Earl of Denbigh
Encyclopedia
Earl of Denbigh is a title in the Peerage of England
. It was created in 1622 for the courtier and soldier William Feilding, 1st Viscount Feilding
. He was Master of the Great Wardrobe under King James I
and also took part in the Expedition to Cádiz
of 1625. Feilding had already been created Baron Feilding, of Newnham Paddox in the County of Warwick, and Viscount Feilding in 1620. These titles are also in the Peerage of England. His second son the Hon. George Feilding
was created Earl of Desmond in 1628 (see below). Lord Denbigh was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. In contrast to his father he fought as a Parliamentarian in the Civil War
. In 1664 he was created Baron St Liz in the Peerage of England, with remainder to the heirs male of his father.
He died childless and was succeeded by his nephew, William Feilding, 2nd Earl of Desmond, who now also became the third Earl of Denbigh (he also succeeded in the barony of St Liz according to the special remainder
). His son, the fourth Earl, served as Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire and Denbighshire. His great-great-grandson, the seventh Earl (the titles having descended from father to son, with the exception for the seventh Earl who succeeded his grandfather), was a soldier and courtier. His grandson, the ninth Earl, served as a Lord-in-Waiting
(government whip in the House of Lords
) from 1897 to 1905 in the Conservative administrations
of Lord Salisbury
and Arthur Balfour
. the titles are held by his great-great-great-grandson, the twelfth Earl, who succeeded his father in 1995 (the titles having descended from father to son, with the exception for the tenth Earl who succeeded his grandfather). Lord Denbigh is Grand Carver of England
.
The Hon. George Feilding
, second son of the first Earl of Denbigh, was created Baron Fielding, of Lecaghe in the County of Tipperary, and Viscount Callan, of Callan in the County of Kilkenny, in 1622, and was made Earl of Desmond in 1628. All three titles were in the Peerage of Ireland
. He was succeeded by his son, the second Earl, who in 1675 succeeded his uncle as third Earl of Denbigh. See above for further history of the titles.
Other members of the Feilding family may be mentioned. The writer Henry Fielding
(who spelled the family name differently) was the son of Edmund Feilding, the third son of John Feilding, the youngest son of the 3rd Earl. His sister Sarah Fielding
was also a well-known author, and their half-brother (Edmund's son by a different wife) was John Fielding
. Lady Elizabeth Feilding, daughter of the first Earl of Denbigh, was created Countess of Guilford for life in 1660. The Hon. Sir Percy Robert Basil Feilding, second son of the seventh Earl, was a General in the Army.
The family seat is at Newnham Paddox in Warwickshire
.
The heir apparent
is the present holder's son Peregrine Rudolph Henry Feilding, Viscount Feilding (b. 2005)
Peerage 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....
. It was created in 1622 for the courtier and soldier William Feilding, 1st Viscount Feilding
William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh
William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh was an English naval officer and courtier.William Feilding was the son of Basil Fielding of Newnham Paddox in Warwickshire, , and of Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Walter Aston and his wife, Elizabeth Leveson.The descent of the Feildings from the house of Habsburg,...
. He was Master of the Great Wardrobe under King James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
and also took part in the Expedition to Cádiz
Cádiz Expedition (1625)
The Cádiz Expedition of 1625 was a naval expedition against Spain by English and Dutch forces.The plan was put forward because after the Dissolution of the Parliament of 1625, the Duke of Buckingham, Lord High Admiral wanted to undertake an expedition that would match the exploits of the heroes of...
of 1625. Feilding had already been created Baron Feilding, of Newnham Paddox in the County of Warwick, and Viscount Feilding in 1620. These titles are also in the Peerage of England. His second son the Hon. George Feilding
George Feilding, 1st Earl of Desmond
George Feilding, 1st Earl of Desmond was an Irish peer and the second son of William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh.Lord Desmond married Bridget Stanhope, daughter of Sir Michael Stanhope, with whom he had one child:...
was created Earl of Desmond in 1628 (see below). Lord Denbigh was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. In contrast to his father he fought as a Parliamentarian in the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. In 1664 he was created Baron St Liz in the Peerage of England, with remainder to the heirs male of his father.
He died childless and was succeeded by his nephew, William Feilding, 2nd Earl of Desmond, who now also became the third Earl of Denbigh (he also succeeded in the barony of St Liz according to the special remainder
Remainder (law)
A remainder in property law is a future interest given to a person that is capable of becoming possessory upon the natural end of a prior estate created by the same instrument...
). His son, the fourth Earl, served as Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire and Denbighshire. His great-great-grandson, the seventh Earl (the titles having descended from father to son, with the exception for the seventh Earl who succeeded his grandfather), was a soldier and courtier. His grandson, the ninth Earl, served as a Lord-in-Waiting
Lord-in-Waiting
Most Lords in Waiting are Government whips in the House of Lords who are members of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. As members of the Royal Household their duties are nominal, though they are occasionally required to meet visiting political and state leaders on visits...
(government 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....
) from 1897 to 1905 in the Conservative administrations
Conservative Government 1895-1905
A coalition of the Conservative and Liberal Unionist parties took power in the United Kingdom following the general election of 1895. The Conservative leader, Lord Salisbury, took office as prime minister, and his nephew, Arthur Balfour, was leader of the Commons, but various major posts went to...
of Lord Salisbury
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, KG, GCVO, PC , styled Lord Robert Cecil before 1865 and Viscount Cranborne from June 1865 until April 1868, was a British Conservative statesman and thrice Prime Minister, serving for a total of over 13 years...
and Arthur Balfour
Arthur Balfour
Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, KG, OM, PC, DL was a British Conservative politician and statesman...
. the titles are held by his great-great-great-grandson, the twelfth Earl, who succeeded his father in 1995 (the titles having descended from father to son, with the exception for the tenth Earl who succeeded his grandfather). Lord Denbigh is Grand Carver of England
Grand Carver of England
The Grand Carver of England is a hereditary office of the Royal Household of the sovereign of England and later the United Kingdom, held in gross.The holder is the Earl of Denbigh and Desmond....
.
The Hon. George Feilding
George Feilding, 1st Earl of Desmond
George Feilding, 1st Earl of Desmond was an Irish peer and the second son of William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh.Lord Desmond married Bridget Stanhope, daughter of Sir Michael Stanhope, with whom he had one child:...
, second son of the first Earl of Denbigh, was created Baron Fielding, of Lecaghe in the County of Tipperary, and Viscount Callan, of Callan in the County of Kilkenny, in 1622, and was made Earl of Desmond in 1628. All three titles were in the Peerage of Ireland
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,...
. He was succeeded by his son, the second Earl, who in 1675 succeeded his uncle as third Earl of Denbigh. See above for further history of the titles.
Other members of the Feilding family may be mentioned. The writer Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding was an English novelist and dramatist known for his rich earthy humour and satirical prowess, and as the author of the novel Tom Jones....
(who spelled the family name differently) was the son of Edmund Feilding, the third son of John Feilding, the youngest son of the 3rd Earl. His sister Sarah Fielding
Sarah Fielding
Sarah Fielding was a British author and sister of the novelist Henry Fielding. She was the author of The Governess, or The Little Female Academy , which was the first novel in English written especially for children , and had earlier achieved success with her novel The Adventures of David Simple...
was also a well-known author, and their half-brother (Edmund's son by a different wife) was John Fielding
John Fielding
This article is about the London magistrate. For the soldier, see John Williams .Sir John Fielding was a notable English magistrate and social reformer of the 18th century. He was also the younger half-brother of novelist, playwright and chief magistrate Henry Fielding...
. Lady Elizabeth Feilding, daughter of the first Earl of Denbigh, was created Countess of Guilford for life in 1660. The Hon. Sir Percy Robert Basil Feilding, second son of the seventh Earl, was a General in the Army.
The family seat is at Newnham Paddox in Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
.
Earls of Denbigh (1622)
- William Feilding, 1st Earl of DenbighWilliam Feilding, 1st Earl of DenbighWilliam Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh was an English naval officer and courtier.William Feilding was the son of Basil Fielding of Newnham Paddox in Warwickshire, , and of Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Walter Aston and his wife, Elizabeth Leveson.The descent of the Feildings from the house of Habsburg,...
(1582–1643) - Basil Feilding, 2nd Earl of DenbighBasil Feilding, 2nd Earl of DenbighBasil Feilding, 2nd Earl of Denbigh was the eldest son of William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh.Like his father, the son was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He was summoned to the House of Lords as Baron Feilding in March 1629...
(1608–1675) - William Feilding, 3rd Earl of Denbigh and 2nd Earl of DesmondWilliam Feilding, 3rd Earl of DenbighWilliam Feilding, 3rd Earl of Denbigh, 2nd Earl of Desmond Son of George Feilding, 1st Earl of Desmond and Bridget Stanhope, daughter of Sir Michael Stanhope...
(1640–1685) - Basil Feilding, 4th Earl of Denbigh and 3rd Earl of DesmondBasil Feilding, 4th Earl of DenbighBasil Feilding, 4th Earl of Denbigh, 3rd Earl of Desmond was a British peer and member of the House of Lords, styled Viscount Feilding from 1675 to 1685....
(1668–1717) - William Feilding, 5th Earl of Denbigh and 4th Earl of Desmond (1697–1755)
- Basil Feilding, 6th Earl of Denbigh and 5th Earl of Desmond (1719–1800)
- William Robert Feilding, Viscount Feilding (1760–1799)
- William Basil Percy Feilding, 7th Earl of Denbigh and 6th Earl of DesmondWilliam Feilding, 7th Earl of DenbighWilliam Basil Percy Feilding, 7th Earl of Denbigh, 6th Earl of Desmond, GCH, PC was a British peer and courtier.-Biography:...
(1796–1865) - Rudolph William Basil Feilding, 8th Earl of Denbigh and 7th Earl of DesmondRudolph Feilding, 8th Earl of DenbighRudolph William Basil Feilding, 8th Earl of Denbigh, 7th Earl of Desmond was a British peer, succeeding to his titles on the death in 1865 of his father, the 7th Earl of Denbigh...
(1823–1892) - Rudolph Robert Basil Aloysius Augustine Feilding, 9th Earl of Denbigh and 8th Earl of DesmondRudolph Feilding, 9th Earl of DenbighRudolph Robert Basil Aloysius Augustine Feilding, 9th Earl of Denbigh, 8th Earl of Desmond GCVO TD DL JP , styled Viscount Feilding from 1865 to 1892, was the eldest son of the 8th Earl of Denbigh and Mary Berkeley, the daughter of Robert Berkeley and Henrietta Benfield.Feilding was an artillery...
(1859–1939) - William Rudolph Stephen Feilding, 10th Earl of Denbigh and 9th Earl of Desmond (1912–1966)
- William Rudolph Michael Feilding, 11th Earl of Denbigh and 10th Earl of Desmond (1943–1995)
- Alexander Stephen Rudolph Feilding, 12th Earl of Denbigh and 11th Earl of DesmondAlexander Feilding, 12th Earl of DenbighAlexander Stephen Rudolph Feilding, 12th Earl of Denbigh, 11th Earl of Desmond , styled Viscount Feilding until 1995, is a member of the British aristocracy and son of William Feilding, 11th Earl of Denbigh.-Marriage:...
(b. 1970)
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 Peregrine Rudolph Henry Feilding, Viscount Feilding (b. 2005)
Earls of Desmond (1628)
- George Feilding, 1st Earl of DesmondGeorge Feilding, 1st Earl of DesmondGeorge Feilding, 1st Earl of Desmond was an Irish peer and the second son of William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh.Lord Desmond married Bridget Stanhope, daughter of Sir Michael Stanhope, with whom he had one child:...
(d. 1666) - William Feilding, 2nd Earl of DesmondWilliam Feilding, 3rd Earl of DenbighWilliam Feilding, 3rd Earl of Denbigh, 2nd Earl of Desmond Son of George Feilding, 1st Earl of Desmond and Bridget Stanhope, daughter of Sir Michael Stanhope...
(1640–1685) (succeeded as Earl of Denbigh in 1675)