Marquess of Headfort
Encyclopedia
Marquess of Headfort is a title in the Peerage of Ireland
. It was created in 1800 for Thomas Taylor, 2nd Earl of Bective. Despite the official title, the family unfailingly use the alternative rendering Marquis of Headfort, and this is the spelling more commonly encountered in references to family members.
The Marquess holds the subsidiary titles of Earl of Bective (1766), Viscount Headfort (1762), Baron Headfort, of Headfort
in the County of Meath, (1760), and Baron Kenlis, of Kenlis in the County of Meath (1831), all but the last in the Peerage of Ireland
. He is also an Irish baronet
. Before the passage of the House of Lords Act 1999
, the Marquess sat in the House of Lords
as Baron Kenlis in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
.
The family descends from Thomas Taylor who came to Ireland during the 1650s from Sussex in England to oversee on behalf of Parliament the fiscal expenditure of Oliver Cromwell's campaign in Ireland and later undertook the duties of a cartographer assisting with Sir William Petty's project of mapping Ireland. Taylor's son also Thomas Taylor represented Kells
in the Irish House of Commons
and in 1704 he was created a Baronet, of Kells
in the County of Meath, in the Baronetage of Ireland. His grandson, the third Baronet, also sat for Kells in the Irish House of Commons. In 1760 he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Headfort, of Headfort in the County of Meath. Two years later he was created Viscount Headfort, of Headfort, in the County of Meath and in 1766 he was even further honoured when he was made Earl of Bective, of Bective Castle, in the County of Meath. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He was one of the 28 original Irish Representative Peers
in the House of Lords. In 1800 he was created Marquess of Headfort in the Peerage of Ireland. His son, the second Marquess, assumed the surname of Taylour in lieu of Taylor. In 1831 he was created Baron Kenlis, of Kenlis in the County of Meath, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. This gave the Marquesses an automatic seat in the House of Lords. Lord Headfort served as a Government Whip
in the Whig administration of Lord Melbourne
and was also Lord Lieutenant of Cavan
. His son, the third Marquess, represented Westmorland
in Parliament as a Conservative
and also served as Lord Lieutenant of County Meath
. His son from his first marriage, Thomas Taylour, Earl of Bective
, also sat as a Conservative Member of Parliament. However, he predeceased his father and on Lord Downshire's death the titles passed to his son from his second marriage, the fourth Marquess. He was a Senator of the Irish Free State
. the titles are held by his great-grandson, the seventh Marquess, who succeeded his father in 2005.
As of 30 June 2006, the present holder of the Marquessate has not successfully proven his succession to the Baronetcy and is therefore not on the Official Roll of the Baronetage. However, the case is under review by the Registrar of the Baronetage (for more information follow this link).
Another member of the Taylor family was Clotworthy Rowley
, fourth son of the first Earl of Bective. He assumed the surname of Rowley in lieu of Taylor and was created Baron Langford
in the Peerage of Ireland in 1800. Also, the Honorable the Reverend Henry Edward Taylor, fifth son of the first Earl of Bective, was the father of the Conservative politician Thomas Edward Taylor
, who served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
in 1868 and from 1874 to 1880.
The ancestral seat of the Marquesses of Headfort was the Headfort Hall estate in County Meath, in the Republic of Ireland.
The 1000 acres (4 km²) estate was sold by the 6th Marquess in 1981.
Headfort Hall itself is currently being used as a school.
The heir apparent
is the present holder's son Thomas Rupert Charles Christopher Taylour, Earl of Bective (b. 1989)
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 1800 for Thomas Taylor, 2nd Earl of Bective. Despite the official title, the family unfailingly use the alternative rendering Marquis of Headfort, and this is the spelling more commonly encountered in references to family members.
The Marquess holds the subsidiary titles of Earl of Bective (1766), Viscount Headfort (1762), Baron Headfort, of Headfort
Headfort
Headfort may refer to:* The Marquess of Headfort, a title in the Irish peerage.* Any of the various holders of that title, historic or current.* Headfort , a stately home and boarding school in County Meath, Ireland....
in the County of Meath, (1760), and Baron Kenlis, of Kenlis in the County of Meath (1831), all but the last 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 is also an Irish baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
. Before the passage 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;...
, the Marquess sat 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....
as Baron Kenlis in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
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...
.
The family descends from Thomas Taylor who came to Ireland during the 1650s from Sussex in England to oversee on behalf of Parliament the fiscal expenditure of Oliver Cromwell's campaign in Ireland and later undertook the duties of a cartographer assisting with Sir William Petty's project of mapping Ireland. Taylor's son also Thomas Taylor represented Kells
Kells (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Kells was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Kells was not represented.-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...
and in 1704 he was created a Baronet, of Kells
Kells, County Meath
Kells is a town in County Meath, Ireland. The town lies off the M3 motorway, from Navan and from Dublin. In recent years Kells has grown greatly with many Dublin commuters moving to the town....
in the County of Meath, in the Baronetage of Ireland. His grandson, the third Baronet, also sat for Kells in the Irish House of Commons. In 1760 he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Headfort, of Headfort in the County of Meath. Two years later he was created Viscount Headfort, of Headfort, in the County of Meath and in 1766 he was even further honoured when he was made Earl of Bective, of Bective Castle, in the County of Meath. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He was one of the 28 original Irish Representative Peers
Representative peer
In the United Kingdom, representative peers were those peers elected by the members of the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of Ireland to sit in the British House of Lords...
in the House of Lords. In 1800 he was created Marquess of Headfort in the Peerage of Ireland. His son, the second Marquess, assumed the surname of Taylour in lieu of Taylor. In 1831 he was created Baron Kenlis, of Kenlis in the County of Meath, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. This gave the Marquesses an automatic seat in the House of Lords. Lord Headfort served as a Government Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
in the Whig administration of Lord Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, PC, FRS was a British Whig statesman who served as Home Secretary and Prime Minister . He is best known for his intense and successful mentoring of Queen Victoria, at ages 18-21, in the ways of politics...
and was also Lord Lieutenant of Cavan
Lord Lieutenant of Cavan
This is a list of people who have served as Lord-Lieutenant of Cavan. The office was created on 23 August 1831.* Thomas Taylour, 2nd Marquess of Headfort 17 October 1831 – 6 December 1870* John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar 3 April 1871 – 6 October 1876...
. His son, the third Marquess, represented Westmorland
Westmorland (UK Parliament constituency)
Westmorland was a constituency covering the county of Westmorland in the North of England, which returned Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The constituency had two separate periods of existence....
in Parliament 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...
and also served as Lord Lieutenant of County Meath
Lord Lieutenant of Meath
This is a list of people who served as Lord Lieutenant of County Meath, Ireland. The office was created on 23 August 1831.* Edward Bligh, 5th Earl of Darnley 28 October 1831 – 11 February 1835...
. His son from his first marriage, Thomas Taylour, Earl of Bective
Thomas Taylour, Earl of Bective
Thomas Taylour, Earl of Bective , styled Lord Kenlis until 1870, was an Anglo-Irish Conservative politician....
, also sat as a Conservative Member of Parliament. However, he predeceased his father and on Lord Downshire's death the titles passed to his son from his second marriage, the fourth Marquess. He was a Senator of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
. the titles are held by his great-grandson, the seventh Marquess, who succeeded his father in 2005.
As of 30 June 2006, the present holder of the Marquessate has not successfully proven his succession to the Baronetcy and is therefore not on the Official Roll of the Baronetage. However, the case is under review by the Registrar of the Baronetage (for more information follow this link).
Another member of the Taylor family was Clotworthy Rowley
Clotworthy Rowley, 1st Baron Langford
Clotworthy Rowley, 1st Baron Langford , known as Hon. Clotworthy Taylor until 1796 and as Hon...
, fourth son of the first Earl of Bective. He assumed the surname of Rowley in lieu of Taylor and was created Baron Langford
Baron Langford
Baron Langford, of Summerhill in the County of Meath, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 1 July 1800 for Clotworthy Rowley, who had earlier represented Trim and County Meath in the Irish House of Commons...
in the Peerage of Ireland in 1800. Also, the Honorable the Reverend Henry Edward Taylor, fifth son of the first Earl of Bective, was the father of the Conservative politician Thomas Edward Taylor
Thomas Edward Taylor
Thomas Edward Taylor PC , was a British Conservative Party politician. He served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in 1868 and between 1874 and 1880 under Benjamin Disraeli.-Background and education:...
, who served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom that includes as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster...
in 1868 and from 1874 to 1880.
The ancestral seat of the Marquesses of Headfort was the Headfort Hall estate in County Meath, in the Republic of Ireland.
The 1000 acres (4 km²) estate was sold by the 6th Marquess in 1981.
Headfort Hall itself is currently being used as a school.
Taylor Baronets, of Kells (1704)
- Sir Thomas Taylor, 1st Baronet (1662–1736)
- Sir Thomas Taylor, 2nd Baronet (1686–1757)
- Sir Thomas Taylor, 3rd Baronet (1724–1795) (created Earl of Bective in 1766)
Earls of Bective (1766)
- Thomas Taylor, 1st Earl of Bective (1724–1795)
- Thomas Taylour, 2nd Earl of BectiveThomas Taylour, 1st Marquess of HeadfortThomas Taylour, 1st Marquess of Headfort KP , styled Viscount Headford from 1766 to 1795, and known as Thomas Taylour, 2nd Earl of Bective from 1795 to 1800, was an Irish peer and politician....
(1757–1829) (created Marquess of Headfort in 1800)
Marquesses of Headfort (1800)
- Thomas Taylour, 1st Marquess of HeadfortThomas Taylour, 1st Marquess of HeadfortThomas Taylour, 1st Marquess of Headfort KP , styled Viscount Headford from 1766 to 1795, and known as Thomas Taylour, 2nd Earl of Bective from 1795 to 1800, was an Irish peer and politician....
(1757–1829) - Thomas Taylour, 2nd Marquess of HeadfortThomas Taylour, 2nd Marquess of HeadfortThomas Taylour, 2nd Marquess of Headfort KP PC , styled Viscount Headfort from 1795 to 1800 and Earl of Bective from 1800 to 1829, was an Anglo-Irish Whig politician...
(1787–1870) - Thomas Taylour, 3rd Marquess of HeadfortThomas Taylour, 3rd Marquess of HeadfortThomas Taylour, 3rd Marquess of Headfort KP PC was an Irish peer, styled Lord Kenlis until 1829 and Earl of Bective from 1829 to 1870....
(1822–1894)- Thomas Taylour, Earl of BectiveThomas Taylour, Earl of BectiveThomas Taylour, Earl of Bective , styled Lord Kenlis until 1870, was an Anglo-Irish Conservative politician....
(1844–1893)
- Thomas Taylour, Earl of Bective
- Geoffrey Thomas Taylour, 4th Marquess of HeadfortGeoffrey Taylour, 4th Marquess of HeadfortGeoffrey Thomas Taylour, 4th Marquess of Headfort DL, JP, FZS , styled Lord Geoffrey Taylour until 1893 and Earl of Bective between 1893 and 1894, was a British politician and Army officer....
(1878–1943) - Terence Geoffrey Thomas Taylour, 5th Marquess of Headfort (1902–1960)
- Thomas Geoffrey Charles Michael Taylour, 6th Marquess of Headfort (1932–2005)
- Thomas Michael Ronald Christopher Taylour, 7th Marquess of Headfort (b. 1959)
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 Thomas Rupert Charles Christopher Taylour, Earl of Bective (b. 1989)