of Atholl. The Admiral was succeeded in the dukedom and remaining titles by his first cousin,
George, the 2nd Earl of Beverley, eldest son of the second son of the 1st Duke. The barony of Lovaine and earldom of Beverley have since been merged in the dukedom as courtesy titles. The 5th Duke was succeeded by his eldest son,
Algernon, the 6th Duke, who notably served as
Lord Privy Seal between 1879 and 1880 under
Lord Beaconsfield. The 6th Duke's eldest son,
Henry, the 7th Duke, was summoned to the House of Lords through a writ of acceleration in his father's junior title of Lord Lovaine in 1887. The 7th Duke's eldest son,
Henry Percy, Earl Percy, predeceased him. He was succeeded by his fourth but eldest surviving son,
Alan, the 8th Duke, whose eldest son,
Henry, the 9th Duke, was killed during the
retreat to Dunkirk during the
Second World War. Henry was succeeded by his younger brother,
Hugh, the 10th Duke. In 1957, on the death of his fourth cousin once removed,
James Stewart-Murray, 9th Duke of Atholl, Hugh succeeded as 9th
Baron Percy, the title thus re-merging with the Dukedom. As of 2012 the titles are held by his second son,
Ralph, the 12th Duke, who succeeded on the death of his elder brother in 1995. Northumberland Estates manages : directly managing of forestry and of farmland, with approximately 100 tenant farmers managing the remaining bulk of the land. ==Other members of the Percy family==