The Succession to the titles, honours, and dignities of Baron Hume of Berwick (1604) and Earl of Dunbar (1605)

Arthur St. Clair

Jun 2026 · Earl of Dunbar Research Project

About this ebook

The study is an account of the genealogical and legal complexities surrounding the succession to the Scottish peerage titles of Baron Hume of Berwick and Earl of Dunbar, as well as the Scottish feudal title of Earl of Dunbar. It encompasses two distinct phases. Firstly, it examines the succession prior to Alexander Hume of Manderston (1651-1720), relying on authoritative literature on the order of precedence of noble families and information on the nobility of the United Kingdom to establish the historical context of these titles and identify potential claimants. Secondly, commencing with the aforementioned Alexander Hume of Manderston, the study traces his descendants through the first-born son in each generation, based on archival research and an Ahnenpaß of Tjapko Antoon van Bergen (Heiligerlee 1903 - Leningrad 1944).

About the author

The Earl of Dunbar Research Project operates as an unincorporated association of researchers, genealogists, and historians dedicated to the scholarly preservation of the Earls of Dunbar’s history.

Nature of the Organization: We are a private, non-commercial collective, publishing under a collective pseudonym Arthur St. Clair. Our primary mission is the academic investigation and documentation of the history and succession to the titles of the Earls of Dunbar.

Publications: The Earl of Dunbar Research Project is committed to the documentation of history through recognized academic channels. We will publish our findings in scientific articles and scholarly monographs to ensure the preservation of this knowledge for future generations. We publish under the collective pseudonym Arthur St. Clair to ensure that our research is evaluated solely on its evidentiary merit, establishing a unified, enduring academic voice that transcends individual authorship.

Independence: This project operates independently of any government body but relies on verified records from national archives, heraldic authorities, and historical registries to substantiate its findings.

This project is dedicated to documenting the rich history of one of Scotland’s most prestigious titles. Our research focuses on the lineage of the Earldom of Dunbar, tracing its origins from the ancient House of Gospatric, through the 1605 creation for George Home, and other branches.

This project is executed to preserve the cultural and historical heritage, lines of succession and legal claims of the distinct branches, a necessary measure given that the official restoration of ancient titles is rendered impossible by the 100-year limitation on dormant peerages—a policy established following a May 31, 1927 House of Lords debate rather than a specific statute—under which the Attorney General and Committee for Privileges generally reject claims, as noted by Debrett’s, if the title has been in abeyance or dormant for more than a century.