Viscount Grandison
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Viscount Grandison of Limerick is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1620 for Sir Oliver St John, the Chief Governor of Ireland, with special remainder to the male issue of his niece Barbara Villiers, wife of Sir Edward Villiers, elder half-brother of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey and John Villiers, 1st Viscount Purbeck. In 1626 he was also created Baron Tregoz in the Peerage of England, with remainder to the heirs male of his body. St John was the descendant and namesake of Oliver St John, whose elder brother Sir John St John was the ancestor of the Barons St John of Bletso and the Earls of Bolingbroke. Moreover, St John's nephew Sir John St John, 1st Baronet, of Lydiard Tregoze, was the ancestor of the Viscounts Bolingbroke and the Viscounts St John.
On Lord Grandison of Limerick's death in 1630 the Barony of Tregoz became extinct as he left no male heirs. He was succeeded in the Viscountcy according to the special remainder by William Villiers, the eldest son of Barbara and Sir Edward Villiers. In 1721 the fifth Viscount was created Earl Grandison in the Peerage of Great Britain. However, he left no surviving male heirs and the Earldom became extinct on his death, while he was succeeded in the Viscountcy by his cousin William Child-Villiers, 3rd Earl of Jersey, who became the 6th Viscount Grandison of Limerick. Lord Jersey was the great-grandson of Sir Edward Villiers, fifth son of Barbara and Sir Edward Villiers. The Earldom and Viscountcy have remained united ever since.
In 1746 Elizabeth Mason, daughter of John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison, was created Viscountess Grandison, and in 1767 she was made Viscountess Villiers and Countess Grandison. All three titles were in the Peerage of Ireland. However, they became extinct on the death of the second Earl in 1800.
[edit] Viscounts Grandison, First Creation (1620)
- Oliver St John, 1st Viscount Grandison of Limerick (c. 1560-1630)
- William Villiers, 2nd Viscount Grandison of Limerick (1614-1643)
- John Villiers, 3rd Viscount Grandison of Limerick (d. c. 1661)
- George Villiers, 4th Viscount Grandison of Limerick (c. 1617-1699)
- John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison, 5th Viscount Grandison of Limerick (1692-1766)
- William Villiers, 3rd Earl of Jersey, 6th Viscount Grandison of Limerick (d. 1769)
See Earl of Jersey for further Viscounts Grandison of Limerick.
