Viscount Cobham

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Viscount Cobham is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1718 for Field Marshal Sir Richard Temple, 4th Baronet, of Stowe. The Viscount holds the subsidiary titles of Baron Cobham, of Cobham in the County of Kent, (1718), Baron Westcote, of Ballymore in the County of Longford (1776), and Baron Lyttelton, of Frankley in the County of Worcester (1794). All the titles are in the Peerage of Great Britain, except the Barony of Westcote, which is in the Peerage of Ireland. The Viscount is also a Baronet, of Frankley in the County of Worcester (1618).

The Barony and Viscountcy of Cobham were subsidiary titles of the Earldom of Temple from 1750 to 1784, of the Marquessate of Buckingham from 1784 to 1822 and of the Dukedom of Buckingham of Chandos from 1822 to 1889. Since the latter year the titles are merged with the Barony of Lyttelton and Barony of Westcote.

1 History
2 Temple Baronets, of Stowe (1611)
3 Viscounts Cobham (1718)
4 See also

[edit] History

The Temple family descended from Peter Temple. His younger son Anthony Temple founded the Irish branch of the family from whom the Viscounts Palmerston descended. Peter Temple’s eldest son Anthony Temple acquired the Stowe estate in Buckinghamshire. The latter’s son Thomas Temple notably represented Andover in Parliament. In 1611 he was created a Baronet, of Stowe in the County of Buckingham, in the Baronetage of England. His son the second Baronet, represented Buckingham in both the Short Parliament and the Long Parliament. He was succeeded by his son, the third Baronet. He sat in Parliament for Warwickshire and Buckingham. His son, the fourth Baronet, was a noted soldier and politician. In 1714 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Cobham, of Cobham in the County of Kent, with remainder to heirs male of his body. Four years later he was created Baron Cobham, of Cobham in the County of Kent, and Viscount Cobham, with remainder, failing heirs male of his own to (1) his sister Hester Temple and the heirs male of her body and failing which to (2) his third sister Lady Christian, wife of Sir Thomas Lyttelton, 4th Baronet, of Frankley (see the Baron Lyttelton). Lord Cobham died childless and was succeeded in the Baronetcy by his cousin, the fifth Baronet, the great-grandson of Sir John Temple, second son of the first Baronet. The Baronetcy became dormant in 1786 on the death of the seventh Baronet. Furthermore, on Lord Cobham’s death the Barony of 1714 became extinct while he was succeeded in the Barony and Viscountcy of 1718 according to the special remainder by his sister Hester Temple. She was the widow of Richard Grenville. In 1750 she was created Countess Temple, with remainder to the heirs male of her body. Lady Temple’s younger son was Prime Minister George Grenville. She was succeeded by her eldest son, the second Earl. He inherited the Temple estates, including Stowe House, and assumed the additional surname of Temple. On his death the titles passed to his nephew, the third Earl, the son of George Grenville. In 1784 he was created Marquess of Buckingham. He was succeeded by his son, the second Marquess. In 1822 he was created Earl Temple of Stowe, Marquess of Chandos and Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. On the death of his grandson, the third Duke, in 1889, the Dukedom and its subsidiary titles the Marquessate of Buckingham, Marquessate of Chandos, Earldom of Temple and Earldom of Nugent became extinct. The Earldom of Temple of Stowe and Lordship of Kinloss also held by the Duke were passed on to his nephew and daughter respectively. The Barony and Viscountcy of Cobham also survived, and were inherited according to the special remainders by the Duke’s distant relative Charles Lyttelton, 5th Baron Lyttelton, who became the 8th Viscount Cobham. He was the great-great-grandson of the aforementioned Lady Christian and Sir Thomas Lyttelton, 4th Baronet, of Frankley (see the Baron Lyttelton for earlier history of the Lyttelton family). The eighth Viscount had previously represented East Worcestershire in Parliament as a Liberal. His son, the ninth Viscount, was Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire from 1923 to 1949. He was succeeded by his son, the tenth Viscount. He notably served as Governor-General of New Zealand from 1957 to 1962. As of 2006 the titles are held by his younger son, the twelfth Viscount, who succeeded his elder brother in 2006.

The family seat is Hagley Hall, near Stourbridge in Worcestershire.

[edit] Temple Baronets, of Stowe (1611)

Sir Thomas Temple, 1st Baronet (1567-1637)
Sir Peter Temple, 2nd Baronet (1592-1653)
Sir Richard Temple, 3rd Baronet (1634-1697)
Sir Richard Temple, 4th Baronet (1669-1749) (created Viscount Cobham in 1718; see below)
Sir William Temple, 5th Baronet (1694-1760)
Sir Peter Temple, 6th Baronet (d. 1761)
Sir Richard Temple, 7th Baronet (1731-1786) (dormant)