Earl of Marlborough
Encyclopedia
Earl of Marlborough is a title that has been created twice, both times in the Peerage of England
. The first creation came on 5 February 1626 in favour of James Ley, 1st Baron Ley
, Lord Chief Justice and Lord High Treasurer
. He had already been created a Baronet, of Westbury in the County of Wiltshire, in the Baronetage of England in 1619 and Baron Ley, of Ley in the County of Devon, on 31 December 1624, also in the Peerage of England. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He served as Custos Rotulorum of Somerset
. In 1628, one year before he succeeded his father in the earldom, he was summoned to the House of Lords
through a writ of acceleration
as Baron Ley. He was succeeded by his only son, the third Earl. He was a naval commander and was killed at the Battle of Lowestoft
in 1665. He was unmarried and was succeeded by his uncle, the fourth Earl. The titles became extinct on the latter's death in 1679.
The second creation came on 9 April 1689, when John Churchill, 1st Baron Churchill
, was created Earl of Marlborough, in the County of Wiltshire, for his role in the Glorious Revolution
. He was subsequently created Duke of Marlborough, and the earldom has since descended with the dukedom.
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....
. The first creation came on 5 February 1626 in favour of James Ley, 1st Baron Ley
James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough
James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough was Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland and then in England; he was an English Member of Parliament and was Lord High Treasurer from 1624 to 1628. On 31 December 1624, James I created him Baron Ley, of Ley in the County of Devon, and on 5 February...
, Lord Chief Justice and Lord High Treasurer
Lord High Treasurer
The post of Lord High Treasurer or Lord Treasurer was an English government position and has been a British government position since the Act of Union of 1707. A holder of the post would be the third highest ranked Great Officer of State, below the Lord High Chancellor and above the Lord President...
. He had already been created a Baronet, of Westbury in the County of Wiltshire, in the Baronetage of England in 1619 and Baron Ley, of Ley in the County of Devon, on 31 December 1624, also in the Peerage of England. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He served as Custos Rotulorum of Somerset
Custos Rotulorum of Somerset
This is a list of people who have served as Custos Rotulorum of Somerset.* Sir William Portman bef. 1554–1557* Sir Hugh Paulet bef. 1558–1573* Sir Amias Paulet bef. 1577–1588* Sir John Popham bef. 1594–1607...
. In 1628, one year before he succeeded his father in the earldom, 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...
as Baron Ley. He was succeeded by his only son, the third Earl. He was a naval commander and was killed at the Battle of Lowestoft
Battle of Lowestoft
The naval Battle of Lowestoft took place on 13 June 1665 during the Second Anglo-Dutch War.A fleet of more than a hundred ships of the United Provinces commanded by Lieutenant-Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam attacked an English fleet of equal size commanded by James Stuart, Duke of York forty...
in 1665. He was unmarried and was succeeded by his uncle, the fourth Earl. The titles became extinct on the latter's death in 1679.
The second creation came on 9 April 1689, when John Churchill, 1st Baron Churchill
Duke of Marlborough
Duke of Marlborough , is a hereditary title in the Peerage of England. The first holder of the title was John Churchill , the noted English general, and indeed an unqualified reference to the Duke of Marlborough in a historical text will almost certainly refer to him.-History:The dukedom was...
, was created Earl of Marlborough, in the County of Wiltshire, for his role in the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
. He was subsequently created Duke of Marlborough, and the earldom has since descended with the dukedom.
Earls of Marlborough; First creation (1626)
- James Ley, 1st Earl of MarlboroughJames Ley, 1st Earl of MarlboroughJames Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough was Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland and then in England; he was an English Member of Parliament and was Lord High Treasurer from 1624 to 1628. On 31 December 1624, James I created him Baron Ley, of Ley in the County of Devon, and on 5 February...
(1552–1629) - Henry Ley, 2nd Earl of MarlboroughHenry Ley, 2nd Earl of MarlboroughHenry Ley, 2nd Earl of Marlborough was an English peer and Member of Parliament.Ley was knighted in 1611 by James I. He represented Devizes from 1620 to 1622 and in 1626, and was knight of the shire for Wiltshire in 1625. In 1628, he entered the House of Lords by a writ of acceleration as Baron Ley...
(1595–1638) - James Ley, 3rd Earl of MarlboroughJames Ley, 3rd Earl of MarlboroughJames Ley, 3rd Earl of Marlborough was a British peer and Member of Parliament, styled Lord Ley from 1629 to 1638.He was the only son of Henry Ley, 2nd Earl of Marlborough, whom he succeeded in 1638...
(1618–1665) - William Ley, 4th Earl of Marlborough (1612–1679)
Earls of Marlborough; Second creation (1689)
- see Duke of Marlborough