Marquess of Reading

Arms of Isaacs, Marquess of Reading: Sable, a bend between two leopard's faces or on a chief argent a fasces fesswise proper

Marquess of Reading is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1926 for Rufus Isaacs, 1st Earl of Reading, the former Viceroy of India and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales. He had already been created Baron Reading, of Erleigh in the County of Berkshire, in 1914, Viscount Reading, of Erleigh in the County of Berkshire, in 1916, and Viscount Erleigh, of Erleigh in the County of Berkshire, and Earl of Reading, in 1917.

The marquessate of Reading is the highest title in the British peerage ever attained by a Jew, and is the most recently created extant marquessate in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (that of Willingdon was created in 1936 but became extinct in 1979). In this role, the marquessate of Reading is currently the junior-most marquessate in the Order of precedence in England and Wales.

Upon the death of the 1st Marquess of Reading, he was succeeded by his son, the second Marquess. He notably held ministerial office from 1951 to 1957 in the Conservative administrations of Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden. As of 2013 the titles are held by his grandson, the fourth Marquess, who succeeded his father in 1980.

In May 1804, the title of Baron Reading was offered to the outgoing Prime Minister, Henry Addington, who had many links with the largely pre-industrialised town, as a subsidiary title of the customary retirement earldom for Prime Ministers. However, Addington refused the honour, though later accepting a peerage as Viscount Sidmouth.

The family seat was Jaynes Court, near Bisley, Gloucestershire.

Marquesses of Reading (1926)

The heir apparent is the present holder's son Julian Michael Rufus Isaacs, Viscount Erleigh (b. 1986).

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