Hanmer baronets

There have been two baronetcies created for members of the Hanmer family of Flintshire, Wales, one in the Baronetage of England and one in the Baronetage of Great Britain. Only one creation is extant as of 2008. The third Baronet of the second creation was elevated to the peerage as Baron Hanmer in 1872, a title which became extinct in 1881. The family name derived from the manor of Hanmer in the Diocese of St. Asaph.

The Hanmer Baronetcy, of Hanmer in the County of Flint, was created in the Baronetage of England on 8 July 1620 for John Hanmer, subsequently Member of Parliament for Flintshire. The second Baronet represented Flint and Flintshire in the House of Commons. The third Baronet was Member of Parliament for Flint and Evesham and was killed in a duel. His nephew the fourth Baronet sat for Thetford, Flintshire and Suffolk and served as Speaker of the House of Commons. The title became extinct on the latter's death in 1746.^[1]

The Hanmer Baronetcy, of Hanmer in the County of Flint, was created in the Baronetage of Great Britain on 21 May 1774 for Walden Hanmer, Member of Parliament for Sudbury. The third Baronet represented Shrewsbury, Kingston upon Hull and Flint in Parliament. On 1 October 1872 he was raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Baron Hanmer, of Hanmer, and of Flint, both in the County of Flint.^[2] The barony became extinct when he died childless on 8 March 1881 while he was succeeded in the baronetcy by his younger brother, the fourth Baronet. The sixth Baronet was high sheriff of Flintshire in 1902. The eighth Baronet was high sheriff of Clwyd in 1977 and deputy lieutenant of the region in 1978. Through his late mother Audrey (nee Congreve), the ninth Baronet is a descendent of Walter Congreve.

Five other members of the family may also be mentioned. Job Hanmer, second son of the first Baronet, was a captain in the Royal Navy. His son Job Thomas Syer Hanmer was also a captain in the Royal Navy. His son John Graham Job Hanmer was a rear-admiral in the Royal Navy. Patrick William Talgai Hanmer, great-grandson of William Hanmer, sixth son of second Baronet, was a captain in the Royal Navy. Harry Ivan Hanmer (1893–1984), grandson of Reverend Henry Hanmer, brother of the third and fourth Baronets, was a group captain in the Royal Air Force. John Michael Hanmer (1907–1977), another grandson of Reverend Henry Hanmer, was a brigadier in the British Army.

The most ancient of the several versions of the coat of arms of the English family of Hanmer or Hanmore is described in heraldic terms as follows in Burke's 1844 Encyclopedia of Heraldry:

• Arms.-- Argent, two lions passant guardant azure, armed and langued gules.
• Crest.-- On a chapeau azure, turned up ermine, a lion sejant, guardant, argent.
• Motto.-- Guardez l'honneur.