In the U.S., I think “Esquire” has always been a courtesy title like “Mister” available to any male. In the U.K. I think it is now treated similarly, although once it was available only in specific instances, such as
[ul]
[li] the eldest sons of knights and their eldest sons in perpetuity[/li][li] the eldest sons of younger sons of peers and their eldest sons in perpetuity[/li][li] esquires of knights constituted at their investiture[/li][li] person holding a military commission of Captain or higher[/li][li] persons assigned certain high ranks by the King, including Justice of the Peace (and Groom of the Stool :eek: )[/li][li] barristers (but not solicitors)[/li][li] chiefs of a clan, or lords of a manor[/li][li] foreign noblemen[/li][li] doctors of any faculty[/li][li] holders of an office, such as herald, entitled to wear a livery collar[/li][/ul]