Viscount Hereford

Not to be confused with Earldom of Hereford.

Viscount Hereford is the oldest extant viscountcy in the Peerage of England, making the holder the Premier Viscount of England. The title was created in 1550 for Walter Devereux, 10th Baron Ferrers of Chartley.

Viscountcy of Hereford
Argent, a fess gules in chief three torteaux
Creation date	2 February 1550
Created by	Edward VI
Peerage	Peerage of England
First holder	Walter Devereux, 10th Baron Ferrers of Chartley
Present holder	Robin Devereux, 19th Viscount Hereford
Heir apparent	The Hon. Henry Devereux
Remainder to	Heirs male of the first viscount's body, lawfully begotten
Former seat(s)	Hampton Court Castle Bromwich Hall
Motto	Virtutis comes invidia ("Envy is the attendant of virtue")

Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex and 2nd Viscount Hereford

History

The Devereux (/ˈdɛvəruːks/) family is of French Norman descent and came to England after the Norman conquest in 1066 – this branch lorded over Lyonshall and Bodenham, Herefordshire, as their main estates. Sir Walter Devereux (died 1485) married Anne Ferrers, 8th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley (d. 1469) (see the Baron Ferrers of Chartley for earlier history of this title). He was summoned to Parliament as Lord Ferrers of Chartley in her right. Devereux was killed at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, fighting on the side of King Henry VII. Their son, the eighth Baron, married Cicely, daughter of William Bourchier, Viscount Bourchier, son of Henry Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex and 5th Baron Bourchier) (see the Baron Bourchier for more information on the Bourchier family). He was succeeded by his son, the ninth Baron, who served with distinction in the French Wars of King Henry VIII and was honoured in 1550 when he was created Viscount Hereford in the Peerage of England.

He was succeeded by a grandson, the son of his second son, Hon. Sir Richard Devereux. This latter Walter Devereux was also a prominent soldier during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Lord Hereford was a Field Marshal of the forces sent to quell the Northern Rebellion of 1569 and led an expedition to occupy Ulster in 1573. In 1570, he succeeded his first cousin twice removed as eighth Baron Bourchier in right of his great-grandmother Cecily Bourchier. In 1572, the earldom of Essex held by the Bourchier family (which had become extinct in 1540) was revived when he was created Earl of Essex in the Peerage of England. On his death the titles passed to his son Robert, the second Earl. He was the highly trusted courtier, soldier and favourite of Queen Elizabeth I. However, Lord Essex after many years defied the Queen and tried to raise a rebellion in London. He was condemned to death for high treason and beheaded in the Tower of London on 25 February 1601. His titles were forfeited. However, his son Robert was restored in blood in 1603 and became the third Earl. He later fought as a Parliamentarian in the Civil War, leading the Parliamentary forces against Charles I at the Battle of Edgehill, the first major battle of the Civil War. He died on 14 September 1646 and was buried in Westminster Abbey on the 19 October, both Houses of Parliament attending the funeral. On Lord Essex's death the earldom of Essex became extinct. The barony of Ferrers of Chartley and barony of Bourchier fell into abeyance. leaving the viscountcy alone continuing (extant).

The Hereford viscountcy was inherited by the 4th Viscount's cousin, Sir Walter Devereux, 2nd Baronet, who became the 5th Viscount Hereford. He had previously represented in different parliaments Worcester, Tamworth and Lichfield in the House of Commons.

The titles descended from father to son until the death of his grandson, the seventh Viscount, in 1683. This Viscount died at the age of nine and was succeeded by his younger brother, the eighth Viscount. He died childless at an early age and was succeeded by his second cousin once removed, the ninth Viscount. He was the great-grandson of Sir George Devereux, brother of the fifth Viscount, and had served as Member of Parliament for Montgomery prior to his succession in 1700. He was Lord-Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire 1711–14.

His son, the 10th Viscount, represented Montgomery in Parliament for over 20 years until his succession in 1740. He died without male issue and was succeeded by his kinsman, the 11th Viscount. He was a great-great grandson of Sir George Devereux mentioned.

Lord Hereford was succeeded by his eldest son, the 12th Viscount. He was childless and on his death in 1783 the titles passed to his younger brother, the 13th Viscount, who moved the principal Welsh seat of the viscountcy from Montgomeryshire to Pencoyd in Herefordshire. He was succeeded by his son, the 14th Viscount. He was a Tory politician and served under the Duke of Wellington as Captain of the Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners from 1828 to 1830 and under Sir Robert Peel as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms from 1834 to 1835.

The 15th Viscount, the Reverend Robert, was an Hon. Canon of Durham. Then Robert Devereux, 16th Viscount Hereford succeeded in 1855; educated at Eton College and at Royal Military College, Sandhurst; he was a Justice of the peace, & Deputy lieutenant for Brecon, & JP for Hereford & Radnor. From 1924, the 17th Viscount resided at Hampton Court, Herefordshire, which was sold by his grandson, the 18th Viscount, in 1972. The 18th Viscount instead chose to make his home at Haseley Court, Oxfordshire, which he relinquished in 1982, when he settled at Lyford Cay, near Nassau, in the Bahamas.

The titles are held by the 19th Viscount, who succeeded his father in 2004.

The Devereux baronetcy, of Castle Bromwich in the County of Warwick, was created in the Baronetage of England in 1611 for the Hon. Edward Devereux, seated at Castle Bromwich Hall, landowner and the fourth son of the first Viscount Hereford. He had briefly served Tamworth in the House of Commons. His eldest son succeeded his first cousin twice removed downwards as fifth Viscount Hereford in 1646.

The viscountcy of Hereford is the senior viscountcy in the Peerage of England. The Viscount Hereford is also the only one of the English Viscounts who does not hold a higher title.

Viscounts Hereford (1550)

Arms of John Devereux from the Gelre Armorial, folio 59r

• Walter Devereux, 1st Viscount Hereford (1489–1558)
  • Hon. Sir Richard Devereux (died 1547)
    • Walter Devereux, 2nd Viscount Hereford (1539–1576) (created Earl of Essex in 1572)
  • Sir William Devereux of Mirevale Abbey
  • Henry Devereux
  • Hon. Edward Devereux created 1st Baronet see below

Earls of Essex (1572)

• Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex, 2nd Viscount Hereford (1539–1576) (see above)
• Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, 3rd Viscount Hereford (1566–1601)
• Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, 4th Viscount Hereford (1591–1646)
  • Robert Devereux, Viscount Hereford (1632 – c. 1638)

Viscounts Hereford (1550; reverted)

• 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 (c. 1710 – 1760)
• Edward Devereux, 12th Viscount Hereford (1740–1783)
• George Devereux, 13th Viscount Hereford (1744–1804)
• Henry Devereux, 14th Viscount Hereford (1777–1843)
  • Hon. Henry Cornewall Devereux (1807–1839)
• Robert Devereux, 15th Viscount Hereford (1809–1855)
• Robert Devereux, 16th Viscount Hereford (1843–1930)
• Robert Charles Devereux, 17th Viscount Hereford (1865–1952)
  • Hon. Robert Godfrey de Bohun Devereux (1894–1934)
• Robert Milo Leicester Devereux, 18th Viscount Hereford (1932–2004)
• (Charles) Robin de Bohun Devereux, 19th Viscount Hereford (born 1975)

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, the Hon. Henry Walter de Bohun Devereux (born 2015).

Devereux baronets, of Castle Bromwich (1611)

• Sir Edward Devereux, 1st Baronet of Castle Bromwich (c. 1550 – 1622)
  • Sir Walter Devereux, 2nd Baronet (1578–1658) (succeeded as Viscount Hereford in 1646)

Family tree

Family tree of the Earls of Essex, Earls of Hereford, and Viscounts Hereford

Godwin c. 1001–1053 Earl of Wessex Earl of Hereford (1st creation), 1043 Earl of Hereford (3rd creation), 1058 Earl of Hereford (2nd creation), 1052 Earl of Hereford (4th creation), 1067 Sweyn Godwinson 1020–1052 Earl of Hereford Harold Godwinson (c. 1022–1066) Earl of Hereford, King of the English William de Mandeville (d. before 1130) Ralph the Timid d. 1057 Earl of Hereford William FitzOsbern 1011–1071 1st Earl of Hereford Earldom of Hereford (1st creation) forfeit, 1051 Earldom of Hereford (3rd creation) extinct, 1066 Earldom of Hereford (2nd creation) extinct, 1057 Earl of Essex (1st creation), 1140 Earl of Hereford (5th creation), 1141 William de Say I Beatrice ("Beatrix") de Say d. 1197 Geoffrey de Mandeville d. 1144 1st Earl of Essex Roger de Breteuil 1058– after 1087 2nd Earl of Hereford Miles of Gloucester d. 1143 1st Earl of Hereford Earldom of Hereford (4th creation) forfeit, 1074 William de Say II d. 1184 Geoffrey de Saye I d. 1214 Geoffrey de Mandeville d. 1166 2nd Earl of Essex William de Mandeville d. 1189 3rd Earl of Essex Margaret of Hereford 1122/1123–1197 Roger Fitzmiles before 1125–1155 2nd Earl of Hereford Earldom of Essex (1st creation) extinct, 1189 Earldom of Hereford (5th creation) extinct, 1155 Earl of Essex (2nd creation), 1199 Geoffrey Fitz Peter c. 1162–1213 1st Earl of Essex Beatrice de Say Geoffrey de Saye II 1155–1230 Hawise ("Alice") de Clare Humphrey III de Bohun before 1144–1181 Earl of Hereford (6th creation), 1199 Geoffrey FitzGeoffrey de Mandeville c. 1191–1216 2nd Earl of Essex William FitzGeoffrey de Mandeville d. 1227 3rd Earl of Essex Maud FitzGeoffrey Maud de Mandeville Henry de Bohun 1176–1220 1st Earl of Hereford Earldom of Essex (2nd creation) extinct, 1227 Earl of Essex (3rd creation), 1239 Humphrey de Bohun 1204–1275 1st Earl of Essex, 2nd Earl of Hereford Humphrey de Bohun d. 1265 Edward I 1239–1307 King of England Humphrey de Bohun c. 1249–1298 2nd Earl of Essex, 3rd Earl of Hereford Edward II 1284–1327 King of England Elizabeth of Rhuddlan 1282–1316 Humphrey de Bohun 1276–1322 3rd Earl of Essex, 4th Earl of Hereford Edward III 1312–1377 King of England John de Bohun 1306–1336 4th Earl of Essex, 5th Earl of Hereford Humphrey de Bohun 1309–1361 5th Earl of Essex, 6th Earl of Hereford William de Bohun c. 1312–1360 1st Earl of Northampton Humphrey de Bohun 1342–1373 6th Earl of Essex, 7th Earl of Hereford Earldom of Essex (3rd creation) and Earldom of Hereford (6th creation) extinct, 1373 Earl of Essex (4th creation), 1376 Thomas of Woodstock 1355–1397 Earl of Essex Eleanor de Bohun c. 1366–1399 Mary de Bohun c. 1369/1370–1394 Henry IV 1367–1413 King of England Earldom of Essex (4th creation) forfeit, 1397 William Bourchier 1374–1420 Anne of Gloucester 1383–1438 Earl of Essex (5th creation), 1461 Henry Bourchier c. 1404/1406–1483 1st Earl of Essex William Bourchier d. 1480 Viscount Bourchier Anne Woodville 1438–1489 Elizabeth Woodville c. 1437–1492 Edward IV 1442–1483 King of England John Devereux c. 1464–1501 9th Baron Ferrers of Chartley Cecily Bourchier (died c. 1492/1493) Henry Bourchier c. 1467/80–1540 2nd Earl of Essex Elizabeth of York 1466–1503 Thomas Parr 1478–1517 Earldom of Essex (5th creation) forfeit 1540 Viscount Hereford Earl of Essex (6th creation), 1540 Walter Devereux 1488–1558 1st Viscount Hereford, 10th Baron Ferrers of Chartley Thomas Cromwell 1485–1540 Earl of Essex Henry VIII 1491–1547 King of England Earldom of Essex (6th creation) forfeit, 1540 Earl of Essex (7th creation), 1543 Richard Devereux c. 1513–1547 Catherine Parr 1512–1548 William Parr 1513–1571 Marquess of Northampton, Earl of Essex Earldom of Essex (7th creation) forfeit 1553, restored 1559, extinct 1571 Earl of Essex (8th creation), 1572 Devereux Baronet of Castle Bromwich, 1611 Walter Devereux 1541–1576 1st Earl of Essex, 2nd Viscount Hereford Edward Devereux c. 1550–1622 1st Baronet Robert Devereux 1565–1601 2nd Earl of Essex, 3rd Viscount Hereford Walter Devereux 1578–1658 5th Viscount Hereford, 2nd Baronet George Devereux c. 1581–1665 Earldom of Essex forfeit, 1601 Earldom of Essex (8th creation) restored, 1604 Baron Capell of Hadham, 1641 Robert Devereux 1591–1646 3rd Earl of Essex, 4th Viscount Hereford Arthur Capell 1604–1649 1st Baron Capell of Hadham Leicester Devereux 1617–1676 6th Viscount Hereford, 3rd Baronet Earldom of Essex (8th creation) extinct, 1646 Earl of Essex (9th creation) and Viscount Malden, 1661 Baron Capell of Tewkesbury in the County of Gloucester, 1692 Arthur Capell 1631–1683 2nd Baron Capell of Hadham 1st Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Henry Capell 1638–1696 Baron Capell of Tewkesbury Price Devereux c. 1637–1673 Vaughan Devereux d. 1700 Barony Capell of Tewkesbury extinct, 1696 Algernon Capell 1670–1710 2nd Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Leicester Devereux 1674–1683 7th Viscount Hereford, 4th Baronet Edward Devereux 1675–1700 8th Viscount Hereford, 5th Baronet Price Devereux 1664–1740 9th Viscount Hereford, 6th Baronet Arthur Devereux d. 1711 William Capell 1697–1743 3rd Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Price Devereux 1694–1748 10th Viscount Hereford, 7th Baronet Edward Devereux c. 1710–1760 11th Viscount Hereford, 8th Baronet Frances Hanbury-Williams c. 1735–1759 William Capell 1732–1799 4th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Harriet Bladen 1735–1821 Edward Devereux 1740–1783 12th Viscount Hereford, 9th Baronet George Devereux 1744–1804 13th Viscount Hereford, 10th Baronet George Capel-Coningsby 1757–1839 5th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden John Thomas Capell 1769–1819 Henry Fleming Lea Devereux 1777–1843 14th Viscount Hereford, 11th Baronet Arthur Algernon Capell 1803–1892 6th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Algernon Capell 1807–1886 Adolphus Capell 1813–1899 Henry Devereux 1807–1839 Robert Devereux 1809–1855 15th Viscount Hereford, 12th Baronet Arthur de Vere Capell 1826–1879 styled Viscount Malden Charles Capell 1845–1924 Horatio Bladen Capell 1839–1933 Robert Devereux 1843–1930 16th Viscount Hereford, 13th Baronet George Devereux de Vere Capell 1857–1916 7th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Arthur Algernon de Vere Capell 1891–1950 Horace Charles George Arthur Capell 1868–1953 Algernon Essex Capell 1869–1952 Henry Addison Devereux Capell 1873–1925 Robert Charles Devereux 1865–1952 17th Viscount Hereford, 14th Baronet Algernon George de Vere Capell 1884–1966 8th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Bladen Ozro Capell 1897–1959 Algernon Arthur Capell Robert Capell Sixth in line to the Earldom of Essex Robert Devereux 1894–1934 Earldom of Essex (9th creation) revived, 1989 Reginald George de Vere Capell 1906–1981 9th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Robert Edward de Vere Capell 1920–2005 10th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Bladen Horace Capell 1922–1978 Colin Capell Robert Milo Leicester Devereux 1932–2004 18th Viscount Hereford, 15th Baronet Earldom of Essex (9th creation) dormant, 1981 Frederick Paul de Vere Capell b. 1944 11th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden William Jennings "Bill" Capell b. 1952 Heir presumptive to the Earldom of Essex Clint Capell Third in line to the Earldom of Essex Craig Capell Fourth in line to the Earldom of Essex Kevin Capell b. 1982 Second in line to the Earldom of Essex Dylan Capell Fifth in line to the Earldom of Essex Charles Robin de Bohun Devereux b. 1975 19th Viscount Hereford, 16th Baronet Henry Devereux b. 2015 Heir apparent to the Hereford Viscountcy

Arms

Coat of arms of Viscount Hereford

Coronet A Coronet of a Viscount Crest Out of a Ducal Coronet Or a Talbot's Head Argent eared Gules Escutcheon Argent a Fess Gules in chief three Torteaux Supporters Dexter: a Talbot Argent eared Gules ducally gorged of the Last; Sinister: a Reindeer Proper horned ducally gorged and lined Or Motto Virtutis Comes Invidia ("Envy is the attendant of virtue")

See also

• Baron Bourchier
• Baron Ferrers of Chartley
• Earl of Essex
• Lord Hereford's Knob, part of the Black Mountains of southeast Wales

References

Work cited

• Hesilrige, Arthur G. M. (1921). Debrett's Peerage and Titles of courtesy. 160A, Fleet street, London, UK: Dean & Son. p. 468.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Herefordshire" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 355. Edward VI. created Walter Devereux...Viscount Hereford, in 1550...Since this date the viscounty has been held by the Devereux family, and the holder ranks as the premier viscount of England - pages 355–358, see 357.
• Mosley (2003). Charles (ed.). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage. Vol. 2, 3 (107th ed.). Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003). p. 1875. ISBN 0-9711966-2-1. Bernard Burke, pages 1875-1878
• Redmond, Gabriel O'C (1891). An account of the Anglo-Norman family of Devereux, of Balmagir, county Wexford. Mabbot-Street, Dublin: Office of the 'Irish builder. p. 1. ISBN 9785873084579. pages; 1-5
• Cokayne, George Edward (1900). Complete baronetage. Vol. 1. 39 & 40 North street, Exeter, UK: William Pollart & co ltd. p. 112 – via archive.org. Original text, 1611-1625, page;112{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Robert Milo Leicester Devereux, 18th Viscount Hereford