James Stopford, 4th Earl of Courtown
Encyclopedia
James Thomas Stopford, 4th Earl of Courtown (27 March 1794 – 20 November 1858), known as Viscount Stopford from 1810 to 1835, was an Anglo-Irish
peer
and Tory
Member of Parliament
.
Courtown was the third but eldest surviving son of James Stopford, 3rd Earl of Courtown
, and his wife Lady Mary (née Scott), and was educated at Christ Church, Oxford
. He was elected to the House of Commons
for County Wexford in 1820, a seat he held until 1830. In 1835 he succeeded his father in the earldom and entered the House of Lords
. He also served as High Sheriff of County Wexford
in 1833 and as Custos Rotulorum
of County Wexford from 1845 to 1858.
Lord Courtown married firstly his first cousin Lady Charlotte Albina, daughter of Charles Montagu-Scott, 4th Duke of Buccleuch
, in 1822. They had one son. After her death in February 1828, aged 28, he married secondly Dora, daughter of Edward Pennefather, in 1850. They had three sons of whom the two youngest gained distinction. The Hon. Sir Frederick Stopford
was a Lieutenant-General in the Army and the Hon. Walter George Stopford (1855–1918) was a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy
. Lord Courtown died in November 1858, aged 64, and was succeeded in the earldom by his son from his first marriage, James. Lady Courtown survived her husband by just over a year and died in December 1859.
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
and Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
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,...
.
Courtown was the third but eldest surviving son of James Stopford, 3rd Earl of Courtown
James Stopford, 3rd Earl of Courtown
James George Stopford, 3rd Earl of Courtown KP, PC , known as Viscount Stopford from 1770 to 1810, was an Anglo-Irish peer and Tory politician....
, and his wife Lady Mary (née Scott), and was educated at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
. He was elected to 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...
for County Wexford in 1820, a seat he held until 1830. In 1835 he succeeded his father in the earldom and entered 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....
. He also served as High Sheriff of County Wexford
High Sheriff of Wexford
The High Sheriff of Wexford was the British Crown’s judicial representative in County Wexford, Ireland from the 16th century until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Irish Free State and replaced by the office of Wexford County Sheriff. The sheriff had judicial, electoral, ceremonial...
in 1833 and as Custos Rotulorum
Custos rotulorum
Custos rotulorum is the keeper of an English county's records and, by virtue of that office, the highest civil officer in the county...
of County Wexford from 1845 to 1858.
Lord Courtown married firstly his first cousin Lady Charlotte Albina, daughter of Charles Montagu-Scott, 4th Duke of Buccleuch
Charles Montagu-Scott, 4th Duke of Buccleuch
Charles William Henry Montagu-Scott, 4th Duke of Buccleuch & 6th Duke of Queensberry, KT was the son of Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch and Lady Elizabeth Montagu...
, in 1822. They had one son. After her death in February 1828, aged 28, he married secondly Dora, daughter of Edward Pennefather, in 1850. They had three sons of whom the two youngest gained distinction. The Hon. Sir Frederick Stopford
Frederick Stopford
Lieutenant General Sir Frederick William Stopford, KCB, KCMG, KCVO was a British Army officer.-Military career:...
was a Lieutenant-General in the Army and the Hon. Walter George Stopford (1855–1918) 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...
. Lord Courtown died in November 1858, aged 64, and was succeeded in the earldom by his son from his first marriage, James. Lady Courtown survived her husband by just over a year and died in December 1859.