Earl Egerton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wilbraham Egerton,
1st Earl Egerton

Baron Egerton, of Tatton in the County Palatine of Chester, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1859 for William Egerton, who had earlier represented Lymington and Cheshire North in the House of Commons. This family descended in the female-line from the Hon. Thomas Egerton, of Tatton Park in Cheshire, youngest son of John Egerton, 2nd Earl of Bridgewater (see the Earl of Bridgewater for earlier history of the family). His granddaughter Hester Egerton (d. 1780) married William Tatton. In 1780 they assumed by Royal license the surname of Egerton in lieu of Tatton. Their son William Tatton Egerton sat as Member of Parliament for Chester. His son Wilbraham Egerton also represented this constituency in the House of Commons. He was the father of William Egerton, who was elevated to the peerage in 1859.

Lord Egerton was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Baron. He was Member of Parliament for Cheshire North and Cheshire Mid and served as Chairman of the Manchester Ship Canal. In 1897 he was created Viscount Salford, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, and Earl Egerton, of Tatton in the County Chester. Both titles were in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Lord Egerton had one daughter but no sons and on his death in 1909 the viscountcy and earldom became extinct. He was succeeded in the barony by his younger brother, the third Baron. He had previously represented Cheshire Mid and Knutsford in Parliament. When he died the titles passed to his son, the fourth Baron. He never married and on his death in 1958 the barony became extinct.

Edward Christopher Egerton, younger brother of the first Baron, sat as Member of Parliament for Cheshire East. His grandson Henry Jack Egerton was a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy.