Earl Cornwallis
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Earl Cornwallis was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1753 for Charles Cornwallis, 4th Baron Cornwallis. The second Earl was created Marquess Cornwallis but this title became extinct in 1823, while the earldom and its subsidiary titles became extinct in 1852.
The Cornwallis family descended from Frederick Cornwallis, who represented Eye and Ipswich in the House of Commons. He was created a Baronet in the Baronetage of England in 1627 and Baron Cornwallis, of Eye in the County of Suffolk, in the Peerage of England in 1661. The second Baron also sat as a Member of Parliament for Eye. The third Baron notably served as First Lord of the Admiralty. His son, the fourth Baron, was Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk and Postmaster General.
He was succeeded by his son, the fifth Baron. In 1753 he was created Viscount Brome and Earl Cornwallis in the Peerage of Great Britain. His son, the second Earl, was a noted military commander. He was created Marquess Cornwallis in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1792. On the death in 1823 of his son, the second Marquess, the marquessate became extinct. However, he was succeeded in the other titles by his first cousin, the fourth Earl. The earldom, viscountcy, barony and baronetcy became extinct on the death of the fifth Earl in 1852.
Several other members of the family also gained distinction. Hon. Edward Cornwallis, sixth son of the fourth Baron, was a soldier and is known as "the founder of Halifax". His younger twin brother, Hon. Frederick Cornwallis, was Archbishop of Canterbury. Also, Hon. William Cornwallis, younger son of the first Earl and younger brother of the first Marquess, was an Admiral in the Royal Navy.
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[edit] Barons Cornwallis, First Creation (1661)
- Frederick Cornwallis, 1st Baron Cornwallis (1610-1662)
- Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Baron Cornwallis (1632-1673)
- Charles Cornwallis, 3rd Baron Cornwallis (1655-1698)
- Charles Cornwallis, 4th Baron Cornwallis (1675-1722)
- Charles Cornwallis, 5th Baron Cornwallis (1700-1762) (created Earl Cornwallis in 1753)
[edit] Earls Cornwallis (1753)
- Charles Cornwallis, 1st Earl Cornwallis (1700-1762)
- Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Earl Cornwallis (1738-1805) (created Marquess Cornwallis in 1792)
[edit] Marquesses Cornwallis (1792)
- Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis (1738-1805)
- Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Marquess Cornwallis (1774-1823)
