William Jennings Capell
Encyclopedia
William Jennings Capell (born 9 August 1952), a retired grocery clerk from Yuba City, California
, is the heir presumptive
to the Earldom of Essex
. He will be the 12th Earl if the current earl, Paul Capell, 11th Earl of Essex
(currently 66 and unmarried), dies without legitimate male issue. He had considered renouncing the earldom if it would require him to give up his United States citizenship. (Under the United Kingdom's Peerage Act 1963
, a person may disclaim a hereditary peerage.) United States law requires only government officeholders without Congressional authorization and persons wishing to become naturalized citizens, however, to renounce titles of nobility. As Mr. Capell is in neither category, there would be no legal impediment to his use of the title as a U.S. citizen.
Like the sixth and later Earls of Essex, William Capell is descended from the younger son of the fourth Earl. His father Bladen Horace Capell claimed the title after the ninth Earl died in 1981, but Robert de Vere Capell (1920–2005) eventually proved that his ancestor Algernon was older than Bladen's ancestor Adolphus and thus took his seat in the House of Lords
in 1989.
The unusual forename of his father and grandfather, Bladen, comes from his ancestress Harriet Bladen, who (as recorded in The National Encyclopaedia of American Biography) became the second Countess of the widowed 4th Earl, and grandmother to the 6th Earl when her stepson, George Capel the 5th Earl, died sine prole (Latin: without children). She was a member of the ancient and wealthy Derbyshire Bladon/Bladen clan, which included rich London merchants, courtiers and Puritan
dissenters.
Harriet Bladen had an American connexion: her father Sir Thomas Bladen
(1698-1780) was the royal governor of Maryland
in 1742–46; the town of Garrison's Landing was renamed Bladensburg in his honour (see The National Encyclopedia of American Biography). Her granduncle Colonel Martin Bladen, MP, founded Bladen County in North Carolina. Harriet's grandaunt Elizabeth Bladen, another sister of Martin (sometimes erroneously referred to as Anne), married secondly to become Baroness Hawke of Tawton and ancestress of Martin Bladen Hawke
, 7th Baron and famous English cricketer of the Victorian era
; and Harriet's sister Barbara (sometimes confused with Elizabeth) married Henry St. John, a brother of the 3rd Viscount Bolingbroke
. Harriet was an artist, but she was not related to the noted poet William Collins
of Chichester
; this error is often repeated in some history texts due to William and Elizabeth being Bladen family names and William Collins' uncle being surnamed Martin, which was the Christian name of Colonel Martin Bladen, MP.
In 2005, Capell made his first visit to England
with his wife, daughter, and son-in-law. The visit was televised on the tabloid show Inside Edition
.
He has two children:
If William succeeds to the earldom, Kevin will acquire the courtesy title
Viscount Malden, and Jennifer will become The Lady Jennifer Cabrera.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, is the heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
to the Earldom of Essex
Earl of Essex
Earl of Essex is a title that has been held by several families and individuals. The earldom was first created in the 12th century for Geoffrey II de Mandeville . Upon the death of the third earl in 1189, the title became dormant or extinct...
. He will be the 12th Earl if the current earl, Paul Capell, 11th Earl of Essex
Paul Capell, 11th Earl of Essex
Frederick Paul de Vere Capell, 11th Earl of Essex is the current Earl of Essex. He succeeded his father Robert Capell, 10th Earl of Essex, in 2005....
(currently 66 and unmarried), dies without legitimate male issue. He had considered renouncing the earldom if it would require him to give up his United States citizenship. (Under the United Kingdom's Peerage Act 1963
Peerage Act 1963
The Peerage Act 1963 is the Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that permitted peeresses in their own right and all Scottish hereditary peers to sit in the House of Lords, and which allows newly inherited hereditary peerages to be "disclaimed".-Background:The Act resulted largely from the...
, a person may disclaim a hereditary peerage.) United States law requires only government officeholders without Congressional authorization and persons wishing to become naturalized citizens, however, to renounce titles of nobility. As Mr. Capell is in neither category, there would be no legal impediment to his use of the title as a U.S. citizen.
Like the sixth and later Earls of Essex, William Capell is descended from the younger son of the fourth Earl. His father Bladen Horace Capell claimed the title after the ninth Earl died in 1981, but Robert de Vere Capell (1920–2005) eventually proved that his ancestor Algernon was older than Bladen's ancestor Adolphus and thus took his 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....
in 1989.
The unusual forename of his father and grandfather, Bladen, comes from his ancestress Harriet Bladen, who (as recorded in The National Encyclopaedia of American Biography) became the second Countess of the widowed 4th Earl, and grandmother to the 6th Earl when her stepson, George Capel the 5th Earl, died sine prole (Latin: without children). She was a member of the ancient and wealthy Derbyshire Bladon/Bladen clan, which included rich London merchants, courtiers and Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
dissenters.
Harriet Bladen had an American connexion: her father Sir Thomas Bladen
Thomas Bladen
Sir Thomas Bladen was a politician and colonial governor. He served as the 19th Proprietary Governor of Maryland from 1742 to 1747.-Early life and marriage:...
(1698-1780) was the royal governor of Maryland
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
in 1742–46; the town of Garrison's Landing was renamed Bladensburg in his honour (see The National Encyclopedia of American Biography). Her granduncle Colonel Martin Bladen, MP, founded Bladen County in North Carolina. Harriet's grandaunt Elizabeth Bladen, another sister of Martin (sometimes erroneously referred to as Anne), married secondly to become Baroness Hawke of Tawton and ancestress of Martin Bladen Hawke
Martin Hawke, 7th Baron Hawke
Martin Bladen Hawke, 7th Baron Hawke of Towton , generally known as Lord Hawke, was an English amateur cricketer who played major roles in the sport's administration....
, 7th Baron and famous English cricketer of the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
; and Harriet's sister Barbara (sometimes confused with Elizabeth) married Henry St. John, a brother of the 3rd Viscount 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....
. Harriet was an artist, but she was not related to the noted poet William Collins
William Collins
William Collins may refer to:* William Collins , Bishop of Gibraltar in the Church of England* William Collins , English poet* William Collins , English landscape artist...
of Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
; this error is often repeated in some history texts due to William and Elizabeth being Bladen family names and William Collins' uncle being surnamed Martin, which was the Christian name of Colonel Martin Bladen, MP.
In 2005, Capell made his first visit to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with his wife, daughter, and son-in-law. The visit was televised on the tabloid show Inside Edition
Inside Edition
Inside Edition is a thirty-minute American television syndicated news program, first aired on CBS on October 9, 1988. It was originally similar to the programs Hard Copy and A Current Affair, but now more closely resembles a condensed version of breakfast television, exclusively with pre-recorded...
.
He has two children:
- Jennifer Elaine Capell (b. 1974), married Alfred Cabrera in 2004
- Kevin Devereux Capell (b. 1982), married Sarah Gunderman in 2004
If William succeeds to the earldom, Kevin will acquire the courtesy title
Courtesy title
A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...
Viscount Malden, and Jennifer will become The Lady Jennifer Cabrera.
External links
- Bill Capell's MySpace profile
- RootsWeb: CORNELL-L Archives - Sometimes knowing your roots can be very rewarding!! ("reprintReprintA reprint is a re-publishing of material that has already been previously published. The word reprint is used in many fields.-Academic publishing:...
" of Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
article) - The International Wenches Guild: Grocery clerk possible Earl of Essex
- Kitsap Sun: (Editor's Choice) Average Joe May Move Into House of Lords
- The Moscow Times: Aristocracy Thrives in Yuba City