Viscount Doneraile

Arms of St Ledger, Viscounts Doneraile: Azure fretty argent, a chief or [1]

Viscount Doneraile /ˈvaɪˌkaʊnt ˈdʌn.ə.rəl/ is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland, both times for members of the St Leger /ˈsɛntˌlədʒər/ family. It was first created in 1703 for Arthur St Leger, along with the subsidiary title of Baron Kilmayden, also in the Peerage of Ireland. This creation became extinct in 1767 on the death of the fourth Viscount. However, his sister's son. St Leger Aldworth, succeeded to the St Leger estates and assumed the surname of St Leger in lieu of his patronymic. He notably represented Doneraile in the Irish Parliament from 1761 to 1776. The latter year he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Doneraile and in 1785 the viscountcy was revived and he was created Viscount Doneraile, also in the Peerage of Ireland.

His grandson, the third Viscount, sat in the House of Lords as an Irish Representative Peer from 1830 to 1854. His son, the fourth Viscount, was an Irish Representative Peer between 1855 and 1887. He was succeeded by his second cousin, the fifth Viscount. His son, the sixth Viscount, served as Mayor of the City of Westminster. On the death of his younger brother, the seventh Viscount, this line of the family also failed and he was succeeded by his second cousin once removed, the eighth Viscount. As of 2014 the titles are held by the latter's grandson, the tenth Viscount, who succeeded his father in 1983. He lives in California.

The family seat was Doneraile Court, near Mallow, County Cork.

Viscounts Doneraile, First Creation (1703)

Viscounts Doneraile, Second Creation (1785)

The heir apparent is the present holder's son Hon. Nathaniel Warham Robert St John St Leger (born 1971).

References

  1. ↑ Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.365