On 2 November 2001, the Baron Dunluce - a direct descent from Patrick McHenry, the 17th Century Baron of Dunluce, Ireland - wrote to the governments of Russia, France, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, the United States and the United Kingdom, announcing his intention to take possession of the wedge-shaped section of the Antarctic continent known as Marie Byrd Land to form his own nation. This area is not claimed by any of the signatories to the Antarctic Treaty. The Baron realized that the Antarctic Treaty only prevents governments from issuing new claims to Antarctic lands, but does not prevent individuals acting on their own accord from doing such. The current ruler of Westarctica is the Grand Duke Philip I.