Viscount Hereford
Viscount Hereford is a hereditary British title in the Peerage of England . It is the oldest still existing and thus the highest ranking Viscount title in England.
Award, subordinate and other titles
The title was created on February 2, 1550 for Walter Devereux, 10th Baron Ferrers of Chartley . He already held the title Baron Ferrers of Chartley, created in the Peerage of England in 1299 . His grandson, the 2nd Viscount, was elevated to Earl of Essex in the Peerage of England in 1572 . In 1571 he also inherited the title Baron Bourchier, created in the Peerage of England in 1342 . His son, the 2nd Earl, was executed for high treason in 1601 and all his titles were revoked. They were restored in 1604 for his son as the 3rd Earl. When the 3rd Earl died in 1646, the Earldom went out. The baronies Ferrers of Chartley and Bourchier, hereditary as Barony by writ in the female line, fell into Abeyance . The Viscountcy went to Sir Walter Devereux, 2nd Baronet as 5th Viscount Hereford, who already held the Devereux Baronetcy , of Castle Bromwich in the County of Warwick, created in 1611 in the Baronetage of England . His descendants still hold the title today.
List of Viscounts Hereford (1550)
- Walter Devereux, 1st Viscount Hereford (1489–1558)
- Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex , 2nd Viscount Hereford (1539–1576) (promoted to Earl of Essex in 1572 )
- Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex , 3rd Viscount Hereford (1566-1601) (title forfeited 1601)
- Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex , 4th Viscount Hereford (1591-1646) (title restored in 1604; title Earl of Essex expired in 1646)
- Walter Devereux, 5th Viscount Hereford (1578–1658)
- Leicester Devereux, 6th Viscount Hereford (1617–1676)
- Leicester Devereux, 7th Viscount Hereford (1674–1683)
- Edward Devereux, 8th Viscount Hereford (1675-1700)
- Price Devereux, 9th Viscount Hereford (1664-1740)
- Price Devereux, 10th Viscount Hereford (1694-1748)
- Edward Devereux, 11th Viscount Hereford († 1760)
- Edward Devereux, 12th Viscount Hereford (1740–1783)
- George Devereux, 13th Viscount Hereford (1744-1804)
- Henry Devereux, 14th Viscount Hereford (1777–1843)
- Robert Devereux, 15th Viscount Hereford († 1855)
- Robert Devereux, 16th Viscount Hereford (1843-1930)
- Robert Devereux, 17th Viscount Hereford (1865–1952)
- Robert Devereux, 18th Viscount Hereford (1932-2004)
- Robin Devereux, 19th Viscount Hereford (* 1975)
Heir apparent is the eldest son of the current title holder Henry Devereux (* 2015).
See also
Literature and web links
- Charles Kidd, David Williamson (Eds.): Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. St Martin's Press, New York 1990.
- Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page
- Hereford, Viscount (E, 1550) at Cracroft's Peerage