James Wood, Lord Irwin
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Earl of Halifax is a title that has been created four times in British history—once in the
Peerage of England The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. From that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were closed to new creations, and new peers were created in a single Peerag ...
, twice in the
Peerage of Great Britain The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain between the Acts of Union 1707 and the Acts of Union 1800. It replaced the Peerage of England and the Peerage of Scotland, but was itself repla ...
, and once in the
Peerage of the United Kingdom The Peerage of the United Kingdom is one of the five peerages in the United Kingdom. It comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Acts of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great B ...
. The name of the peerage refers to the town of Halifax in
West Yorkshire West Yorkshire is a Metropolitan counties of England, metropolitan and Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and east, South Yorkshire and De ...
. The first and fourth creations were elevations for the holders of the first and second creations of the title Viscount Halifax. The holder of the first creation was later granted the title
Marquess of Halifax The title Marquess of Halifax was created in the Peerage of England in 1682 for the George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax, George Savile, 1st Earl of Halifax. He had previously been created Baron Savile, of Elland in the County of York, Viscount ...
. The second and third creations were for closely related male members of the Montagu family,
landed gentry The landed gentry, or the gentry (sometimes collectively known as the squirearchy), is a largely historical Irish and British social class of landowners who could live entirely from rental income, or at least had a country estate. It is t ...
since the
Norman Conquest The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Normans, Norman, French people, French, Flemish people, Flemish, and Bretons, Breton troops, all led by the Du ...
, and spanned most of the years 1689–1771. The fourth creation was in 1944 for
Lord Halifax Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax (16 April 1881 – 23 December 1959), known as the Lord Irwin from 1925 until 1934 and the Viscount Halifax from 1934 until 1944, was a British Conservative politician of the 1930s. He h ...
, the former
viceroy of India The governor-general of India (1833 to 1950, from 1858 to 1947 the viceroy and governor-general of India, commonly shortened to viceroy of India) was the representative of the monarch of the United Kingdom in their capacity as the Emperor of ...
(who was the 3rd Viscount Halifax before his elevation to the earldom). He was a prominent 1930s minister, who declined the possibility of becoming Prime Minister on the resignation of Chamberlain, in favour of Churchill.


History of the title


1679 creation

The first creation, in the Peerage of England in 1679, was for George Savile, 1st Viscount Halifax. He had already been made Baron Savile of Elland and Viscount Halifax in 1668, and was later made Marquess of Halifax (this creation of the earldom became extinct in 1700; see
Marquess of Halifax The title Marquess of Halifax was created in the Peerage of England in 1682 for the George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax, George Savile, 1st Earl of Halifax. He had previously been created Baron Savile, of Elland in the County of York, Viscount ...
for more information).


1714 and 1715 creations

The title was recreated in 1714 for Charles Montagu, 1st Baron Halifax,
First Lord of the Treasury The First Lord of the Treasury is the head of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury exercising the ancient office of Lord High Treasurer in the United Kingdom. Traditional convention holds that the office of First Lord is held by the Prime Mi ...
to
George I George I or 1 may refer to: People * Patriarch George I of Alexandria (fl. 621–631) * George I of Constantinople (d. 686) * George of Beltan (d. 790) * George I of Abkhazia (ruled 872/3–878/9) * George I of Georgia (d. 1027) * Yuri Dolgoruk ...
, along with the courtesy title of Viscount Sunbury. Both titles were created with remainder to heirs male. A member of the prominent Montagu family, he was the son of George Montagu, younger son of
Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester (7 November 1642) was an English judge, politician and peer. He is mainly remembered today as the judge who sentenced Sir Walter Raleigh to death. Life He was the 3rd son of Edward Montagu of Boughton and ...
(see the
Duke of Manchester Duke of Manchester is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain, and the current senior title of the House of Montagu. It was created in 1719 for the politician Charles Montagu, 4th Earl of Manchester. Manchester Parish in Jamaica was named aft ...
article). Montagu had already been created Baron Halifax, of Halifax in the County of York, in 1700, with remainder, failing heirs male of his own, to his nephew George, son and heir of his brother Edward Montagu. On Lord Halifax's death in 1715 the viscountcy and earldom became extinct. He was succeeded in the barony according to the special remainder by his nephew George Montagu. Less than a month after his uncle's death, both titles were revived in his favour, making him Earl of Halifax and Viscount Sunbury. He was succeeded by his son, the second Earl, who was a prominent statesman. However, on his death in 1771 all the titles became extinct.


1944 creation

The title was created for a fourth time in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1944 for Edward Wood, 3rd Viscount Halifax, the former Foreign Secretary and former
Viceroy of India The governor-general of India (1833 to 1950, from 1858 to 1947 the viceroy and governor-general of India, commonly shortened to viceroy of India) was the representative of the monarch of the United Kingdom in their capacity as the Emperor of ...
. The Wood family descends from Francis Wood, of
Barnsley Barnsley () is a market town in South Yorkshire, England. It is the main settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley and the fourth largest settlement in South Yorkshire. The town's population was 71,422 in 2021, while the wider boroug ...
. His second son, Francis Wood, was created a
baronet A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14th ...
, of Barnsley in the County of York, in 1784, with remainder to his elder brother, the Reverend Henry Wood, and failing him to the sons of his younger brother, Charles Wood (who had died two years earlier). He was succeeded according to the special remainder by his nephew, the second Baronet (the son of Charles Wood). His son, the third Baronet, was a prominent Liberal politician and served as
Chancellor of the Exchequer The chancellor of the exchequer, often abbreviated to chancellor, is a senior minister of the Crown within the Government of the United Kingdom, and the head of HM Treasury, His Majesty's Treasury. As one of the four Great Offices of State, t ...
from 1846 to 1852, during which he became notorious for the policies he followed during the Great Famine in
Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
. In 1866 he was created Viscount Halifax, of Monk Bretton in the West Riding of the County of York, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. His aforementioned grandson, the third Viscount, was also a noted politician. In 1925, nine years before he succeeded his father, he was himself raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Baron Irwin, of Kirby Underdale in the County of York. In 1944 he was further honoured when he was made Earl of Halifax. the titles are held by his grandson, the third Earl, who succeeded his father in 1980. Another member of the Wood family was the
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
politician
Richard Wood, Baron Holderness Richard Frederick Wood, Baron Holderness, (5 October 1920 – 11 August 2002), was a British Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician who held numerous ministerial positions from 1955 to 1974. He was distinctive in having lost both hi ...
. He was the second son of the first Earl of Halifax. The dynastic
motto A motto (derived from the Latin language, Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian language, Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a Sentence (linguistics), sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of a ...
is "I like my choice", originally "Perseverando" (
Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
for "Persevering"), changed after the 1st Earl's decision to abandon his office in the household of the Prince of Wales. The family seat is Garrowby Hall, near Garrowby in the
East Riding of Yorkshire The East Riding of Yorkshire, often abbreviated to the East Riding or East Yorkshire, is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and west, S ...
.


Earl of Halifax, first creation


Viscount Halifax, first creation (1668)

* George Savile, 1st Viscount Halifax (1633–1695) (created Earl of Halifax in 1679)


Earl of Halifax (1679)

* George Savile, 1st Earl of Halifax (1633–1695) (created Marquess of Halifax in 1682)


Marquess of Halifax (1682)

*
George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax, (11 November 1633 – 5 April 1695) was an English statesman and writer who sat in the House of Commons of England in 1660 before ascending to the House of Lords after he was raised to the peerage in 1668 ...
(1633–1695) *
William Savile, 2nd Marquess of Halifax William Savile, 2nd Marquess of Halifax (1665 – 31 August 1700), was the son of George Savile, 1st Viscount Halifax and Dorothy Savile, Viscountess Halifax (née Spencer). He was educated in Geneva in 1677 and matriculated at Christ Church, O ...
(1665–1700)


Earl of Halifax, second and third creations


Baron Halifax (1700)

* Charles Montagu, 1st Baron Halifax (1661–1715) (created Earl of Halifax in 1714)


Earl of Halifax (1714)

*
Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax (16 April 1661 – 19 May 1715) was an England, English statesman and poet. He was the grandson of the Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester, 1st Earl of Manchester and was eventually ennobled himself, firs ...
(1661–1715)


Baron Halifax (1700; reverted)

* George Montagu, 2nd Baron Halifax (1685–1739) (created Earl of Halifax in 1715)


Earl of Halifax (1715)

*
George Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax George Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax (also spelt George Montague) (9 May 1739), of Horton, Northamptonshire, was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1705 to 1715 when he became a peer. Early life Montagu was the son of ...
(1685–1739) *
George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax (6 October 1716 – 8 June 1771) was a British statesman of the Georgian era. Due to his success in extending commerce in the Americas, he became known as the "father of the colonies". President of the B ...
(1716–1771)


Title succession chart

See also: Montagu family tree


Earl of Halifax, fourth creation


Wood baronets, of Barnsley (1784)

* Sir Francis Wood, 1st Baronet (1729–1795) * Sir Francis Lindley Wood, 2nd Baronet (1771–1846) * Sir Charles Wood, 3rd Baronet (1800–1885) (created Viscount Halifax in 1866)


Viscount Halifax, second creation (1866)

*
Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax (20 December 1800 – 8 August 1885), known as Sir Charles Wood, 3rd Baronet, between 1846 and 1866, was a British Whigs (British political party), Whig politician and Member of the Parliament. He was Chancel ...
(1800–1885) * Charles Lindley Wood, 2nd Viscount Halifax (1839–1934) * Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 3rd Viscount Halifax (1881–1959) (created Baron Irwin in 1925 and Earl of Halifax in 1944)


Earl of Halifax (1944)

* Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax (1881–1959) * Charles Ingram Courtenay Wood, 2nd Earl of Halifax (1912–1980) * (Charles Edward) Peter Neil Wood, 3rd Earl of Halifax (born 1944) The
heir apparent An heir apparent is a person who is first in the order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person. A person who is first in the current order of succession but could be displaced by the birth of a more e ...
is the present holder's only son, James Charles Wood, Lord Irwin (born 1977).
The heir apparent's heir apparent is his only son, Hon. Rex Patrick Wood (born 2010).


Title succession chart


Line of succession

''Only the first three in the line of succession are in remainder to the earldom and its subsidiary titles. All in the line of succession are in remainder to the earlier created viscountcy and its subsidiary titles.'' * ''
Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax (20 December 1800 – 8 August 1885), known as Sir Charles Wood, 3rd Baronet, between 1846 and 1866, was a British Whigs (British political party), Whig politician and Member of the Parliament. He was Chancel ...
(1800–1885)'' ** '' Charles Lindley Wood, 2nd Viscount Halifax (1839–1934)'' *** '' Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax (1881–1959)'' **** '' Charles Ingram Courtenay Wood, 2nd Earl of Halifax (1912–1980)'' ***** (Charles Edward) Peter Neil Wood, 3rd Earl of Halifax (born 1944) ****** (1) James Charles Wood, ''Lord Irwin'' (born 1977) ******* (2) ''Hon.'' Rex Patrick Wood (born 2010) **** '' Richard Frederick Wood, Baron Holderness (1920–2002)'' ***** (3) ''Hon.'' Edward Orlando Charles Wood (born 1951) ** ''Hon. Frederick George Lindley Meynell (1846–1910)'' *** ''Col. Francis Hugo Lindley Meynell (1880–1941)'' **** ''Col. Hugo Meynell (1909–1960)'' ***** ''Nicholas Edward Hugo Meynell (1937–1988)'' ****** (4) Hugo Graham Nicholas Meynell (born 1970) ****** (5) Alexander Frederick Miles Meynell (born 1972) ***** ''David Christian Francis Meynell (1940–2001)'' ****** (6) Charles Christian George Meynell (born 1964) ******* (7) Cosmo Frederick Charles Meynell (born 1995) ******* (8) Felix Meynell ******* (9) Hector Edward Hugo Meynell (born 2005) **** ''Rev. Mark Meynell (1914–2006)'' ***** (10) Christopher Mark Meynell (born 1941) ****** (11) Rev. Mark John Henry Meynell (born 1970) ****** (12) Guy Francis Meynell (born 1973) ***** (13) Rev. Andrew Francis Meynell (born 1943) ****** (14) Aidan Jonathan Charles Meynell (born 1974) ***** (15) Peter John Meynell (born 1947) ****** (16) Marten Charles Meynell (born 1977) *** ''Capt. Charles Wilfred Lindley Meynell (1890–1976)'' **** ''Richard Walter Meynell (1923–2010)'' ***** (17) Anthony Charles Meynell (born 1952) ****** (18) Wilfrid Meynell (born 1986) ***** (19) Charles Humphrey Meynell (born 1954)


References


Sources

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Halifax Extinct earldoms in the Peerage of England Extinct earldoms in the Peerage of Great Britain Earldoms in the Peerage of the United Kingdom * Wood family 1679 establishments in England Noble titles created in 1679 Noble titles created in 1714 Noble titles created in 1715 Noble titles created in 1944 Peerages created for UK MPs