It was created in 1756 for John Maxwell, who had previously represented Cavan Borough in the Irish House of Commons.
His son, the second Earl, sat in the House of Lords as an Irish representative peer from 1816 to 1823.
The title then passed to his younger brother, the eighth Baron, who had earlier represented County Cavan in Parliament.
He was succeeded by another brother, the ninth Baron, who also sat as a Member of Parliament for County Cavan.
He served as Lord Lieutenant of County Cavan and was briefly an Irish Representative Peer from 1898 until his early death in 1900.
His son, the eleventh Baron, sat in the House of Lords as an Irish Representative Peer from 1908 to 1957.
As of 2014[update] the titles are held by his grandson, the thirteenth Baron, who succeeded his elder brother in 2001.