Baring family

The Baring family is a German and British family of merchants and bankers. It is descended from Johann (John) Baring (1697–1748), a wool merchant of Bremen. He founded a merchant house in Exeter in 1717. His sons Francis Baring and John Baring moved to London, where they founded the John and Francis Baring Company, commonly known as Barings Bank, in 1762. Barings Bank became one of the leading London merchant banks,^[1] and collapsed in 1995. Francis Baring was the father of Sir Thomas Baring, 2nd Baronet, who was the father of Alexander Baring, 1st Baron Ashburton. Sir Francis Baring, 2nd Baronet was also the father of Henry Baring and the grandfather of Edward Baring, 1st Baron Revelstoke and Evelyn Baring, 1st Earl of Cromer.

Arnulf Baring is a member of the branch of the family resident in Germany.

The family's descendants include Diana, Princess of Wales, whose great-grandmother was Margaret Baring, the daughter of Edward Baring, 1st Baron Revelstoke, and through her Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.

Since the early 19th century, the Baring family maintained close relations with the Berenberg family of bankers.^[2]

Peerages and titles

The Baring family is one of the most ennobled in the United Kingdom, where several family members were made peers and baronets. The family has held the following peerages:

• Baron Ashburton (created 1835)
• Baron Northbrook (created 1866)
• Viscount Baring and Earl of Northbrook (created 1876, extinct 1929)
• Baron Revelstoke (created 1885)
• Earl of Cromer (created 1901)
• Baron Howick of Glendale (created 1960)

Additionally, two baronetcies have been created for the family (in 1793 and 1911), the Baring baronets.

References