Earl of Iddesleigh
Encyclopedia
Earl of Iddesleigh, in the County of Devon, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
. It was created in 1885 for the Conservative
politician Sir Stafford Northcote, 8th Baronet
. He served as President of the Board of Trade, Secretary of State for India
, Chancellor of the Exchequer
, First Lord of the Treasury
and Foreign Secretary and was Joint Leader of the Conservative Party from 1881 to 1885. Northcote was made Viscount St Cyres, of Newton Saint Cyres in the County of Devon, at the same time he was given the earldom. This title is also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He notably served as Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue. On his death the titles passed to his nephew, the third Earl. He was the youngest son of Reverend the Hon. John Stafford Northcote, third son of the first Earl. His eldest son, the fourth Earl, served as a Deputy Lieutenant
of Devon
. the titles are held by the latter's only son, the fifth Earl, who succeeded in 2004.
The Northcote Baronetcy, of Haynes in the County of Devon, was created in the Baronetage of England in 1641 for John Northcote. He represented Ashburton
, Devon
and Barnstaple
in the House of Commons
. His grandson, the third Baronet (who succeeded his father), died childless in 1709 and was succeeded by his younger brother, the fourth Baronet. He was a Medical Doctor. His son, the fifth Baronet, sat as Member of Parliament
for Exeter
. His great-great-grandson was the aforementioned eighth Baronet, who was elevated to the peerage in 1885.
Two other members of the Northcote family have also gained distinction. The Hon. Henry Northcote
, second son of the first Earl, was created Baron Northcote in 1899 and served as Governor-General of Australia
from 1904 to 1908. Sir Geoffrey Northcote, Governor of Hong Kong
from 1937 to 1941, was the son of Reverend the Hon. Arthur Francis Northcote, fourth son of the first Earl.
The title of the earldom is pronounced "Idsly" while the family surname is pronounced "Northcut".
The original seat of the family in the reign of King Henry I
was Northcote Manor near Tiverton in Devon
, however this had passed out of the possession of the family by the time of King Henry VIII
. The Baronet's seat was Hayne, whilst the 5th Baronet married the heiress of Stafford, of Pynes. Both Hayne and Pynes are near Exeter
in Devon. Pynes was recently sold, and the present Earl lives at Hayne.
The heir apparent
is the present holder's only son Thomas Stafford Northcote, Viscount St Cyres (b. 1985)
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...
. It was created in 1885 for the 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...
politician Sir Stafford Northcote, 8th Baronet
Stafford Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh
Stafford Henry Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh GCB, PC , known as Sir Stafford Northcote, Bt, from 1851 to 1885, was a British Conservative politician...
. He served as President of the Board of Trade, Secretary of State for India
Secretary of State for India
The Secretary of State for India, or India Secretary, was the British Cabinet minister responsible for the government of India and the political head of the India Office...
, Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
, First Lord of the Treasury
First Lord of the Treasury
The First Lord of the Treasury is the head of the commission exercising the ancient office of Lord High Treasurer in the United Kingdom, and is now always also the Prime Minister...
and Foreign Secretary and was Joint Leader of the Conservative Party from 1881 to 1885. Northcote was made Viscount St Cyres, of Newton Saint Cyres in the County of Devon, at the same time he was given the earldom. This title is also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He notably served as Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue. On his death the titles passed to his nephew, the third Earl. He was the youngest son of Reverend the Hon. John Stafford Northcote, third son of the first Earl. His eldest son, the fourth Earl, served as 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 Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. the titles are held by the latter's only son, the fifth Earl, who succeeded in 2004.
The Northcote Baronetcy, of Haynes in the County of Devon, was created in the Baronetage of England in 1641 for John Northcote. He represented Ashburton
Ashburton (UK Parliament constituency)
Ashburton was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament at Westminster, for one Parliament in 1298 and regularly from 1640 until it was abolished for the 1868 general election. It was one of three Devon borough constituencies newly enfranchised in the Long...
, Devon
Devon (UK Parliament constituency)
Devon was a parliamentary constituency covering the county of Devon in England. It was represented by two Knights of the Shire, in the House of Commons of England until 1707, then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and finally the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from...
and Barnstaple
Barnstaple (UK Parliament constituency)
Barnstaple was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Barnstaple in Devon, in the South West of England. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1885, when its representation was reduced to one member.The constituency...
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...
. His grandson, the third Baronet (who succeeded his father), died childless in 1709 and was succeeded by his younger brother, the fourth Baronet. He was a Medical Doctor. His son, the fifth Baronet, 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 Exeter
Exeter (UK Parliament constituency)
Exeter is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
. His great-great-grandson was the aforementioned eighth Baronet, who was elevated to the peerage in 1885.
Two other members of the Northcote family have also gained distinction. The Hon. Henry Northcote
Henry Northcote, 1st Baron Northcote
Henry Stafford Northcote, 1st Baron Northcote GCMG, GCIE, CB, PC , known as Sir Henry Northcote, Bt, between 1887 and 1900, was a Conservative politician and colonial administrator...
, second son of the first Earl, was created Baron Northcote in 1899 and served as Governor-General of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
from 1904 to 1908. Sir Geoffrey Northcote, Governor of Hong Kong
Governor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
from 1937 to 1941, was the son of Reverend the Hon. Arthur Francis Northcote, fourth son of the first Earl.
The title of the earldom is pronounced "Idsly" while the family surname is pronounced "Northcut".
The original seat of the family in the reign of King Henry I
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
was Northcote Manor near Tiverton in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, however this had passed out of the possession of the family by the time of King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
. The Baronet's seat was Hayne, whilst the 5th Baronet married the heiress of Stafford, of Pynes. Both Hayne and Pynes are near Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
in Devon. Pynes was recently sold, and the present Earl lives at Hayne.
Northcote Baronets, of Hayne (1641)
- Sir John Northcote, 1st BaronetSir John Northcote, 1st BaronetSir John Northcote, 1st Baronet , of Hayne in Devon, was an English Member of Parliament.Educated at Exeter College, Oxford and a member of the Inner Temple, Northcote was High Sheriff of Devon in 1627. In late 1640 or early 1641, he entered Parliament for the newly re-established borough of...
(1600–1676) - Sir Arthur Northcote, 2nd Baronet (1628–1688)
- Sir Francis Northcote, 3rd Baronet (1659–1709)
- Sir Henry Northcote, 4th Baronet (1667–1730)
- Sir Henry Northcote, 5th BaronetSir Henry Northcote, 5th BaronetSir Henry Northcote, 5th Baronet , English politician, was a member of a family which had long been settled in Devon, tracing their descent from Galfridas de Nordcote who settled there in 1103....
(1710–1743) - Sir Stafford Northcote, 6th Baronet (1736–1770)
- Sir Stafford Henry Northcote, 7th Baronet (1762–1851)
- Henry Stafford Northcote (1792–1850)
- Sir Stafford Henry Northcote, 8th Baronet (1818–1887) (created Earl of Iddesleigh in 1885)
Earls of Iddesleigh (1885)
- Stafford Henry Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh (1818–1887)
- Walter Stafford Northcote, 2nd Earl of Iddesleigh (1845–1927)
- Stafford Harry Northcote, Viscount St Cyres (1869–1926)
- Henry Stafford Northcote, 3rd Earl of Iddesleigh (1901–1970)
- Stafford Henry Northcote, 4th Earl of Iddesleigh (1932–2004)
- John Stafford Northcote, 5th Earl of Iddesleigh (b. 1957)
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 only son Thomas Stafford Northcote, Viscount St Cyres (b. 1985)