Earl of Courtown
Encyclopedia
Earl of Courtown, in the County of Wexford, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland
. It was created in 1762 for James Stopford, 1st Baron Courtown
. He had previously represented County Wexford
and Fethard
in the Irish House of Commons
. Stopford had already been created Baron Courtown, of Courtown in the County of Wexford, in 1758, and was made Viscount Stopford at the same time he was given the earldom. These titles are also in the Peerage of Ireland. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He was a Tory
politician and served under William Pitt the Younger
as Treasurer of the Household
from 1784 to 1793. In 1796 he was created Baron Saltersford, of Saltersford in the County of Chester, in the Peerage of Great Britain
. This title gave him and his descendants an automatic seat in the House of Lords
.
His eldest son, the third Earl, was also a Tory politician. He succeeded his father as Treasurer of the Household and was also Captain of the Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners for many years. He was succeeded by his third but eldest surviving son, the fourth Earl. He represented County Wexford in the House of Commons
as a Tory. His only son from his first marriage, the fifth Earl, served as a Deputy Lieutenant
of County Wexford
. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the sixth Earl. He was Lord Lieutenant of County Wexford. His eldest son, the seventh Earl, was a Major-General in the Army and served as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General at the War Office
from 1941 to 1947. the titles are held by the latter's grandson, the ninth Earl, who succeeded his father in 1975. Lord Courtown is one of the ninety elected hereditary peers that remain in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999
, and sits as a Conservative
.
Several other members of the Stopford family have also gained distinction, especially in the Army and Royal Navy
. The Hon. Edward Stopford (1732–1794), second son of the first Earl, was a Lieutenant-General in the Army. His son William Henry Stopford-Blair (1788–1868) was a Colonel
in the Royal Artillery
. The Hon. Sir Edward Stopford (1766–1837), second son of the second Earl, was a Lieutenant-General in the Army. The Hon. Sir Robert Stopford, third son of the second Earl, was an Admiral of the Red. His eldest son Robert Fanshawe Stopford
(1811–1891) was an Admiral
in the Royal Navy and was the father of 1) Robert Wilbraham Stopford (1844–1911), a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy, 2) Arthur Bouverie Stopford (1845–1902), a Colonel in the Royal Artillery and 3) Frederick George Stopford (1852–1928), a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy; while his second son James John Stopford (1817–1868) was a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy. Reverend the Hon. Richard Bruce Stopford (1774–1844), fourth son of the second Earl, was Canon
of Windsor and Chaplain
to Her Majesty Queen Victoria.
The Hon. Sir Montagu Stopford, fifth son of the third Earl, was a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy. His youngest son Sir Lionel Stopford was a Colonel and Honorary Major-General in the Derby Regiment and Irish Guards. His eldest son Sir Montagu Stopford was a General in the Rifle Brigade. The Hon. Sir Frederick Stopford
, second son from the second marriage of the fourth Earl, was a Lieutenant-General in the Army. The Hon. Walter George Stopford (1855–1918), third son from the second marriage of the fourth Earl, was a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy. The Hon. Arthur Stopford (1879–1955), second son of the sixth Earl, was a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy.
The heir apparent
is the present holder's son James Richard Ian Montagu Stopford, Viscount Stopford (b. 1988)
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,...
. It was created in 1762 for James Stopford, 1st Baron Courtown
James Stopford, 1st Earl of Courtown
James Stopford, 1st Earl of Courtown was an Irish politician.Courtown was the son of James Stopford, of Courtown, County Wexford, who represented Wexford County in the Irish House of Commons, and his wife Frances...
. He had previously represented County Wexford
Wexford County (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Wexford County was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1800.-1692–1801:...
and Fethard
Fethard (County Wexford) (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Fethard was a constituency in County Wexford represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Fethard was represented with two members.-1689–1801:...
in the Irish House of Commons
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
. Stopford had already been created Baron Courtown, of Courtown in the County of Wexford, in 1758, and was made Viscount Stopford at the same time he was given the earldom. These titles are also in the Peerage of Ireland. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He was a Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
politician and served under William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
as Treasurer of the Household
Treasurer of the Household
The position of Treasurer of the Household is theoretically held by a household official of the British monarch, under control of the Lord Steward's Department, but is, in fact, a political office held by one of the government's Deputy Chief Whips in the House of Commons...
from 1784 to 1793. In 1796 he was created Baron Saltersford, of Saltersford in the County of Chester, 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...
. This title gave him and his descendants an automatic 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....
.
His eldest son, the third Earl, was also a Tory politician. He succeeded his father as Treasurer of the Household and was also Captain of the Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners for many years. He was succeeded by his third but eldest surviving son, the fourth Earl. He represented County Wexford 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...
as a Tory. His only son from his first marriage, the fifth Earl, served as a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the sixth Earl. He was Lord Lieutenant of County Wexford. His eldest son, the seventh Earl, was a Major-General in the Army and served as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General at the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
from 1941 to 1947. the titles are held by the latter's grandson, the ninth Earl, who succeeded his father in 1975. Lord Courtown is one of the ninety elected hereditary peers that remain in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999
House of Lords Act 1999
The House of Lords Act 1999 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. The Act reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. For centuries, the House of Lords had included several hundred members who inherited their seats;...
, and sits as a 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...
.
Several other members of the Stopford family have also gained distinction, especially in the Army and Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. The Hon. Edward Stopford (1732–1794), second son of the first Earl, was a Lieutenant-General in the Army. His son William Henry Stopford-Blair (1788–1868) was a Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
. The Hon. Sir Edward Stopford (1766–1837), second son of the second Earl, was a Lieutenant-General in the Army. The Hon. Sir Robert Stopford, third son of the second Earl, was an Admiral of the Red. His eldest son Robert Fanshawe Stopford
Robert Fanshawe Stopford
Admiral Robert Fanshawe Stopford was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Channel Squadron.-Naval career:...
(1811–1891) was an Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
in the Royal Navy and was the father of 1) Robert Wilbraham Stopford (1844–1911), a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy, 2) Arthur Bouverie Stopford (1845–1902), a Colonel in the Royal Artillery and 3) Frederick George Stopford (1852–1928), a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy; while his second son James John Stopford (1817–1868) was a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy. Reverend the Hon. Richard Bruce Stopford (1774–1844), fourth son of the second Earl, was Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Windsor and Chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to Her Majesty Queen Victoria.
The Hon. Sir Montagu Stopford, fifth son of the third Earl, was a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy. His youngest son Sir Lionel Stopford was a Colonel and Honorary Major-General in the Derby Regiment and Irish Guards. His eldest son Sir Montagu Stopford was a General in the Rifle Brigade. The Hon. Sir Frederick Stopford
Frederick Stopford
Lieutenant General Sir Frederick William Stopford, KCB, KCMG, KCVO was a British Army officer.-Military career:...
, second son from the second marriage of the fourth Earl, was a Lieutenant-General in the Army. The Hon. Walter George Stopford (1855–1918), third son from the second marriage of the fourth Earl, was a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy. The Hon. Arthur Stopford (1879–1955), second son of the sixth Earl, was a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy.
Earls of Courtown (1762)
- James Stopford, 1st Earl of CourtownJames Stopford, 1st Earl of CourtownJames Stopford, 1st Earl of Courtown was an Irish politician.Courtown was the son of James Stopford, of Courtown, County Wexford, who represented Wexford County in the Irish House of Commons, and his wife Frances...
(1700–1770) - James Stopford, 2nd Earl of CourtownJames Stopford, 2nd Earl of CourtownJames Stopford, 2nd Earl of Courtown KP, PC , known as Viscount Stopford from 1762 to 1770, was an Anglo-Irish peer and Tory politician....
(1731–1810) - James George Stopford, 3rd Earl of CourtownJames Stopford, 3rd Earl of CourtownJames George Stopford, 3rd Earl of Courtown KP, PC , known as Viscount Stopford from 1770 to 1810, was an Anglo-Irish peer and Tory politician....
(1765–1835) - James Thomas Stopford, 4th Earl of CourtownJames Stopford, 4th Earl of CourtownJames Thomas Stopford, 4th Earl of Courtown , known as Viscount Stopford from 1810 to 1835, was an Anglo-Irish peer and Tory Member of Parliament....
(1794–1858) - James George Henry Stopford, 5th Earl of Courtown (1823–1914)
- James Walter Milles Stopford, 6th Earl of Courtown (1853–1933)
- James Richard Neville Stopford, 7th Earl of Courtown (1877–1957)
- James Montagu Burgoyne Stopford, 8th Earl of Courtown (1908–1975)
- James Patrick Montagu Burgoyne Winthrop Stopford, 9th Earl of CourtownJames Stopford, 9th Earl of CourtownJames Patrick Montagu Burgoyne Winthrop Stopford, 9th Earl of Courtown is an Irish peer and politician. He is one of the 92 hereditary peers elected to remain in the House of Lords after the House of Lords Act 1999 and sits for the Conservatives.The son of the 8th Earl of Courtown and Patricia...
(b. 1954)
The heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
is the present holder's son James Richard Ian Montagu Stopford, Viscount Stopford (b. 1988)