Earl St Aldwyn
Encyclopedia
Earl St Aldwyn, of Coln St Aldwyn in the County of Gloucester, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
. It was created in 1915 for the prominent Conservative
politician Michael Hicks Beach, 1st Viscount St Aldwyn, known from 1854 to 1907 Sir Michael Hicks Beach, 9th Baronet, of Beverston
. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer
from 1885 to 1886 and again from 1895 to 1902. Hicks Beach had already been created Viscount St Aldwyn, of Coln St Aldwyn in the County of Gloucester, in 1906, and was made Viscount Quenington, of Quenington in the County of Gloucester, at the same time he was given the earldom. Both titles are in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. He was succeeded by his grandson, the second Earl, the son of Michael Hicks Beach, Viscount Quenington, Member of Parliament
for Tewkesbury
, who was killed in action in 1916. Lord St Aldwyn was also a Conservative politician and was Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (government chief whip in the House of Lords
) between 1958 and 1964 and 1970 and 1974. the titles are held by his eldest son, the third Earl, who succeeded in 1992.
The Hicks, later Hicks Beach family, descends from Robert Hicks, a textile merchant in London
. His third son Baptist Hicks
was created Viscount Campden
in 1628 and is the ancestor of the Earls of Gainsborough
. Robert Hicks's eldest son Sir Michael Hicks
was private secretary to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
. His only son William Hicks was created a Baronet, of Beverston in the County of Gloucester, in the Baronetage of England in 1619. He later represented Marlow and Tewkesbury in the House of Commons
. The line of his eldest son, the second Baronet, failed in 1768 on the death of the latter's grandson, the fourth Baronet. The late Baronet was succeeded by his cousin, the fifth Baronet. He was the son of Charles Hicks.
On his death in 1792 this line of the family also failed and the title passed to his cousin, the sixth Baronet. He was the son of Howe Hicks. He was succeeded by his son, the seventh Baronet. When he died in 1834 the title was inherited by his great-nephew, the eighth Baronet. He was the grandson of Michael Hicks Beach, younger brother of the seventh Baronet, who had assumed the additional surname of Beach when he married Henrietta Maria Beach, only surviving daughter and heiress of William Beach of Netheravon. Hicks Beach briefly represented Gloucestershire East in Parliament in 1854. He was succeeded by his son, the aforementioned ninth Baronet, who was elevated to the peerage as Viscount St Aldwyn in 1906 and created Earl St Aldwyn in 1915.
The family seat is Williamstrip House, Coln St Aldwyn, near Fairford
, Gloucestershire
.
The heir presumptive
is the present holder's younger and only surviving brother the Hon. David Seymour Hicks Beach (b. 1955). He is married to the former Katrina Henriques, and has issue, including one son Peter.
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
. It was created in 1915 for the prominent Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician Michael Hicks Beach, 1st Viscount St Aldwyn, known from 1854 to 1907 Sir Michael Hicks Beach, 9th Baronet, of Beverston
Beverston Castle
Beverston Castle, also known as Beverstone Castle, was originally constructed as a medieval stone fortress and is situated in the village of Beverston, Gloucestershire, England. The castle was founded in 1229 by Maurice de Gaunt...
. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
from 1885 to 1886 and again from 1895 to 1902. Hicks Beach had already been created Viscount St Aldwyn, of Coln St Aldwyn in the County of Gloucester, in 1906, and was made Viscount Quenington, of Quenington in the County of Gloucester, at the same time he was given the earldom. Both titles are in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. He was succeeded by his grandson, the second Earl, the son of Michael Hicks Beach, Viscount Quenington, Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Tewkesbury is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
, who was killed in action in 1916. Lord St Aldwyn was also a Conservative politician and was Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (government chief whip 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....
) between 1958 and 1964 and 1970 and 1974. the titles are held by his eldest son, the third Earl, who succeeded in 1992.
The Hicks, later Hicks Beach family, descends from Robert Hicks, a textile merchant in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. His third son Baptist Hicks
Baptist Hicks, 1st Viscount Campden
Baptist Hicks, 1st Viscount Campden was an English merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1628 when he was raised to the peerage as Viscount Campden....
was created Viscount Campden
Earl of Gainsborough
Earl of Gainsborough is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation ended in extinction when the sixth Earl died without heirs...
in 1628 and is the ancestor of the Earls of Gainsborough
Earl of Gainsborough
Earl of Gainsborough is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation ended in extinction when the sixth Earl died without heirs...
. Robert Hicks's eldest son Sir Michael Hicks
Michael Hicks (1543-1612)
Sir Michael Hicks was an English courtier and politician who was secretary to Lord Burghley during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The son of a Bristol merchant and elder brother of Baptist Hicks, 1st Viscount Campden, he matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1559 and was admitted to...
was private secretary to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , KG was an English statesman, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572...
. His only son William Hicks was created a Baronet, of Beverston in the County of Gloucester, in the Baronetage of England in 1619. He later represented Marlow and Tewkesbury in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
. The line of his eldest son, the second Baronet, failed in 1768 on the death of the latter's grandson, the fourth Baronet. The late Baronet was succeeded by his cousin, the fifth Baronet. He was the son of Charles Hicks.
On his death in 1792 this line of the family also failed and the title passed to his cousin, the sixth Baronet. He was the son of Howe Hicks. He was succeeded by his son, the seventh Baronet. When he died in 1834 the title was inherited by his great-nephew, the eighth Baronet. He was the grandson of Michael Hicks Beach, younger brother of the seventh Baronet, who had assumed the additional surname of Beach when he married Henrietta Maria Beach, only surviving daughter and heiress of William Beach of Netheravon. Hicks Beach briefly represented Gloucestershire East in Parliament in 1854. He was succeeded by his son, the aforementioned ninth Baronet, who was elevated to the peerage as Viscount St Aldwyn in 1906 and created Earl St Aldwyn in 1915.
The family seat is Williamstrip House, Coln St Aldwyn, near Fairford
Fairford
Fairford is a small town in Gloucestershire, England. The town lies in the Cotswolds on the River Coln, about east of Cirencester, west of Lechlade and north of Swindon. Nearby are RAF Fairford and the Cotswold Water Park.-Schools:...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
.
Hicks, later Hicks Beach Baronets, of Beverston (1619)
- Sir William Hicks, 1st BaronetSir William Hicks, 1st BaronetSir William Hicks, 1st Baronet , of Beverston, in Gloucestershire, and of Ruckholt, in Essex, was an English Member of Parliament.-Life:...
(1596–1680) - Sir William Hicks, 2nd Baronet (1629–1703)
- Sir Henry Hicks, 3rd Baronet (1666–1755)
- Sir Robert Hicks, 4th Baronet (d. 1768)
- Sir John Baptist Hicks, 5th Baronet (d. 1792)
- Sir Howe Hicks, 6th Baronet (1722–1801)
- Sir William Hicks, 7th Baronet (1754–1834)
- Sir Michael Hicks Hicks Beach, 8th BaronetSir Michael Hicks Beach, 8th BaronetSir Michael Hicks Hicks-Beach, 8th Baronet was a British MP and High Sheriff.He was appointed High Sheriff of Gloucestershire for 1840 and then returned as Member of Parliament for East Gloucestershire from January 1854 until his death in November of the same year.Hicks-Beach married Harriett...
(1809–1854) - Sir Michael Edward Hicks Beach, 9th Baronet (1837–1916) (created Viscount St Aldwyn in 1906 and Earl St Aldwyn in 1915)
Earls St Aldwyn (1915)
- Michael Edward Hicks Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn (1837–1916)
- Michael Hugh Hicks Beach, Viscount QueningtonMichael Hicks Beach, Viscount Queningtonthumb|Michael Hugh Hicks Beach, Viscount Quenington , was a British politician.Hicks Beach was the eldest son of the former Chancellor, Michael Hicks-Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn, and his wife Lucy Catherine...
(1877–1916)
- Michael Hugh Hicks Beach, Viscount Quenington
- Michael John Hicks Beach, 2nd Earl St AldwynMichael Hicks Beach, 2nd Earl St AldwynMichael John Hicks Beach, 2nd Earl St Aldwyn PC, GBE TD was a British Conservative politician.St Aldwyn was the only son of Michael Hicks Beach, Viscount Quenington, who was killed in action in 1916, and the grandson of Michael Hicks Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn. His mother was Marjorie, who also...
(1912–1992) - Michael Henry Hicks Beach, 3rd Earl St Aldwyn (b. 1950)
The heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
is the present holder's younger and only surviving brother the Hon. David Seymour Hicks Beach (b. 1955). He is married to the former Katrina Henriques, and has issue, including one son Peter.