Sykes baronets

Sledmere House –
the seat of the Sykes Baronets of Sledmere

There have been four baronetcies created for persons with the surname Sykes, two in the Baronetage of Great Britain and two in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. Three of the creations are extant as of 2008.

The Sykes Baronetcy, of Basildon in the County of Berkshire, was created in the Baronetage of Great Britain on 10 June 1785 for the diplomat and politician Francis Sykes. The second Baronet sat as Member of Parliament for Wallingford.

The Sykes Baronetcy, of Sledmere in the County of York, was created in the Baronetage of Great Britain on 28 March 1783 for Reverend Mark Sykes. He was the son of Richard Sykes, a prosperous merchant, of Kingston upon Hull. The second Baronet was Member of Parliament for Beverley. The third Baronet represented York in the House of Commons. The fourth Baronet was a well-known sportsman. The fifth Baronet served as High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1869. The sixth Baronet was a traveller, Conservative politician and diplomatic adviser. The seventh Baronet was High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1948. He adopted the surname of Tatton-Sykes by deed poll in 1977.

Two other members of the family may also be mentioned. Christopher Sykes, second son of the fourth Baronet, was a Member of Parliament. Christopher Sykes, second son of the sixth Baronet, was an author. The family seat is Sledmere House, Yorkshire. See Sykes family of Sledmere for a more extensive history of the family.

The Sykes Baronetcy, of Cheadle in the County of Chester, was created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 17 July 1917 for Alan Sykes, Member of Parliament for Knutsford. The title became extinct on his death in 1950.

The Sykes Baronetcy, of Kingsknowes in Galashiels in the County of Selkirk, was created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 17 June 1921 for Charles Sykes, a woollen manufacturer and Member of Parliament for Huddersfield.

Sykes baronets, of Basildon (1781)

• Sir Francis Sykes, 1st Baronet (1732–1804)
• Sir Francis William Sykes, 2nd Baronet (c. 1767 – 1804)
• Sir Francis William Sykes, 3rd Baronet (1799–1843)
• Sir Francis William Sykes, 4th Baronet (1822–1866)
• Sir Frederick Henry Sykes, 5th Baronet (1826–1899)
• Sir Henry Sykes, 6th Baronet (1828–1916)
• Sir Arthur Sykes, 7th Baronet (1871–1934)
• Sir Frederic John Sykes, 8th Baronet (1876–1956)
• Sir Francis Godfrey Sykes, 9th Baronet (1907–1990)
• Sir Francis John Badcock Sykes, 10th Baronet (born 1942)

The Heir Apparent to the Baronetcy is the 10th Baronet's eldest son, Francis Charles Sykes, born 18 June 1968.

Sykes baronets, of Sledmere (1783)

• Sir Mark Sykes, 1st Baronet (1711–1783)
• Sir Christopher Sykes, 2nd Baronet (1749–1801)
• Sir Mark Masterman-Sykes, 3rd Baronet (1771–1823)
• Sir Tatton Sykes, 4th Baronet (1772–1863)

• Sir Tatton Sykes, 5th Baronet (13 March 1826 – 4 May 1913). Sykes was a landowner, racehorse breeder, church-builder and eccentric. At the age of 48, he married Christina Anne Jessica Cavendish-Bentinck, daughter of George Augustus Frederick Cavendish-Bentinck and Prudentia Penelope Leslie, on 3 August 1874. His bride was 30 years younger, and it was not a happy marriage. The couple eventually separated, with Sir Tatton disowning his wife's future debts. It is through this marriage that the Sykes are related indirectly to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom through George Cavendish-Bentinck to Charles William Frederick Cavendish-Bentinck, the great-grandfather of the Queen. Sykes died in May 1913, aged 87, and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his son Mark.

• Sir Mark Sykes, 6th Baronet (1879–1919)
• Sir (Mark Tatton) Richard Tatton-Sykes, 7th Baronet (1905–1978)
• Sir Tatton Christopher Mark Sykes, 8th Baronet (born 1943)

The Heir Presumptive to the Baronetcy is Jeremy John Sykes (born 1946), younger brother of the 8th Baronet.

Sykes baronets, of Cheadle (1917)

• Sir Alan John Sykes, 1st Baronet (1868–1950)

Sykes baronets, of Kingsknowes (1921)

• Sir Charles Sykes, 1st Baronet (1867–1950)
• Sir (Benjamin) Hugh Sykes, 2nd Baronet (1893–1974)
• Sir John Charles Anthony le Gallais Sykes, 3rd Baronet (1928–2001)
• Sir David Michael Sykes, 4th Baronet (born 1954)

The Heir Apparent to the Baronetcy is Stephen David Sykes (born 1978), eldest son of the 4th Baronet.

References

• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,
• Leigh Rayment's list of baronets