Earl of Clare
Encyclopedia
Earl of Clare was a title of English nobility created three times: once each in the peerages of England, Great Britain, and Ireland.
The title derives from Clare, Suffolk
, where a prominent Anglo-Norman
family was seated since the Norman Conquest, and from which their English surname sprang from possession of the Honour
of Clare. The Norman family who took the name 'de Clare'
became associated with the peerage as they held, at differing times, three earldoms (Gloucester
, Pembroke
, and Hertford).
(1314) entailed the break-up of the Honour of Clare, as he and his young wife were childless and the lands were distributed among three co-heiresses. His death marked the end of the great de Clare family. The family lands, were worth as much as £6000, second only to those of the Earl of Lancaster among the nobility of the realm.
The lands went into royal wardship while the matter of inheritance was settled. By the entail
of 1290, the lands could only be inherited by direct descendants of the late earl's father. The late earl's sisters, Eleanor
, Margaret
(now widowed after the death of Piers Gaveston
) and Elizabeth
were by 1317 all married to favourites of Edward II: Hugh Despenser the Younger, Hugh de Audley
and Roger d'Amory
respectively. The three were granted equal parts of the English possessions, but Despenser received the entire lordship of Glamorgan in Wales, politically the most important of the de Clare lands.
. Such references led some older historians to assume the Earls of Gloucester
and Hertford also carried the title Earls of Clare. The title, for instance, is given in the original Dictionary of National Biography. The confusion probably stems from misinterpretation of references, such as that of "Earl Gilbert de Clare", in which Clare was taken as a title rather than a surname. The modern view is there was no such title. Accordingly, the accepted modern view is that the first creation of the title Earl of Clare dates to 1624.
in 1624 for John Holles
, 1st Baron Haughton. Subsequently it was held by three generations: John Holles
, Gilbert Holles
, and John Holles, upon whose death it became extinct.
for Thomas Pelham-Holles, nephew of the last peer of the first creation. At his death the title again was extinct.
, in 1795 for John FitzGibbon, 1st Viscount FitzGibbon
, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland
. He had already been created Baron FitzGibbon, of Lower Connello in the County of Limerick, in 1789, and Viscount FitzGibbon, of Limerick in the County of Limerick, in 1793. These titles were also in the Peerage of Ireland. In 1799 he was made Baron FitzGibbon, of Sidbury in the County of Devon, in the Peerage of Great Britain
. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He served as Governor of Bombay from 1830 to 1834. He died childless and was succeeded by his younger brother, the third Earl. He represented County Limerick in the House of Commons
and served as Lord Lieutenant of County Limerick. Lord Clare's only son, the Hon. John Charles Henry Fitzgibbon, had been married in a clandestine ceremony in 1854 but this marriage was not recognized. He was killed in action during the Battle of Balaclava
where he charged with the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars
the following year. On Lord Clare's death in 1864 the peerages became extinct as William John Gerald FitzGibbon (posthumous son of the Hon. John Charles Henry Fitzgibbon) was not allowed to inherit the titles.
The title derives from Clare, Suffolk
Clare, Suffolk
Clare is a small town on the north bank of the River Stour in Suffolk, England.Clare is from Bury St Edmunds and from Sudbury. It lies in the 'South and Heart of Suffolk' . As a cloth town, it is one of Suffolk's 'threads'. Clare is the current holder of Village of the Year and has won the...
, where a prominent Anglo-Norman
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
family was seated since the Norman Conquest, and from which their English surname sprang from possession of the Honour
Honour (land)
In medieval England, an honour could consist of a great lordship, comprising dozens or hundreds of manors. Holders of honours often attempted to preserve the integrity of an honour over time, administering its properties as a unit, maintaining inheritances together, etc.The typical honour had...
of Clare. The Norman family who took the name 'de Clare'
De Clare
The de Clare family of Norman lords were associated with the Welsh Marches, Suffolk, Surrey, Kent and Ireland. They were descended from Richard fitz Gilbert, who accompanied William the Conqueror into England during the Norman conquest of England.-Origins:The Clare family descends from Gilbert...
became associated with the peerage as they held, at differing times, three earldoms (Gloucester
Earl of Gloucester
The title of Earl of Gloucester was created several times in the Peerage of England. A fictional earl is also a character in William Shakespeare's play King Lear. See also Duke of Gloucester.-Earls of Gloucester, 1st Creation :...
, Pembroke
Earl of Pembroke
Earl of Pembroke is a title created ten times, all in the Peerage of England. It was first created in the 12th century by King Stephen of England. The title is associated with Pembroke, Pembrokeshire in West Wales, which is the site of Earldom's original seat Pembroke Castle...
, and Hertford).
The Honour of Clare
The death of the young Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, at the Battle of BannockburnBattle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence...
(1314) entailed the break-up of the Honour of Clare, as he and his young wife were childless and the lands were distributed among three co-heiresses. His death marked the end of the great de Clare family. The family lands, were worth as much as £6000, second only to those of the Earl of Lancaster among the nobility of the realm.
The lands went into royal wardship while the matter of inheritance was settled. By the entail
Fee tail
At common law, fee tail or entail is an estate of inheritance in real property which cannot be sold, devised by will, or otherwise alienated by the owner, but which passes by operation of law to the owner's heirs upon his death...
of 1290, the lands could only be inherited by direct descendants of the late earl's father. The late earl's sisters, Eleanor
Eleanor de Clare
Eleanor de Clare was the wife of the powerful Hugh Despenser the younger. She was born in 1292 at Caerphilly in Glamorgan, Wales. She was the eldest daughter of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford and 7th Earl of Gloucester, and Joan of Acre, daughter of Edward I and Eleanor of Castile; thus...
, Margaret
Margaret de Clare
Margaret de Clare, Countess of Cornwall, Countess of Gloucester , was an English noblewoman, heiress, and the second eldest of the three daughters of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford and his wife, Joan of Acre, making her a granddaughter of King Edward I of England...
(now widowed after the death of Piers Gaveston
Piers Gaveston
Piers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall was an English nobleman of Gascon origin, and the favourite of King Edward II of England. At a young age he made a good impression on King Edward I of England, and was assigned to the household of the King's son, Edward of Carnarvon...
) and Elizabeth
Elizabeth de Clare
Elizabeth de Clare was the heiress to the lordships of Clare, Suffolk in England and Usk in Wales. She was the youngest of the three daughters of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford and Joan of Acre, and sister of Gilbert de Clare, who later succeeded as the 7th Earl...
were by 1317 all married to favourites of Edward II: Hugh Despenser the Younger, Hugh de Audley
Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Hugh II de Audley, 1st Baron Audley and 1st Earl of Gloucester was the English Ambassador to France in 1341.-Family:...
and Roger d'Amory
Roger d'Amory
Sir Roger d'Amory, Lord d'Amory, Baron of Amory in Ireland, was a nobleman and Constable of Corfe Castle.He was the younger son of Sir Robert d'Amory, Knight, of Bucknell and Woodperry, Oxfordshire...
respectively. The three were granted equal parts of the English possessions, but Despenser received the entire lordship of Glamorgan in Wales, politically the most important of the de Clare lands.
Possible medieval earls
The "Earl of Clare" was probably not a medieval title. Some contemporary sources called them "Earls of Clare", but many modern historians treat this as if it were a "styled" (self-assumed) title. There was no standardized method of reference to earls in the late eleventh and twelfth centuries, and the Clares were one of a handful referred to as earls in this period without a county mentioned. For example, Gerald of Wales recounts an incident relating to the Earl of Clare, possibly referring to William Fitz Robert, 2nd Earl of GloucesterWilliam Fitz Robert, 2nd Earl of Gloucester
William Fitz Robert, 2nd Earl of Gloucester was the son and heir of Sir Robert de Caen, 1st Earl of Gloucester, and Mabel FitzHamon of Gloucester, daughter of Robert Fitzhamon.- Lineage :...
. Such references led some older historians to assume the Earls of Gloucester
Earl of Gloucester
The title of Earl of Gloucester was created several times in the Peerage of England. A fictional earl is also a character in William Shakespeare's play King Lear. See also Duke of Gloucester.-Earls of Gloucester, 1st Creation :...
and Hertford also carried the title Earls of Clare. The title, for instance, is given in the original Dictionary of National Biography. The confusion probably stems from misinterpretation of references, such as that of "Earl Gilbert de Clare", in which Clare was taken as a title rather than a surname. The modern view is there was no such title. Accordingly, the accepted modern view is that the first creation of the title Earl of Clare dates to 1624.
Earl of Clare, first creation (1624)
It was first created in the Peerage of EnglandPeerage of England
The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain....
in 1624 for John Holles
John Holles, 1st Earl of Clare
John Holles, 1st Earl of Clare was an English nobleman.He was the son of Denzel Holles of Irby upon Humber and Eleanor Sheffield...
, 1st Baron Haughton. Subsequently it was held by three generations: John Holles
John Holles, 2nd Earl of Clare
-Family:He was born in Haughton, Nottinghamshire, the eldest son of John Holles, 1st Earl of Clare and Anne Stanhope, and the brother of Denzil Holles, 1st Baron Holles....
, Gilbert Holles
Gilbert Holles, 3rd Earl of Clare
Gilbert Holles, 3rd Earl of Clare was an English nobleman, styled Lord Haughton from 1637 until his accession in 1666....
, and John Holles, upon whose death it became extinct.
- John Holles, 1st Earl of ClareJohn Holles, 1st Earl of ClareJohn Holles, 1st Earl of Clare was an English nobleman.He was the son of Denzel Holles of Irby upon Humber and Eleanor Sheffield...
(1564-1637) - John Holles, 2nd Earl of ClareJohn Holles, 2nd Earl of Clare-Family:He was born in Haughton, Nottinghamshire, the eldest son of John Holles, 1st Earl of Clare and Anne Stanhope, and the brother of Denzil Holles, 1st Baron Holles....
(1595-1666) - Gilbert Holles, 3rd Earl of ClareGilbert Holles, 3rd Earl of ClareGilbert Holles, 3rd Earl of Clare was an English nobleman, styled Lord Haughton from 1637 until his accession in 1666....
(1633-1689) - John Holles, 4th Earl of Clare (1662-1711), created Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Earls of Clare, second creation (1714)
The next creation of the Earl of Clare was in 1714 in the Peerage of Great BritainPeerage of Great Britain
The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain after the Act of Union 1707 but before the Act of Union 1800...
for Thomas Pelham-Holles, nephew of the last peer of the first creation. At his death the title again was extinct.
Earls of Clare, third creation (1795)
The title was again created, in the Peerage of IrelandPeerage 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,...
, in 1795 for John FitzGibbon, 1st Viscount FitzGibbon
John FitzGibbon, 1st Earl of Clare
John FitzGibbon, 1st Earl of Clare PC , later known as Earl of Clare or Lord Clare, was Attorney-General for Ireland in 1783, then Lord Chancellor of Ireland in 1789, in which capacity he was first promoted to the Irish peerage.He was a controversial figure in Irish history, being described...
, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland
Lord Chancellor of Ireland
The office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801 it was also the highest political office of the Irish Parliament.-13th century:...
. He had already been created Baron FitzGibbon, of Lower Connello in the County of Limerick, in 1789, and Viscount FitzGibbon, of Limerick in the County of Limerick, in 1793. These titles were also in the Peerage of Ireland. In 1799 he was made Baron FitzGibbon, of Sidbury in the County of Devon, in the Peerage of Great Britain
Peerage of Great Britain
The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain after the Act of Union 1707 but before the Act of Union 1800...
. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He served as Governor of Bombay from 1830 to 1834. He died childless and was succeeded by his younger brother, the third Earl. He represented County Limerick 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...
and served as Lord Lieutenant of County Limerick. Lord Clare's only son, the Hon. John Charles Henry Fitzgibbon, had been married in a clandestine ceremony in 1854 but this marriage was not recognized. He was killed in action during the Battle of Balaclava
Battle of Balaclava
The Battle of Balaclava, fought on 25 October 1854 during the Crimean War, was part of the Anglo-French-Turkish campaign to capture the port and fortress of Sevastopol, Russia's principal naval base on the Black Sea...
where he charged with the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars
8th King's Royal Irish Hussars
The 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1693. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars in 1958....
the following year. On Lord Clare's death in 1864 the peerages became extinct as William John Gerald FitzGibbon (posthumous son of the Hon. John Charles Henry Fitzgibbon) was not allowed to inherit the titles.