Henry Liddell, 1st Baron Ravensworth

Henry Liddell, 1st Baron Ravensworth, was born in 1708 and died on 30 January 1784. He inherited the Baronetcy of Ravensworth Castle, along with family estates and mining interests, in 1723 upon the death of his grandfather, when he was approximately fifteen years old.

Liddell was educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge, beginning his studies in 1725. In the early 1730s, he undertook the traditional Grand Tour, a journey through continental Europe that was common among wealthy young men of the period.

He served as a Member of Parliament for Morpeth from 1734 to 1747. In 1747, he was elevated to the peerage as the 1st Baron Ravensworth, a title granted on 29 June 1747.

Liddell was a founding member of the Grand Allies partnership, established in 1726. This alliance was formed by a group of wealthy land and colliery owners for the purpose of collaborating on the development of coal mining operations in Northumberland and County Durham. The partnership’s early investments included several collieries at locations such as Gosforth, Heaton, New Benton, Tanfield, South Causey, North Biddick, and Longbenton.

His primary residence was Ravensworth Castle, located in Lamesley, Tyne and Wear. From 1735 onwards, his London address was 13, St James's Square.

In 1735, Liddell married Anne Delmé, the daughter of Sir Peter Delmé. The couple had a daughter named Anne, who was noted for her correspondence. After Liddell's death, the baronetcy was succeeded by his nephew, also named Henry. The barony of Ravensworth became extinct upon his death but was later recreated in 1821 for his great-nephew Thomas.

References for Liddell’s life and career include the Northumberland Record Office’s records of the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineering and Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages.