Viscount Molesworth

Viscount Molesworth, of Swords in the County of Dublin, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1716 for Robert Molesworth. He was made Baron Philipstown, of Swords in the County of Dublin, at the same time, also in the Peerage of Ireland. Molesworth had been invested as member of the Irish Privy Council in 1697, represented Camelford, Lostwithiel, East Retford and Mitchell in the British House of Commons and served as British Ambassador to Denmark. His elder son, the second Viscount, notably served as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the Republic of Venice. He was succeeded by his younger brother, the third Viscount. He was a Field Marshal in the Army. On the death of his son, the fourth Viscount, this line of the family failed, and the titles passed to the latter's first cousin, the fifth Viscount. He was the eldest son of the Hon. William Molesworth, third son of the first Viscount. His son, the sixth Viscount, was a Major-General in the Army, who was lost in the wreck of Arniston. On his death this line of the family also failed and the titles were inherited by his second cousin, the seventh Viscount. He was the eldest son of Richard, third son of the Hon. William Molesworth, third son of the first Viscount. He was succeeded by his nephew, the eighth Viscount. As of 2010, the titles are held by the latter's great-grandson, the twelfth Viscount, who succeeded his father in 1997.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex is a descendant of the 1st Viscount, as are the actresses Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine.

Viscounts Molesworth (1716)

• Robert Molesworth, 1st Viscount Molesworth (1656–1725)
• John Molesworth, 2nd Viscount Molesworth (1679–1726)
• Richard Molesworth, 3rd Viscount Molesworth (1680–1758)
• Richard Nassau Molesworth, 4th Viscount Molesworth (1748–1793)
• Robert Molesworth, 5th Viscount Molesworth (1729–1813)
• William John Molesworth, 6th Viscount Molesworth (1763–1815)
• Richard Pigott Molesworth, 7th Viscount Molesworth (1786–1875)
• Samuel Molesworth, 8th Viscount Molesworth (1829–1906)
• George Bagot Molesworth, 9th Viscount Molesworth (1867–1947)
• Charles Richard Molesworth, 10th Viscount Molesworth (1869–1961)
• Richard Gosset Molesworth, 11th Viscount Molesworth (1907–1997)
• Robert Bysse Kelham Molesworth, 12th Viscount Molesworth (b. 1959)

The heir presumptive is the present holder's brother the Hon. William John Charles Molesworth (b. 1960)

Notes

References

• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages