Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol
Encyclopedia
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
(1 August 1730 – 8 July 1803), known as The Earl-Bishop, was Bishop of Cloyne
Bishop of Cloyne
The Bishop of Cloyne is an episcopal title which takes its name after the small town of Cloyne in County Cork, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it is a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics....
from 1767 to 1768 and Bishop of Derry
Bishop of Derry
The Bishop of Derry is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Derry in Northern Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
from 1768 to 1803.
Life
Lord Bristol was educated at Westminster SchoolWestminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
, graduating M.A. in 1754. Entering the church he became a royal chaplain; and while waiting for other preferment spent some time in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, whither he was led by his great interest in art. In February 1767, while his eldest brother, the 2nd Earl of Bristol
George Hervey, 2nd Earl of Bristol
George William Hervey, 2nd Earl of Bristol , the eldest son of John Hervey, 2nd Baron Hervey, by his marriage with Mary , daughter of Nicholas Lepell....
, was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
, he was made Bishop of Cloyne
Bishop of Cloyne
The Bishop of Cloyne is an episcopal title which takes its name after the small town of Cloyne in County Cork, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it is a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics....
, and having improved the property of the see he was translated to the rich Bishopric of Derry a year later. In 1779, he succeeded his brother as Earl of Bristol
Marquess of Bristol
Marquess of Bristol is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom held by the Hervey family since 1826. The Marquess's subsidiary titles are: Earl of Bristol , Earl Jermyn, of Horningsheath in the County of Suffolk , and Baron Hervey, of Ickworth in the County of Suffolk...
and owner of the family's ancestral home at Ickworth estate
Ickworth House
Ickworth House is a country house outside Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England. It is a neoclassical structure topped by a giant rotunda in a park extending to 1800 acres. It is in the care of the National Trust, and, as part of the Ickworth House, Park & Garden property, is open to the...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
. In 1795, he then began expanding the existing country house at Ickworth, thus creating Ickworth House
Ickworth House
Ickworth House is a country house outside Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England. It is a neoclassical structure topped by a giant rotunda in a park extending to 1800 acres. It is in the care of the National Trust, and, as part of the Ickworth House, Park & Garden property, is open to the...
in its modern form. Most of the house was still unfinished when he died in 1803 and wings were completed by his successor. In 1799 he also inherited the Elizabethan-era title of Baron Howard de Walden
Baron Howard de Walden
Baron Howard de Walden is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created by writ of summons, by Queen Elizabeth I for Admiral Lord Thomas Howard, a younger son of the 4th Duke of Norfolk, in 1597. The title was reportedly granted for the Admiral's role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588...
from a distant cousin, when the abeyance
Abeyance
Abeyance is a state of expectancy in respect of property, titles or office, when the right to them is not vested in any one person, but awaits the appearance or determination of the true owner. In law, the term abeyance can only be applied to such future estates as have not yet vested or possibly...
of this peerage was terminated.
Personality
Varying estimates have been found of his character. He was considered clever and cultured, but licentious and eccentric. He was a great collector of art and in later life he openly professed materialistic opinions. He fell in love with the countess Lichtenau, mistress of Frederick William II of PrussiaFrederick William II of Prussia
Frederick William II was the King of Prussia, reigning from 1786 until his death. He was in personal union the Prince-Elector of Brandenburg and the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel.-Early life:...
and by his bearing and often unusual and ostentatious style of dress he gave fresh point to the saying that "When God created the human race, he made men, women and Herveys."
As Bishop of Derry, he was active and philanthropic, although considered at times cheerfully sadistic towards those under him; in one famous example he had the portly priests who wished to be considered for a plum position compete in a midnight run through bogs and swamps. While not neglecting his luxurious personal tastes he spent large sums of money on making roads and assisting agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, and his munificence was shared by the city of Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
. He built splendid residences at Downhill
Downhill (Northern Ireland)
Downhill is a small village and townland near Castlerock in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.- History :Started in 1776, Downhill was the romantic vision of Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry...
and Ballyscullion
Ballyscullion
Ballyscullion is a small village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 291 people.- People :Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol, known as "The Earl-Bishop", was Bishop of Cloyne from 1767 to 1768 and Bishop of Derry from 1768 to 1803...
, which he adorned with rare works of art. As a bishop, Hervey was industrious and vigilant (although he suffered long absences from Ireland,) although a self-declared agnostic. At one point George III referred to him as "that wicked prelate." He favoured complete religious equality, and was opposed to the system of tithes. In December 1779 he succeeded his second brother, Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol
Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol
Augustus John Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol, PC was a British admiral and politician.-Naval career:As a young man, he entered the Navy, where his promotion was rapid...
, as Earl of Bristol
Earl of Bristol
Earl of Bristol is a title that has been created twice in British history. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1622 in favour of the politician and diplomat John Digby who served for many years as Ambassador to Spain, and had already been created Baron Digby of Sherborne, in the...
, and in spite of his brother's will succeeded to a considerable property. Having again passed some time in Italy, he returned to Ireland and in 1782 threw himself ardently into the Irish volunteer movement, quickly attaining a prominent position among the volunteers, and in great state attending the convention held in Dublin in November 1783.
Carried away by his position and his popularity he talked loudly of rebellion, and his violent language led the government to contemplate his arrest. Subsequently he took no part in politics, spending his later years mainly on the continent of Europe. In 1798 he was imprisoned by the French at Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
as a suspected spy, remaining in custody for eighteen months. He died outdoors at Albano
Albano
Albano may refer to:geography*Albano di Lucania, comune in the province of Potenza, Italy*Albano Laziale, comune in the province of Rome, Italy*Lake Albano, lake in Italy*Albano Sant'Alessandro, comune in the province of Bergamo, Italy...
, denied refuge, and was buried in Ickworth Church.
It is said that the Bishop's knowledge of classical Europe and love of travelling inspired the fashion for Hotel Bristol becoming a common name for quality lodgings throughout the Continent.
Marriage and issue
In 1752 Lord Bristol had married Elizabeth Davers (d. 1800). She was the daughter of Sir Jermyn Davers, 4th Baronet, a great-granddaughter of Thomas Jermyn, 2nd Baron JermynBaron Jermyn
Baron Jermyn, of St Edmundsbury, was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1643 for Henry Jermyn, with remainder, failing heirs male of his own, to his nephews. In 1660 he was further honoured when he was made Earl of St Albans, with normal remainder to the heirs male of his body...
as well as the sister and heir of Sir Charles Davers, 5th Baronet (c. 1730-1763). By this marriage, Lord Bristol had four sons and three daughters:
- Mary Caroline (1753-1842); married John Creichton, 1st Viscount (later 1st Earl) ErneJohn Creighton, 1st Earl ErneJohn Creighton, 1st Earl Erne PC , known as The Lord Erne between 1772 and 1781 and as The Viscount Erne between 1781 and 1789, was an Irish peer and politician....
. - George (1755-1765); died of illness at the age of 9, in Spa, BelgiumSpa, BelgiumSpa is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liège. It is situated in a valley in the Ardennes mountain chain, some southeast of Liège, and southwest of Aachen. As of 1 January 2006, Spa had a total population of 10,543...
while the family was travelling. - John "Jack" AugustusJohn Hervey, Lord HerveyJohn Hervey, 2nd Baron Hervey , English courtier and political writer and memoirist, was the eldest son of John Hervey, 1st Earl of Bristol, by his second wife, Elizabeth. He was known as Lord Hervey from 1723, upon the death of his elder half-brother, Carr, the only son of his father's first wife,...
(1757-1796); had after 1779 the courtesy title of Lord Hervey, but predeceased his father. - Elizabeth Christiana (1758-1824); best known as the longtime mistress, and later second wife, of William Cavendish, 5th Duke of DevonshireWilliam Cavendish, 5th Duke of DevonshireWilliam Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire, KG was a British aristocrat and politician. He was the eldest son of the William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire by his wife the heiress Lady Charlotte Boyle, suo jure Baroness Clifford of Lanesborough, who brought in considerable money and estates to...
. - Short-lived son (b. and d. 1761)
- Louisa (1767-1821); married Robert Banks Jenkinson, Lord Hawkesbury and 2nd Earl of LiverpoolRobert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of LiverpoolRobert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool KG PC was a British politician and the longest-serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since the Union with Ireland in 1801. He was 42 years old when he became premier in 1812 which made him younger than all of his successors to date...
. - FrederickFrederick Hervey, 1st Marquess of BristolFrederick William Hervey, 1st Marquess of Bristol , styled Lord Hervey between 1796 and 1803 and known as The Earl of Bristol between 1803 and 1826, was a British peer....
(1769-1859); had after his elder brother's death the courtesy title of Lord Hervey.
When Bishop Lord Bristol died in 1803, his son Frederick
Frederick Hervey, 1st Marquess of Bristol
Frederick William Hervey, 1st Marquess of Bristol , styled Lord Hervey between 1796 and 1803 and known as The Earl of Bristol between 1803 and 1826, was a British peer....
succeeded as 5th Earl of Bristol and owner of the estates including Ickworth House
Ickworth House
Ickworth House is a country house outside Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England. It is a neoclassical structure topped by a giant rotunda in a park extending to 1800 acres. It is in the care of the National Trust, and, as part of the Ickworth House, Park & Garden property, is open to the...
. The title of Baron Howard de Walden
Baron Howard de Walden
Baron Howard de Walden is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created by writ of summons, by Queen Elizabeth I for Admiral Lord Thomas Howard, a younger son of the 4th Duke of Norfolk, in 1597. The title was reportedly granted for the Admiral's role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588...
however passed to his great-grandson Charles Ellis
Charles Ellis, 6th Baron Howard de Walden
Charles Augustus Ellis, 6th Baron Howard de Walden and 2nd Baron Seaford , was a British diplomat and politician.-Family:...
, son of the 1st Baron Seaford
Charles Ellis, 1st Baron Seaford
Charles Rose Ellis, 1st Baron Seaford , was a British politician.Ellis was elected to the House of Commons for Heytesbury in 1793, a seat he held until 1796, and then represented Seaford from 1796 to 1806 and from 1812 to 1826 and East Grinstead from 1807 to 1812...
, who was the son of the only daughter of his eldest son.