Earl of Londonderry
Encyclopedia
Earl of Londonderry is a title that has been created three times in the Peerage of Ireland
. The first creation came in 1622 in favour of Thomas Ridgeway, 1st Baron Ridgeway
, who served as Treasurer of Ireland and was involved in the colonisation of Ulster
. He had already been created a Baronet, of Torrington in the County of Devon, in 1611, Lord Ridgeway, Baron of Gallen-Ridgeway, in the Peerage of Ireland, in 1616, and was made Viscount Gallen-Ridgeway at the same time as he was granted the earldom, also in the Peerage of Ireland. The titles became extinct on the death of his great-grandson, the fourth Earl, in 1714.
The second creation came in 1726 in favour of the soldier and politician Thomas Pitt, 1st Baron Londonderry
. He had already been created Baron Londonderry in 1719 and was made Viscount Gallen-Ridgway at the same time as he was granted the earldom, also in the Peerage of Ireland. He was the husband of Lady Frances Ridgeway, daughter and heiress of the fourth Earl of the first creation. A member of the prominent Pitt family, he was the uncle of William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
. His younger son, the third Earl (who succeeded his elder brother), represented Camelford
in Parliament. The titles became extinct on his death in 1765.
The third creation came in 1789 in favour of Robert Stewart, 1st Viscount Castlereagh
. He was created Marquess of Londonderry
in 1816. See the latter title for more information on this creation.
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
. The first creation came in 1622 in favour of Thomas Ridgeway, 1st Baron Ridgeway
Thomas Ridgeway, 1st Earl of Londonderry
Thomas Ridgeway, 1st Earl of Londonderry was an English administrator active in Ireland, in particular in the Ulster Plantation.-Life:...
, who served as Treasurer of Ireland and was involved in the colonisation of Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
. He had already been created a Baronet, of Torrington in the County of Devon, in 1611, Lord Ridgeway, Baron of Gallen-Ridgeway, in the Peerage of Ireland, in 1616, and was made Viscount Gallen-Ridgeway at the same time as he was granted the earldom, also in the Peerage of Ireland. The titles became extinct on the death of his great-grandson, the fourth Earl, in 1714.
The second creation came in 1726 in favour of the soldier and politician Thomas Pitt, 1st Baron Londonderry
Thomas Pitt, 1st Earl of Londonderry
Thomas Innes Pitt, 1st Earl of Londonderry was a British politician. He served as Governor of the Leeward Islands from 1728 to 1729....
. He had already been created Baron Londonderry in 1719 and was made Viscount Gallen-Ridgway at the same time as he was granted the earldom, also in the Peerage of Ireland. He was the husband of Lady Frances Ridgeway, daughter and heiress of the fourth Earl of the first creation. A member of the prominent Pitt family, he was the uncle of William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham PC was a British Whig statesman who led Britain during the Seven Years' War...
. His younger son, the third Earl (who succeeded his elder brother), represented Camelford
Camelford (UK Parliament constituency)
Camelford was a rotten borough in Cornwall which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons in the English and later British Parliament from 1552 to 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act.-History:...
in Parliament. The titles became extinct on his death in 1765.
The third creation came in 1789 in favour of Robert Stewart, 1st Viscount Castlereagh
Robert Stewart, 1st Marquess of Londonderry
Robert Stewart, 1st Marquess of Londonderry PC , was an Irish politician and landowner, the father of politician Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh.-Early life in Dublin:...
. He was created Marquess of Londonderry
Marquess of Londonderry
Marquess of Londonderry is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1816 for Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Londonderry. He had earlier represented County Down in the Irish House of Commons. Stewart had already been created Baron Londonderry in 1789, Viscount Castlereagh in 1795 and Earl...
in 1816. See the latter title for more information on this creation.
Earls of Londonderry; First creation (1622)
- Thomas Ridgeway, 1st Earl of LondonderryThomas Ridgeway, 1st Earl of LondonderryThomas Ridgeway, 1st Earl of Londonderry was an English administrator active in Ireland, in particular in the Ulster Plantation.-Life:...
(c. 1565–1631) - Robert Ridgeway, 2nd Earl of Londonderry (d. 1641)
- Weston Ridgeway, 3rd Earl of Londonderry (1620–1672)
- Robert Ridgeway, 4th Earl of Londonderry (d. 1714)
Earls of Londonderry; Second creation (1726)
- Thomas Pitt, 1st Earl of LondonderryThomas Pitt, 1st Earl of LondonderryThomas Innes Pitt, 1st Earl of Londonderry was a British politician. He served as Governor of the Leeward Islands from 1728 to 1729....
(d. 1729) - Thomas Pitt, 2nd Earl of Londonderry (d. 1734)
- Ridgeway Pitt, 3rd Earl of Londonderry (1722–1765)