Earl of Arran is a title in the Peerage of Ireland, and also in the Peerage of Scotland. The title was first created in Scotland in 1467 for Thomas Boyd, who was later attained for treason. The next creation was in 1503 for James Hamilton. In 1609, the first Marquess of Hamilton inherited the earldom. In 1643, the second Marquess was made Duke of Hamilton and received a second grant of the Earldom of Arran. At the death of the second Duke, the 1503 Earldom became dormant (i.e., it was unclaimed), while the 1643 Earldom descended along with the dukedom, with which it is still united.
The first Irish creation came in 1662 when Lord Richard Butler was created Earl; at his death, the title became extinct when Lord Arran left no heirs. The next creation was for Charles Butler, but that creation also ended in extinction. The final creation came in 1762, when Sir Arthur Gore was created Earl of Arran.
The Irish Earldom of Arran is associated with the subsidiary titles of Viscount Sudley (created 1758) and Baron Saunders (1758) in the Peerage of Ireland, and with Baron Sudley (1884) in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.
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See Duke of Hamilton