Francis Fitzherbert, 15th Baron Stafford

Who is Francis Fitzherbert, 15th Baron Stafford?

Francis Melfort William Fitzherbert, 15th Baron Stafford DL is an English baron, who is the representative and heir of line of several older baronies of Stafford dating back to 1299.

Lord Stafford belongs to the English Roman Catholic landed gentry family of Fitzherbert, whose most famous member was Maria Fitzherbert, the first wife of King George IV.

He is notable for being the first British peer to be appointed High Sheriff since the Middle Ages. He was appointed High Sheriff of Staffordshire for 2005 having been nominated for the Appointment by a previous High Sheriff of the County, The Countess of Shrewsbury & Talbot, herself being one of very few women who have held that honour; and as such the first Peer to be a High Sheriff since 1371; the reason apparently being that while peers were members of the House of Lords, they could not also serve the Crown by being High Sheriff.