Earl of Chichester
Encyclopedia
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....
in 1644 when Francis Leigh, 1st Baron Dunsmore
Francis Leigh, 1st Earl of Chichester
Francis Leigh, 1st Earl of Chichester was a Royalist politician and courtier around the period of the English Civil War....
, was made Earl of Chichester, in the County of Sussex, with remainder to his son-in-law Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton
Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton
Sir Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton, KG , styled Lord Wriothesley before 1624, was a 17th century English statesman, a staunch supporter of Charles II who would rise to the position of Lord High Treasurer after the English Restoration...
(the husband of his daughter Elizabeth). He had already been created a Baronet, of Newnham in the County of Warwick, in 1618 (in the Baronetage of England), with remainder to the male heirs of his body, and Baron Dunsmore, in the County of Warwick, in 1628 (in the Peerage of England), with remainder to his stepson John Anderson (the son of his second wife the Hon. Audrey Boteler by her first husband Sir Francis Anderson). Lord Chichester had no sons and on his death in 1653 the baronetcy became extinct. The barony of Dunsmore also became extinct as his stepson John (who had been created a Baronet in 1629) had died childless in 1630. The earldom was passed on according to the special remainder to his son-in-law Lord Southampton (see the Earl of Southampton
Earl of Southampton
Earl of Southampton was a title that was created three times in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1537 in favour of the courtier William Fitzwilliam. He was childless and the title became extinct on his death in 1542. The second creation came in 1547 in favour of the politician...
for earlier history of this title). However, he had no male issue and on his death in 1667 both earldoms became extinct. Francis Leigh, 1st Earl of Chichester, was the grandson of Sir William Leigh, third son of Sir Thomas Leigh (c. 1504–1571), Lord Mayor of London
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
in 1558. Sir Thomas's eldest son Rowland Leigh was the ancestor of the Barons Leigh
Baron Leigh
Baron Leigh is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in the Peerage of England 1643 when Sir Thomas Leigh, 2nd Baronet, was created Baron Leigh, of Stoneleigh in the County of Warwick...
of the 1838 creation while his second son Sir Thomas Leigh, 1st Baronet, of Stoneleigh, was the ancestor of the Barons Leigh of the 1643 creation.
Second creation (1675)
The title was created for the second time in the Peerage of England in 1675 as a subsidiary title of the dukedom of Southampton created in that year for Charles II'sCharles 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...
illegitimate son Charles Fitzroy. See the Duke of Southampton for more information on this creation of the earldom.
Third creation (1801)
The title was created for the third time in 1801 in the Peerage of the United KingdomPeerage 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...
in favour of Thomas Pelham, 2nd Baron Pelham of Stanmer
Thomas Pelham, 1st Earl of Chichester
Thomas Pelham, 1st Earl of Chichester PC , known as the Lord Pelham of Stanmer from 1768 to 1801, was a British Whig politician.Pelham was the son of Thomas Pelham and his wife Annetta, daughter of Thomas Bridges...
. The Pelham family descends from Thomas Pelham of Laughton, Sussex
Laughton, East Sussex
Laughton is a village and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England. The village is located five miles east of Lewes, at a junction on the minor road to Hailsham . It appears in the Domesday Book, and there are Roman remains nearby.Education is provided at the Laughton Community...
, who represented Lewes
Lewes (UK Parliament constituency)
Lewes is a constituency located in East Sussex and centred on the town of Lewes. It is represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was a safe Conservative seat until 1997, but the Liberal Democrats have gained a strong foothold.-Boundaries:The constituency is...
and Sussex
Sussex (UK Parliament constituency)
Sussex was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
. In 1611 he was created a Baronet, of Laughton in the County of Sussex, in the Baronetage of England. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baronet. He sat as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for East Grinstead
East Grinstead (UK Parliament constituency)
East Grinstead was a parliamentary constituency in the Kingdom of England, the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. It first existed as a Parliamentary borough from 1307, returning two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons elected by the bloc vote system...
and Sussex. His son, the third Baronet, represented Hastings
Hastings (UK Parliament constituency)
Hastings was a parliamentary constituency in Sussex. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until the 1885 general election, when its representation was reduced to one member....
and Sussex in Parliament for many years. He was succeeded by his son, the fourth Baronet. He was Member of Parliament for East Grinstead, Lewes and Sussex and served as a Commissioner of Customs and as a Lord of the Treasury
Lord of the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are at least six Lords of the Treasury who serve concurrently. Traditionally, this board consists of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Second Lord of the Treasury, and four or more junior lords .Strictly they are commissioners for exercising the office of Lord...
. In 1706 he was raised to 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....
as Lord Pelham, Baron of Pelham, of Laughton in the County of Sussex. He married as his second wife Lady Grace Holles, daughter of Gilbert Holles, 3rd Earl of Clare
Gilbert Holles, 3rd Earl of Clare
Gilbert Holles, 3rd Earl of Clare was an English nobleman, styled Lord Haughton from 1637 until his accession in 1666....
(see the Earl of Clare
Earl of Clare
Earl of Clare was a title of English nobility created three times: once each in the peerages of England, Great Britain, and Ireland. The title derives from Clare, Suffolk, where a prominent Anglo-Norman family was seated since the Norman Conquest, and from which their English surname sprang from...
for more information on this family). Their second son was the prominent statesman the Hon. Henry Pelham
Henry Pelham
Henry Pelham was a British Whig statesman, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 27 August 1743 until his death in 1754...
, Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1743 to 1754.
Lord Pelham was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Baron. Like his younger brother he was an influential statesman and served as Prime Minister from 1754 to 1756 and from 1757 to 1762. Pelham inherited immense estates on the death of his uncle John Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1662–1711) (his mother's brother) and assumed by Royal license the additional surname of Holles in 1711. In 1714 the earldom of Clare was revived when he was created Viscount Houghton, in the County of Nottingham, and Earl of Clare, with remainder to his younger brother Henry. The following year the dukedom was also revived when he was made Marquess of Clare and Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with similar remainder to his younger brother Henry (all titles were in the Peerage of Great Britain
Peerage of Great Britain
The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain after the Act of Union 1707 but before the Act of Union 1800...
). Over 40 years later, in 1756 (when Henry Pelham had died without male issue and it was apparent that the Duke was to have no children of his own), he was created Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne, with remainder to his nephew Henry Pelham-Clinton, 9th Earl of Lincoln (the son of his sister the Hon. Lucy Pelham, wife of Henry Clinton, 7th Earl of Lincoln
Henry Clinton, 7th Earl of Lincoln
Henry Clinton, 7th Earl of Lincoln, KG, PC was the son of Francis Clinton, 6th Earl of Lincoln and his second wife Susan Penniston, daughter of Anthony Penniston...
), who was married to his niece Catherine Pelham, daughter of Henry Pelham. In 1762 he was also made Baron Pelham of Stanmer, in the County of Sussex, with remainder to his first cousin once removed Thomas Pelham. These titles were also in the Peerage of Great Britain.
The Duke was childless and on his death in 1768 the barony of Pelham and the creations of 1714 and 1715 became extinct. The dukedom of 1756 was passed on according to the special remainder to his nephew the Earl of Lincoln
Earl of Lincoln
Earl of Lincoln is a title that has been created eight times in the Peerage of England.-Earls of Lincoln, First Creation :*William d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Lincoln and 1st Earl of Arundel Earl of Lincoln is a title that has been created eight times in the Peerage of England.-Earls of Lincoln, First...
(see this title for further history of the dukedom). The Duke was also succeeded in the baronetcy and in the barony of Pelham of Stanmer (in the barony according to the special remainder) by his first cousin once removed Thomas Pelham, the second Baron. He was the son of Thomas Pelham, Member of Parliament for Lewes, son of Henry Pelham, third son of the third Baronet. Like his cousins he was also a politician. He represented Rye
Rye (UK Parliament constituency)
Rye was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Rye in East Sussex. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until its representation was halved under the Reform Act 1832....
and Sussex in the House of Commons and served as a Commissioner of Trade and Plantations
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
, as a Lord of the Admiralty and as Comptroller of the Household
Comptroller of the Household
The Comptroller of the Household is an ancient position in the English royal household, currently the second-ranking member of the Lord Steward's department, and often a cabinet member. He was an ex officio member of the Board of Green Cloth, until that body was abolished in the reform of the local...
. In 1801 he was honoured when he was created Earl of Chichester 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...
.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He was also an influential politician and held office as Chief Secretary for Ireland
Chief Secretary for Ireland
The Chief Secretary for Ireland was a key political office in the British administration in Ireland. Nominally subordinate to the Lord Lieutenant, from the late 18th century until the end of British rule he was effectively the government minister with responsibility for governing Ireland; usually...
, as Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
and as Postmaster General
United Kingdom Postmaster General
The Postmaster General of the United Kingdom is a defunct Cabinet-level ministerial position in HM Government. Aside from maintaining the postal system, the Telegraph Act of 1868 established the Postmaster General's right to exclusively maintain electric telegraphs...
. In 1801, during his father's lifetime, he was summoned to 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....
through a writ of acceleration
Writ of acceleration
A writ in acceleration, commonly called a writ of acceleration, was a type of writ of summons to the British House of Lords that enabled the eldest son and heir apparent of a peer with multiple peerage titles to attend the British House of Lords or Irish House of Lords, using one of his father's...
in his father's junior title of Baron Pelham of Stanmer. His eldest son, the third Earl, was Lord Lieutenant of Sussex
Lord Lieutenant of Sussex
This is a list of people who served as Lord Lieutenant of Sussex. From 1677 until 1974, all Lord Lieutenants were also Custos Rotulorum of Sussex.-Lord Lieutenants of Sussex to 1974:*Henry FitzAlan, 19th Earl of Arundel 1551–? jointly with...
from 1860 to 1886. On his death the titles passed to his eldest son, the fourth Earl. He sat as Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
Member of Parliament for Lewes. He died childless and was succeeded by his younger brother, the fifth Earl. He was a clergyman and served as Rector of Lambeth
Lambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the sixth Earl. He was a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Sussex. His eldest son, the seventh Earl, died at a young age and was succeeded by his younger brother, the eighth Earl. He was killed in a road accident while on active service in the Second World War. the titles are held by his posthumous son, the ninth Earl, who succeeded on his birth in April 1944 (two months after his father's death); Lord Chichester has served as board member in several music institutions.
Several other members of the Pelham family have gained distinction. The Right Reverend the Hon. George Pelham
George Pelham (bishop)
George Pelham was a Church of England bishop, serving in the sees of Bristol , Exeter and Lincoln . He began his career as Vicar of Hellingly in Sussex in 1800....
, third son of the first Earl, was Bishop of Bristol
Bishop of Bristol
The Bishop of Bristol heads the Church of England Diocese of Bristol in the Province of Canterbury, in England.The present diocese covers parts of the counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire together with a small area of Wiltshire...
, Exeter
Bishop of Exeter
The Bishop of Exeter is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. The incumbent usually signs his name as Exon or incorporates this in his signature....
and Lincoln
Bishop of Lincoln
The Bishop of Lincoln is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln in the Province of Canterbury.The present diocese covers the county of Lincolnshire and the unitary authority areas of North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral...
. The Hon. Frederick Thomas Pelham
Frederick Thomas Pelham
Rear Admiral Frederick Thomas Pelham CB was an Royal Navy officer who went on to be Second Naval Lord.-Naval career:...
, second son of the second Earl, was a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. The Right Reverend the Hon. John Thomas Pelham
John Thomas Pelham
John Thomas Pelham , styled The Honourable from birth, was a British Anglican clergyman.-Background and education:...
, third son of the second Earl, was Bishop of Norwich
Bishop of Norwich
The Bishop of Norwich is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers most of the County of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. The see is in the City of Norwich where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided...
. His eldest son Henry Francis Pelham
Henry Francis Pelham
Henry Francis Pelham was an English scholar and historian. He was the son of John Thomas Pelham , bishop of Norwich, third son of Thomas Pelham, 2nd Earl of Chichester....
was Camden Professor of Ancient History
Camden Professor of Ancient History
The Camden Professorship of Ancient History at the University of Oxford was established in 1622 by William Camden, Clarenceux King of Arms, and endowed with the income of the manor of Bexley. The Chair has been attached to Brasenose College since 1877...
at Oxford University.
The Pelham family created the present-day Stanmer Park
Stanmer Park
Stanmer Park is a large open park immediately to the west of the University of Sussex, and to the north-east of the town of Brighton in the county of East Sussex, England, UK....
and built Stanmer House
Stanmer House
Stanmer House is a Grade I listed mansion west of the village of Falmer and north-east of the city of Brighton and Hove.It stands very close to Stanmer village and Church, within the Stanmer Park...
. After the Second World War the then Earl sold the Stanmer property to Brighton Corporation. The present family seat is Little Durnford Manor, near Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
.
Earls of Chichester, First Creation (1644)
- Francis Leigh, 1st Earl of ChichesterFrancis Leigh, 1st Earl of ChichesterFrancis Leigh, 1st Earl of Chichester was a Royalist politician and courtier around the period of the English Civil War....
(d. 1653) - Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton, 2nd Earl of ChichesterThomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of SouthamptonSir Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton, KG , styled Lord Wriothesley before 1624, was a 17th century English statesman, a staunch supporter of Charles II who would rise to the position of Lord High Treasurer after the English Restoration...
(1608–1667)
Pelham Baronets, of Laughton (1611)
- Sir Thomas Pelham, 1st Baronet (1540–1624)
- Sir Thomas Pelham, 2nd BaronetSir Thomas Pelham, 2nd BaronetSir Thomas Pelham, 2nd Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England variously between 1621 and 1654. He supported the Parliamentarian side in the English Civil War....
(1597–1654) - Sir John Pelham, 3rd BaronetSir John Pelham, 3rd BaronetSir John Pelham, 3rd Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England variously between 1644 and 1698.Pelham was the son of Sir Thomas Pelham, 2nd Baronet and his wife Mary Wilbraham....
(1623–1703) - Sir Thomas Pelham, 4th BaronetThomas Pelham, 1st Baron PelhamThomas Pelham, 1st Baron Pelham of Laughton Bt was a moderate English Whig politician and Member of Parliament for several constituencies. He is best remembered as father of two British prime ministers who, between them, served for 18 years as first minister...
(1653–1712) (created Baron Pelham in 1706)
Barons Pelham, (of Laughton) (1706)
- Thomas Pelham, 1st Baron PelhamThomas Pelham, 1st Baron PelhamThomas Pelham, 1st Baron Pelham of Laughton Bt was a moderate English Whig politician and Member of Parliament for several constituencies. He is best remembered as father of two British prime ministers who, between them, served for 18 years as first minister...
(1653–1712) - Thomas Pelham-Holles, 2nd Baron Pelham (1693–1768) (created Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1715, Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne in 1756 and Baron Pelham of Stanmer in 1762)
Dukes of Newcastle and Barons Pelham of Stanmer (1715/1756/1762)
- Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle, 1st Baron Pelham of Stanmer (1693–1768)
Barons Pelham of Stanmer (1762)
- Thomas Pelham, 2nd Baron Pelham of StanmerThomas Pelham, 1st Earl of ChichesterThomas Pelham, 1st Earl of Chichester PC , known as the Lord Pelham of Stanmer from 1768 to 1801, was a British Whig politician.Pelham was the son of Thomas Pelham and his wife Annetta, daughter of Thomas Bridges...
(1728–1805) (created Earl of Chichester in 1801)
Earls of Chichester, Third Creation (1801)
- Thomas Pelham, 1st Earl of ChichesterThomas Pelham, 1st Earl of ChichesterThomas Pelham, 1st Earl of Chichester PC , known as the Lord Pelham of Stanmer from 1768 to 1801, was a British Whig politician.Pelham was the son of Thomas Pelham and his wife Annetta, daughter of Thomas Bridges...
(1728–1805) - Thomas Pelham, 2nd Earl of ChichesterThomas Pelham, 2nd Earl of ChichesterThomas Pelham, 2nd Earl of Chichester PC, PC , FRS , styled The Honourable Thomas Pelham from 1768 until 1783, The Right Honourable Thomas Pelham from 1783 to 1801, and then known as Lord Pelham until 1805, was a British Whig politician...
(1756–1826) - Henry Thomas Pelham, 3rd Earl of Chichester (1804–1886)
- Walter John Pelham, 4th Earl of ChichesterWalter Pelham, 4th Earl of ChichesterWalter John Pelham, 4th Earl of Chichester , styled as Lord Pelham from 1838 to 1886, was a British Liberal politician....
(1838–1902) - Francis Godolphin Pelham, 5th Earl of ChichesterFrancis Pelham, 5th Earl of ChichesterReverend Sir Francis Godolphin Pelham, 5th Earl of Chichester was a British cleric and nobleman.-Life:He was the son of Sir Henry Thomas Pelham, 3rd Earl of Chichester and Lady Mary Brudenell...
(1844–1905) - Jocelyn Brudenell Pelham, 6th Earl of Chichester (1871–1926)
- Francis Godolphin Henry Pelham, 7th Earl of Chichester (1905–1926)
- John Buxton Pelham, 8th Earl of Chichester (1912–1944) - died on active service.
- John Nicholas Pelham, 9th Earl of Chichester (b. 1944)
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...
is the present holder's second cousin Richard Anthony Henry Pelham (b. 1952). He is the grandson of the Hon. Henry George Godolphin Pelham, second son of the fifth Earl.
The heir presumptive's heir apparent is his eldest son Duncan James Bergengren Pelham (b. 1987)
See also
- Baron LeighBaron LeighBaron Leigh is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in the Peerage of England 1643 when Sir Thomas Leigh, 2nd Baronet, was created Baron Leigh, of Stoneleigh in the County of Warwick...
- Duke of Southampton
- Duke of NewcastleDuke of NewcastleDuke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne is a title which has been created three times in British history while the title of Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne has been created once. The title was created for the first time in the Peerage of England in 1664 when William Cavendish, 1st Marquess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne...
- Earl of LincolnEarl of LincolnEarl of Lincoln is a title that has been created eight times in the Peerage of England.-Earls of Lincoln, First Creation :*William d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Lincoln and 1st Earl of Arundel Earl of Lincoln is a title that has been created eight times in the Peerage of England.-Earls of Lincoln, First...
- Earl of ClareEarl of ClareEarl of Clare was a title of English nobility created three times: once each in the peerages of England, Great Britain, and Ireland. The title derives from Clare, Suffolk, where a prominent Anglo-Norman family was seated since the Norman Conquest, and from which their English surname sprang from...
- Anderson Baronets, of St IvesAnderson Baronets- Anderson of St Ives, Huntingdonshire :* Sir Edmund Anderson, 1st Baronet. Died 1630.- Anderson of Penley, Hertfordshire :* Sir Henry Anderson, 1st Baronet.* Sir Richard Anderson, 2nd Baronet....