William Jennings Capell

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William Jennings Capell (born 9 August 1953), a retired grocery clerk from Yuba City, California, is the heir presumptive to the Earldom of Essex. He will be the 12th Earl if the current earl, Paul Capell, 11th Earl of Essex (currently 62 and unmarried), dies without legitimate male issue. He had considered renouncing the earldom if it would require him to give up his United States citizenship. (Under the United Kingdom's Peerage Act 1963, a person may disclaim a hereditary peerage.) United States law requires only government officeholders without Congressional authorization and persons wishing to become naturalized citizens, however, to renounce titles of nobility. As Mr. Capell is in neither category, there would be no legal impediment to his use of the title as a U.S. citizen.

Like the sixth and later Earls of Essex, William Capell is descended from the younger son of the fourth Earl. His father Bladen Horace Capell claimed the title after the ninth Earl died in 1981, but Robert de Vere Capell (1920–2005) eventually proved that his ancestor Algernon was older than Bladen's ancestor Adolphus and thus took his seat in the House of Lords in 1989.

The Hon. John Capel (half-brother of 5th Earl) m. Lady Caroline Paget

Arthur Capell, 6th Earl m. Lady Caroline Beauclerk

The Hon. Algernon Capell m. Caroline Paget

The Hon. Adolphus Capell m. Charlotte Maynard

Arthur de Vere Capell, Viscount Malden m. Emma Meux

Charles Capell m. Alice Bellairs

Horatio Capell m. Ada Hawkins

George de Vere Capell, 7th Earl m. Eleanor Hartford

Arthur de Vere Capell m. Alice Currie

Horace Capell m. Clara Jackson

Algernon de Vere Capell, 8th Earl m. Mary Stewart Freeman

Robert de Vere Capell, 10th Earl m. Doris Tomlinson

Bladen Ozro Capell m. Madge Crawford

Reginald de Vere Capell, 9th Earl

Paul de Vere Capell, 11th Earl

Bladen Horace Capell m. Mae Walley

William Jennings Capell

In 2005, Capell made his first visit to England with his wife, daughter, and son-in-law. The visit was televised on the tabloid show Inside Edition.

He has two children:

• Jennifer Elaine Capell (b. 1974), married Alfred Cabrera in 2004
• Kevin Devereux Capell (b. 1982), married Sarah Gunderman in 2004

[edit] External links

• ABC News article - Retired Grocery Clerk Could Become Earl.

• Inside Edition - Friday, November 4, 2005 show - Earl of Essex.