Viscount Grandison
Encyclopedia
Viscount Grandison of Limerick, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland
. It was created in 1620 for Sir Oliver St John, the Lord Deputy of Ireland
, with special remainder to the male issue of his niece Barbara, wife of Sir Edward Villiers, elder half-brother of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
, Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey
and John Villiers, 1st Viscount Purbeck. In 1626 he was also created Baron Tregoz in the Peerage of England
, with normal remainder to the heirs male of his body. St John was the descendant and namesake of Oliver St John, whose elder brother Sir John St John was the ancestor of the Barons St John of Bletso
and the Earls of Bolingbroke. Moreover, St John's nephew Sir John St John, 1st Baronet, of Lydiard Tregoze
, was the ancestor of the Viscounts Bolingbroke
and the Viscounts St John. On Lord Grandison' death in 1630 the barony of Tregoz became extinct as he left no male heirs. He was succeeded in the viscountcy according to the special remainder by William Villiers, the eldest son of Barbara and Sir Edward Villiers.
William was a supporter of King Charles I
and died of wounds received at the Battle of Bristol in 1643. His daughter the Hon. Barbara Villiers, became the mistress of King Charles II
and was created Duchess of Cleveland in 1670. Lord Grandison had no sons and was succeeded in the viscountcy by his younger brother, the third Viscount. He died childless and was succeeded by his younger brother, the fourth Viscount. On his death the title passed to his grandson, the fifth Viscount. He was the son of Brigadier-General the Hon. Edward Villiers
(d. 1693), eldest son of the fourth Viscount. In 1721 Lord Grandison was created Earl Grandison in the Peerage of Ireland. However, he left no surviving male heirs and the earldom became extinct on his death, while he was succeeded in the viscountcy by his second cousin William Villiers, 3rd Earl of Jersey
, who became the sixth Viscount Grandison. Lord Jersey was the great-grandson of Sir Edward Villiers, fifth son of Barbara and Sir Edward Villiers. See the Earl of Jersey
for further history of the viscountcy.
In 1746 Elizabeth Mason, daughter of John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison, was created Viscountess Grandison, and in 1767 she was made Viscountess Villiers and Countess Grandison. All three titles were in the Peerage of Ireland
. However, they became extinct on the death of the second Earl in 1800.
See Earl of Jersey
for further Viscounts Grandison
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 1620 for Sir Oliver St John, the Lord Deputy of Ireland
Lord Deputy of Ireland
The Lord Deputy was the King's representative and head of the Irish executive under English rule, during the Lordship of Ireland and later the Kingdom of Ireland...
, with special remainder to the male issue of his niece Barbara, wife of Sir Edward Villiers, elder half-brother of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham KG was the favourite, claimed by some to be the lover, of King James I of England. Despite a very patchy political and military record, he remained at the height of royal favour for the first two years of the reign of Charles I, until he was assassinated...
, Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey
Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey
Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey , known at court as Kit Villiers, was an English courtier, Gentleman of the Bedchamber and later Master of the Robes to King James I...
and John Villiers, 1st Viscount Purbeck. In 1626 he was also created Baron Tregoz in the Peerage of England
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....
, with normal remainder to the heirs male of his body. St John was the descendant and namesake of Oliver St John, whose elder brother Sir John St John was the ancestor of the Barons St John of Bletso
Baron St John of Bletso
Baron St John of Bletso, in the County of Bedford, is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1582 for Oliver St John.For a period, the title Baron St John was subsumed within the title Earl of Bolingbroke which was granted to the fourth Baron. The Earldom died out with the third Earl,...
and the Earls of Bolingbroke. Moreover, St John's nephew Sir John St John, 1st Baronet, of Lydiard Tregoze
Lydiard Tregoze
Lydiard Tregoze is a small village and civil parish on the western edge of Swindon in the County of Wiltshire, in the south west of England. It has in the past been spelt as Liddiard Tregooze and in other ways.-History:...
, was the ancestor of the Viscounts Bolingbroke
Viscount Bolingbroke
Viscount Bolingbroke / Viscount St John is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain and is currently held by Nicholas Alexander Mowbray St John, the 9th Viscount Bolingbroke and 10th Viscount St John who lives in Sydney Australia....
and the Viscounts St John. On Lord Grandison' death in 1630 the barony of Tregoz became extinct as he left no male heirs. He was succeeded in the viscountcy according to the special remainder by William Villiers, the eldest son of Barbara and Sir Edward Villiers.
William was a supporter of King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
and died of wounds received at the Battle of Bristol in 1643. His daughter the Hon. Barbara Villiers, became the mistress of King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
and was created Duchess of Cleveland in 1670. Lord Grandison had no sons and was succeeded in the viscountcy by his younger brother, the third Viscount. He died childless and was succeeded by his younger brother, the fourth Viscount. On his death the title passed to his grandson, the fifth Viscount. He was the son of Brigadier-General the Hon. Edward Villiers
Edward FitzGerald-Villiers
Edward FitzGerald-Villiers , was an English soldier in Ireland.He was the eldest son of George Villiers, 4th Viscount Grandison and his wife Mary, daughter of Francis Leigh, 1st Earl of Chichester. In 1677 he married the heiress Katherine FitzGerald, through whom he gained substantial property in...
(d. 1693), eldest son of the fourth Viscount. In 1721 Lord Grandison was created Earl Grandison in the Peerage of Ireland. However, he left no surviving male heirs and the earldom became extinct on his death, while he was succeeded in the viscountcy by his second cousin William Villiers, 3rd Earl of Jersey
William Villiers, 3rd Earl of Jersey
William Villiers, 3rd Earl of Jersey PC was an English peer, the son of William Villiers, 2nd Earl of Jersey.Among other achievements, Villiers was a founding Governor of the Foundling Hospital, a charity which received its royal charter on 17 October 1739 to operate an orphanage for abandoned...
, who became the sixth Viscount Grandison. Lord Jersey was the great-grandson of Sir Edward Villiers, fifth son of Barbara and Sir Edward Villiers. See the Earl of Jersey
Earl of Jersey
Earl of the Island of Jersey, usually shortened to Earl of Jersey, is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1697 for the statesman Edward Villiers, 1st Viscount Villiers, Ambassador to France from 1698 to 1699 and Secretary of State for the Southern Department from 1699 to 1700...
for further history of the viscountcy.
In 1746 Elizabeth Mason, daughter of John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison, was created Viscountess Grandison, and in 1767 she was made Viscountess Villiers and Countess Grandison. 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,...
. However, they became extinct on the death of the second Earl in 1800.
Viscounts Grandison; First creation (1620)
- Oliver St John, 1st Viscount GrandisonOliver St John, 1st Viscount GrandisonSir Oliver St John, 1st Viscount Grandison was an English soldier who became Lord Deputy of Ireland.-Early years:He was the second son of Nicholas St John of Lydiard Park in Wiltshire and Purley Park in Berkshire, by his wife Elizabeth , daughter of Sir Richard Blount of Mapledurham House in...
(c. 1560–1630) - William Villiers, 2nd Viscount Grandison (1614–1643)
- John Villiers, 3rd Viscount Grandison (d. c. 1661)
- George Villiers, 4th Viscount Grandison (c. 1617–1699) (maternal grandfather of Pitt the ElderWilliam Pitt, 1st Earl of ChathamWilliam Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham PC was a British Whig statesman who led Britain during the Seven Years' War...
) - John Villiers, 5th Viscount Grandison (1692–1766)
Earls Grandison; First creation (1721)
- John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison, 5th Viscount Grandison (1692–1766)
- James Villiers, Lord Villiers (d. 1732)
- William Villiers, Lord Villiers (1715–1739)
Viscounts Grandison; First creation (1620; Reverted)
- William Villiers, 3rd Earl of Jersey, 6th Viscount GrandisonWilliam Villiers, 3rd Earl of JerseyWilliam Villiers, 3rd Earl of Jersey PC was an English peer, the son of William Villiers, 2nd Earl of Jersey.Among other achievements, Villiers was a founding Governor of the Foundling Hospital, a charity which received its royal charter on 17 October 1739 to operate an orphanage for abandoned...
(d. 1769)
See Earl of Jersey
Earl of Jersey
Earl of the Island of Jersey, usually shortened to Earl of Jersey, is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1697 for the statesman Edward Villiers, 1st Viscount Villiers, Ambassador to France from 1698 to 1699 and Secretary of State for the Southern Department from 1699 to 1700...
for further Viscounts Grandison
Earls Grandison; Second Creation (1746)
- Elizabeth Mason, 1st Countess Grandison (d. 1782)
- George Mason-Villiers, 2nd Earl GrandisonGeorge Mason-Villiers, 2nd Earl GrandisonGeorge Mason-Villiers, 2nd Earl Grandison PC , styled Viscount Villiers between 1767 and 1782, was a British peer and politician.-Background and education:...
(1751–1800)