Viscount Hereford is the oldest extant viscountcy 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 ...

, making the holder the Premier Viscount of England. The title was created in 1550 for Walter Devereux, 10th Baron Ferrers of Chartley.

History

The Devereux () family is of French Norman descent and came to

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

after 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 ...

in 1066 – this branch lorded over Lyonshall and Bodenham,

Herefordshire Herefordshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England, bordered by Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south-east, and the Welsh ...

, 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 The Battle of Bosworth or Bosworth Field ( ) was the last significant battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the houses of Lancaster and York that extended across England in the latter half of the 15th century. Fought on 22 ...

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 Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disagreement w ...

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 Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudor. Her eventful reign, and its effect on history ...

. Lord Hereford was a Field Marshal of the forces sent to quell the Northern Rebellion of 1569 and led an expedition to occupy

Ulster Ulster (; or ; or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional or historic provinces of Ireland, Irish provinces. It is made up of nine Counties of Ireland, counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom); t ...

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 London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

. He was condemned to death for

high treason Treason is the crime of attacking a state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its d ...

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 A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

, 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 Worcester may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England ** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament * Worcester Park, London, Engl ...

, Tamworth and

Lichfield Lichfield () is a city status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in Staffordshire, England. Lichfield is situated south-east of the county town of Stafford, north-east of Walsall, north-west of ...

in the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...

. 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 Montgomeryshire ( ) was Historic counties of Wales, one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It was named after its county town, Montgomery, Powys, Montgomery, which in turn was named after ...

to Pencoyd in

. He was succeeded by his son, the 14th Viscount. He was a

Tory A Tory () is an individual who supports a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalist conservatism which upholds the established social order as it has evolved through the history of Great Britain. The To ...

politician and served under the

Duke of Wellington Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and above sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they ar ...

Captain of the Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

from 1828 to 1830 and under

Sir Robert Peel Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet (5 February 1788 – 2 July 1850), was a British Conservative statesman who twice was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834–1835, 1841–1846), and simultaneously was Chancellor of the Exchequer (1834–183 ...

Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

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 Eton College ( ) is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school providing boarding school, boarding education for boys aged 13–18, in the small town of Eton, Berkshire, Eton, in Berkshire, in the United Kingdom. It has educated Prime Mini ...

and at

Royal Military College, Sandhurst The Royal Military College (RMC) was a United Kingdom, British military academy for training infantry and cavalry Officer (armed forces), officers of the British Army, British and British Indian Army, Indian Armies. It was founded in 1801 at Gre ...

; he was a Justice of the peace, & Deputy lieutenant for

Brecon Brecon (; ; ), archaically known as Brecknock, is a market town in Powys, mid Wales. In 1841, it had a population of 5,701. The population in 2001 was 7,901, increasing to 8,250 at the 2011 census. Historically it was the county town of Breck ...

, & 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 Baronets are hereditary titles awarded by the Crown. The current baronetage of the United Kingdom has replaced the earlier, existing baronetages of England, Nova Scotia, Ireland and Great Britain. To be recognised as a baronet, it is necessary ...

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

. The Viscount Hereford is also the only one of the English Viscounts who does not hold a higher title.

Viscounts Hereford (1550)

* 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 Sir Walter Devereux, 5th Viscount Hereford, 2nd Baronet of Castle Bromwich (c. 1575 – 1656), was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times, between 1614 and 1624, before succeeding to the family Viscountcy in 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 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 and line of succession

''Henry Devereux, 14th Viscount Hereford (1777–1843)'' ** Coronet of a British Viscount

''Robert Devereux, 15th Viscount Hereford (1809–1855)'' *** Coronet of a British Viscount

''Robert Devereux, 16th Viscount Hereford (1843–1930)'' **** Coronet of a British Viscount

''Robert Devereux, 17th Viscount Hereford (1865–1952)'' *****''Hon. Robert Godfrey de Bohun Devereux (1894–1934)'' ****** Coronet of a British Viscount

''Robert Devereux, 18th Viscount Hereford (1932–2004)'' ******* Coronet of a British Viscount

(Charles) Robin Devereux, 19th Viscount Hereford (born 1975) ********(1). Hon. Henry Walter de Bohun Devereux (born 2015) *******(2). Hon. Edward Mark de Breteuil Devereux (born 1977) ***''Hon. Henry de Bohun Devereux (1848–1909)'' ****''Humphrey Bourchier Devereux (1873–1921)'' *****''George Makgill de Bohun Devereux (1909–1976)'' ******male issue and descendants in remainder ****''Godfrey Vaughan Devereux (1893–1976)'' *****''David de Bohun Devereux (1928–2002)'' ******male issue and descendants in remainder *****''Francis Richard Devereux (1937–2014)'' ******male issue and descendants in remainder **''Rear-Admiral Hon. Walter Bourchier Devereux (1810–1868)'' ***''Walter de Laci Devereux (1864–1959)'' ****''Robert de Bohun Devereux (1897–1981)'' *****''Robert Humphrey Bourchier Devereux (1930–2004)'' ******male issue and descendants in remainder

Arms

References

Work cited

* * * * *

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hereford Viscountcies in the Peerage of England 1550 establishments in England Noble titles created in 1550

Viscount A viscount ( , for male) or viscountess (, for female) is a title used in certain European countries for a noble of varying status. The status and any domain held by a viscount is a viscounty. In the case of French viscounts, the title is ...