Charles Kirkhoven, 1st Earl of Bellomont
Encyclopedia
Charles Henry Kirkhoven, 1st Earl of Bellomont (9 May 1643, The Hague
– 1683) was a Dutch
-born Irish peer
, known as Lord Wotton from 1649-1680.
Kirkhoven (the anglicised
form of van der Kerckhove) was the only son of Jehan, Lord of Heenvliet and his wife, Katherine
(later created Countess of Chesterfield), both courtiers in the Princess of Orange's
household.
In 1649, Charles II
created him Baron Wotton, a title which became extinct upon the death of his maternal grandfather in 1630. From 1659-74, he was Chief Magistrate of Breda
and was granted a troop of horse by the States-General
. On the death of his father in 1660, he took over the former's offices in the Princess's household and was also granted a post in the household of her son, Prince William
(later William III of England).
In 1663, Lord Wotton took his seat in the House of Lords
and on his mother's death four years later, he inherited her estate at Belsize Park
. His mother's attempt in her will for him to marry the former's third husband's niece came to nothing and on 25 August 1679, he married Hon. Frances Harpur, widow of Sir John Harpur and daughter of William Willoughby, 6th Baron Willoughby of Parham
.
In 1680, he was created Earl of Bellomont but died a few years later of an apoplexy
and was buried in Canterbury Cathedral
. As he had no surviving children, his titles became extinct and he left his estate to Hon. Charles Stanhope (the youngest son of his half-brother, the 2nd Earl of Chesterfield
), who later changed his surname to Wotton.
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
– 1683) was a Dutch
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
-born Irish peer
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
, known as Lord Wotton from 1649-1680.
Kirkhoven (the anglicised
Anglicisation
Anglicisation, or anglicization , is the process of converting verbal or written elements of any other language into a form that is more comprehensible to an English speaker, or, more generally, of altering something such that it becomes English in form or character.The term most often refers to...
form of van der Kerckhove) was the only son of Jehan, Lord of Heenvliet and his wife, Katherine
Katherine Stanhope, Countess of Chesterfield
Katherine Stanhope, Countess of Chesterfield was the governess and confidante of Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange.She was born eldest daughter to Thomas Wotton, 2nd Baron Wotton and his wife, Mary, daughter of Sir Arthur Throckmorton of Paulerspury, Northamptonshire.She first married...
(later created Countess of Chesterfield), both courtiers in the Princess of Orange's
Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange
Mary, Princess Royal, Princess of Orange and Countess of Nassau was the eldest daughter of King Charles I of England, Scotland, and Ireland and his queen, Henrietta Maria of France...
household.
In 1649, Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
created him Baron Wotton, a title which became extinct upon the death of his maternal grandfather in 1630. From 1659-74, he was Chief Magistrate of Breda
Breda
Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. The name Breda derived from brede Aa and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. As a fortified city, the city was of strategic military and political significance...
and was granted a troop of horse by the States-General
States-General of the Netherlands
The States-General of the Netherlands is the bicameral legislature of the Netherlands, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The parliament meets in at the Binnenhof in The Hague. The archaic Dutch word "staten" originally related to the feudal classes in which medieval...
. On the death of his father in 1660, he took over the former's offices in the Princess's household and was also granted a post in the household of her son, Prince William
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
(later William III of England).
In 1663, Lord Wotton took his seat in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
and on his mother's death four years later, he inherited her estate at Belsize Park
Belsize Park
Belsize Park is an area of north-west London, England, in the London Borough of Camden.It is located north-west of Charing Cross and situated on the Northern Line. It borders Hampstead to the north and west, Kentish Town and Gospel Oak to the east, Camden Town to the south east and Primrose Hill...
. His mother's attempt in her will for him to marry the former's third husband's niece came to nothing and on 25 August 1679, he married Hon. Frances Harpur, widow of Sir John Harpur and daughter of William Willoughby, 6th Baron Willoughby of Parham
William Willoughby, 6th Baron Willoughby of Parham
William Willoughby, 6th Lord Willoughby was an English peer of the House of Lords.He married Anne daughter of Sir Philip Carey of Stanwell or Hunslet . During his life he was Governor of the Caribee Islands, today known as the Caribbean...
.
In 1680, he was created Earl of Bellomont but died a few years later of an apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
and was buried in Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
. As he had no surviving children, his titles became extinct and he left his estate to Hon. Charles Stanhope (the youngest son of his half-brother, the 2nd Earl of Chesterfield
Philip Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Chesterfield
Philip Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Chesterfield PC was a peer in the peerage of England.-Personal life:He was the son of Henry Stanhope, Lord Stanhope and his wife, Katherine Wotton. He inherited the title of Earl of Chesterfield on the death of his grandfather in 1656...
), who later changed his surname to Wotton.