Earl of Wilton

Earl of Wilton, of Wilton Castle in the County of Herefordshire, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1801 for Thomas Egerton, 1st Baron Grey de Wilton, along with the subsidiary title of Viscount Grey de Wilton, also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Both titles were created with remainder to the second and all younger sons successively of his daughter Eleanor, wife of Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster.^[1]

Earldom of Wilton
Arms: Quarterly: 1st, Azure, a Garb Or (Grosvenor); 2nd, Argent, a Lion rampant Gules, between three Pheons ponts downwards Sable (Egerton); 3rd, Barry of six Argent and Azure, a Label of five points Gules (Grey de Wilton); 4th, Argent, a Mullet Sable, pierced Argent (Assheton). Crest: A Talbot statant Or. Supporters: On either side a Talbot reguardant Or, collared and charged on the shoulder with a Mullet Azure.
Creation date	26 June 1801
Created by	King George III
Peerage	Peerage of the United Kingdom
First holder	Thomas Egerton, 1st Baron Grey de Wilton
Present holder	Francis Grosvenor, 8th Earl of Wilton
Heir apparent	Julian Grosvenor, Viscount Grey de Wilton
Subsidiary titles	Viscount Grey de Wilton Baron Ebury
Status	Extant
Motto	VIRTUS NON STEMMA (Virtue, not ancestry)

History

Thomas Egerton, 2nd Earl of Wilton

Coat of arms of the Earls of Wilton from the Egerton family (1801–1999)

Arms of the Egerton Earls of Wilton

The 1st Earl of Wilton was a member of the Egerton family and the eldest son of Sir Thomas Grey Egerton, 6th Baronet of Egerton and Oulton. He had earlier resided at Heaton Hall near Manchester and represented Lancashire in Parliament.

He was a descendant of Sir Roland Egerton, 1st Baronet, who had married Bridget Grey, sister and co-heir of Thomas Grey, 15th Baron Grey de Wilton, who was attainted in 1603 and forfeited his title. In 1756, Thomas Egerton succeeded his father as 7th Baronet and in 1784 was created Baron Grey de Wilton, of Wilton Castle in the County Hereford, in the Peerage of Great Britain, with remainder to the heirs male of his body.^[2]

When the 1st Earl of Wilton died in 1814, the Grey de Wilton barony became extinct as he had no male heirs, while the Grey Egerton baronetcy passed to his kinsman John Grey Egerton, who became the 8th Baronet. The titles of Earl of Wilton and Viscount Grey de Wilton passed, according to the special remainder, to the 1st Earl's grandson Thomas Grosvenor, who adopted the surname of Egerton and became the 2nd Earl. He was the second son of Lady Eleanor Egerton (and her husband, the 1st Marquess of Westminster), the younger brother of Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster, and the elder brother of Lord Robert Grosvenor, who was created Baron Ebury in 1857. The 2nd Earl notably served as Lord Steward of the Household in 1835, in the Tory administration of Sir Robert Peel.

His eldest son, who became the 3rd Earl of Wilton, had represented Weymouth and Bath in Parliament as a Conservative. In 1875, seven years before the 3rd Earl had succeeded his father, he was raised to the peerage as Baron Grey de Radcliffe, in the County Palatine of Lancaster. However, the 3rd Earl was childless, and on his death in 1885, this barony became extinct. He was succeeded in his other titles by his younger brother, who became the 4th Earl of Wilton.

On the death in 1999 of his great-grandson, the 7th Earl of Wilton, the line of the 2nd Earl failed. He was succeeded according to the special remainder by his kinsman Francis Egerton Grosvenor, 6th Baron Ebury (a great-great-grandson of Robert Grosvenor, 1st Baron Ebury, younger brother of the second Earl), who became the 8th Earl of Wilton.

Earls of Wilton (1801)

• Thomas Egerton, 1st Earl of Wilton (1749–1814)
• Thomas Egerton, 2nd Earl of Wilton (1799–1882)
• Arthur Edward Holland Grey Egerton, 3rd Earl of Wilton (1833–1885)
• Seymour John Grey Egerton, 4th Earl of Wilton (1839–1898)
• Arthur George Egerton, 5th Earl of Wilton (1863–1915)
• Seymour Edward Frederick Egerton, 6th Earl of Wilton (1896–1927)
• Seymour William Arthur John Egerton, 7th Earl of Wilton (1921–1999), succeeded to the earldom at the age of 6.^[3] Having no children, he was succeeded by his kinsman, Francis Egerton Grosvenor.
• Francis Egerton Grosvenor, 8th Earl of Wilton (b. 1934), son of Robert Egerton Grosvenor, 5th Baron Ebury.^[4]

The heir apparent is the present holder's only son, Julian Francis Martin Grosvenor, Viscount Grey de Wilton (b. 1959).

Family tree

v t e Grosvenor and Grey family tree: Dukes of Westminster, Marquesses of Westminster Earls: Grosvenor, Sussex (5th creation), and of Wilton Viscounts: Belgrave, Grey de Wilton, and de Longueville and Barons: Grey de Wilton, Grey of Ruthin (Ruthyn), Grey de Radcliffe, Ebury, Grosvenor, and Stalbridge

Baron Grey de Wilton (1st creation), 1285 Reginald Grey d. 1308 1st Baron Grey de Wilton John Grey c. 1268–1323 2nd Baron Grey de Wilton Baron Grey of Ruthin, 1324 Henry Grey 1281–1342 3rd Baron Grey de Wilton Roger Grey d. 1352/1353 1st Baron Grey of Ruthin King Edward III 1312–1377 Reynold Grey 1311–1370 4th Baron Grey de Wilton Reynold Grey c. 1322 – c. 1388 2nd Baron Grey of Ruthin John of Gaunt 1340–1399 Thomas Holland Earl of Kent c. 1314–1360 Henry Grey c. 1340–1396 5th Baron Grey de Wilton Reynold Grey c. 1362 – c. 1440 3rd Baron Grey of Ruthin Elizabeth of Lancaster bef. 1363–1426 John Holland Earl of Huntingdon Duke of Exeter c. 1352–1400 Richard Grey c. 1393–1442 6th Baron Grey de Wilton John Grey c. 1387–1439 Constance Holland 1387–1437 Reynold Grey c. 1421–1493/94 7th Baron Grey de Wilton Edmund Grey c. 1362 – c. 1440 1st Earl of Kent, 4th Baron Grey of Ruthin See Template:Dukes of Kent family tree Edmund Grey d. 1499 8th Baron Grey de Wilton George Grey 2nd Earl of Kent, 5th Baron Grey of Ruthin c. 1460–1503 Edmund Grey c. 1469–1511 9th Baron Grey de Wilton Richard Grey 3rd Earl of Kent, 6th Baron Grey of Ruthin 1481–1524 Henry Grey 4th Earl of Kent, 7th Baron Grey of Ruthin c. 1495–1562 George Grey c. 1493–1514/1515 10th Baron Grey de Wilton Thomas Grey c. 1496–1517 11th Baron Grey de Wilton Richard Grey c. 1505–1523 12th Baron Grey de Wilton William Grey c. 1509–1562 13th Baron Grey de Wilton Henry Grey 1520–1545 Arthur Grey 1536–1593 14th Baron Grey de Wilton Reginald Grey d. 1573 5th Earl of Kent, 8th Baron Grey of Ruthin Henry Grey 1541–1615 6th Earl of Kent, 9th Baron Grey of Ruthin Charles Grey c. 1545–1623 7th Earl of Kent, 10th Baron Grey of Ruthyn Bridget Grey d. 1648 Thomas Grey 1575–1614 15th Baron Grey de Wilton Susan Grey Henry Grey c. 1583–1639 8th Earl of Kent, 11th Baron Grey of Ruthyn Barony Grey de Wilton (1st creation) extinct, 1614 Baronet of Egerton and Oulton, 1617 Roland Egerton d. 1646 1st Baronet Charles Longueville 1612–1643 12th Baron Grey de Ruthyn John Egerton d. 1674 2nd Baronet Susan Longueville d. 1676 13th Baroness Grey de Ruthyn suo jure Viscount de Longueville (1st creation), 1690 John Egerton d. 1729 3rd Baronet Charles Yelverton 1657–1679 14th Baron Grey de Ruthyn Henry Yelverton c. 1664–1703/1704 1st Viscount de Longueville, 15th Baron Grey de Ruthyn Earl of Sussex (5th creation), 1717 Holland Egerton c. 1689–1730 4th Baronet Talbot Yelverton c. 1664–1703/1704 1st Earl of Sussex, 2nd Viscount de Longueville, 16th Baron Grey de Ruthyn Edward Egerton bef. 1721–1743/1744 5th Baronet Thomas Grey Egerton c. 1721–1756 6th Baronet George Augustus Yelverton 1727–1758 2nd Earl of Sussex, 3rd Viscount de Longueville, 17th Baron Grey de Ruthyn Henry Yelverton 1728–1799 3rd Earl of Sussex, 4th Viscount de Longueville, 18th Baron Grey de Ruthyn Earldom of Sussex (5th creation) and Viscountcy de Longueville (1st creation) extinct, 1799 Baron Grosvenor of Eaton in the County of Chester, 1761 Earl Gosvenor and Viscount Belgrave of Belgrave in the County of Chester, 1784 Baron Grey de Wilton (2nd creation), 1784 Earl of Wilton and Viscount Grey de Wilton, 1801 Richard Grosvenor 1731–1802 7th Baronet of Eaton, 1st Earl Grosvenor, Viscount Belgrave, and Baron Grosvenor Thomas Egerton 1749–1814 7th Baronet of Egerton and Oulton, 1st Earl of Wilton, Viscount Grey de Wilton, and Baron Grey de Wilton Barbara Yelverton d. 1781 Barony Grey de Wilton (2nd creation) extinct, 1784 Marquess of Westminster, 1831 Robert Grosvenor 1767–1845 1st Marquess of Westminster, 2nd Earl Grosvenor, Viscount Belgrave, and Baron Grosvenor Eleanor Egerton 1770–1846 Henry Yelverton 1780–1810 19th Baron Grey de Ruthyn Baron Ebury of Ebury Manor in the County of Middlesex, 1857 Richard Grosvenor 1795–1869 2nd Marquess of Westminster, 3rd Earl Grosvenor, Viscount Belgrave, and Baron Grosvenor Thomas Grosvenor (Egerton) 1799–1882 2nd Earl of Wilton and Viscount Grey de Wilton Robert Grosvenor 1801–1893 1st Baron Ebury Barbara Rawdon-Hastings 1810–1858 20th Baroness Grey de Ruthyn suo jure George Augustus Francis Rawdon-Hastings 1808–1844 Marquess of Hastings Duke of Westminster, 1874 Baron Stalbridge of Stalbridge in the County of Dorset, 1886 Baron Grey de Radcliffe in the County Palatine of Lancaster, 1875 Barony Grey de Ruthin (Ruthyn) abeyance terminated, 1885 Hugh Lupus Grosvenor 1825–1899 1st Duke of Westminster, 3rd Marquess of Westminster, 4th Earl Grosvenor, Viscount Belgrave, and Baron Grosvenor Richard de Aquila Grosvenor 1837–1912 1st Baron Stalbridge Arthur Edward Holland Grey Egerton 1833–1885 3rd Earl of Wilton and Viscount Grey de Wilton, Baron Grey de Radcliffe Seymour John Grey Egerton 1839–1898 4th Earl of Wilton and Viscount Grey de Wilton Robert Wellesley Grosvenor 1834–1918 2nd Baron Ebury Bertha Lelgarde Clifton 1835–1887 22nd Baroness Grey de Ruthyn suo jure Henry Weysford Charles Plantagenet Rawdon-Hastings 1842–1868 Marquess of Hastings, Earl of Loudoun, 21st Baron Grey de Ruthyn, Baron Botreaux, Baron Hungerford, Baron de Moleyns, Baron Hastings Barony Grey de Radcliffe extinct, 1885 Barony Grey de Ruthyn abeyant, 1868 Victor Alexander Grosvenor 1853–1884 styled Earl Grosvenor Henry George Grosvenor 1861–1914 Hugh Grosvenor 1880–1949 2nd Baron Stalbridge Arthur George Egerton 1863–1915 5th Earl of Wilton and Viscount Grey de Wilton Robert Victor Grosvenor 1868–1921 3rd Baron Ebury Ella Cicely Mary Clifton 1856–1912 Rawdon George Grey Clifton 1858–1912 23rd Baron Grey de Ruthyn Cecil Talbot Clifton 1862–1934 24th Baron Grey de Ruthyn Barony Stalbridge extinct, 1949 Barony Grey de Ruthyn abeyant, 1934 Barony Grey de Ruthyn abeyance terminated, 1940 Hugh Richard Arthur Grosvenor 1879–1953 2nd Duke of Westminster, 4th Marquess of Westminster, 5th Earl Grosvenor, Viscount Belgrave, and Baron Grosvenor William Grosvenor 1894–1963 3rd Duke of Westminster, 5th Marquess of Westminster, 6th Earl Grosvenor, Viscount Belgrave, and Baron Grosvenor Hugh William Grosvenor 1884–1914 Seymour Edward Frederick Egerton 1896–1927 6th Earl of Wilton and Viscount Grey de Wilton Francis Egerton Grosvenor 1883–1932 4th Baron Ebury John Lancelot Wykeham Butler-Bowden 1883–1963 25th Baron Grey de Ruthyn Barony Grey de Ruthyn abeyant, 1963 Gerald Hugh Grosvenor 1907–1967 4th Duke of Westminster, 6th Marquess of Westminster, 7th Earl Grosvenor, Viscount Belgrave, and Baron Grosvenor Robert George Grosvenor 1910–1979 5th Duke of Westminster, 7th Marquess of Westminster, 8th Earl Grosvenor, Viscount Belgrave, and Baron Grosvenor Seymour William Arthur John Egerton 1921–1999 7th Earl of Wilton and Viscount Grey de Wilton Robert Grosvenor 1914–1957 5th Baron Ebury Francis Grosvenor b. 1934 8th Earl of Wilton and Viscount Grey de Wilton, 6th Baron Ebury heir presumptive to the Marquessate of Westminster Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor 1951–2016 6th Duke of Westminster, 8th Marquess of Westminster, 9th Earl Grosvenor, Viscount Belgrave, and Baron Grosvenor Julian Grosvenor b. 1959 styled Viscount Grey de Wilton Heir apparent to the 8th Earldom of Wilton Hugh Grosvenor b. 1991 7th Duke of Westminster, 9th Marquess of Westminster, 10th Earl Grosvenor, Viscount Belgrave, and Baron Grosvenor

Line of succession

• Thomas Egerton, 1st Earl of Wilton (1749–1814)
  • Lady Eleanor Egerton (1770–1846)
    • Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster (1795–1869)
      • Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster (1825–1899)
        • Dukes of Westminster
    • Robert Grosvenor, 1st Baron Ebury (1801–1883)
      • Robert Wellesley Grosvenor, 2nd Baron Ebury (1834–1918)
        • Robert Victor Grosvenor, 3rd Baron Ebury (1868–1921)
        • Francis Egerton Grosvenor, 4th Baron Ebury (1883–1932)
          • Robert Egerton Grosvenor, 5th Baron Ebury (1914–1957)
            • The Right Honourable Francis Egerton Grosvenor, 8th Earl of Wilton (born 1934)
              • (1) Julian Francis Martin Grosvenor, Viscount Grey de Wilton (b. 1959)
            • The Hon. William Wellesley Grosvenor (1942–2002)
              • (2) Alexander Egerton Grosvenor (b. 1968)
            • (3) The Hon. Richard Alexander Grosvenor (b. 1946)
              • (4) Bendor Robert Gerard Grosvenor (b. 1977)
          • The Hon. Hugh Richard Grosvenor (1919–2002)
            • (5) William Peter Wellesley Grosvenor (b. 1959)

See also

• Baron Ebury
• Duke of Westminster
• Baron Stalbridge

References

1. "No. 15375". The London Gazette. 13 June 1801. p. 657.
2. "No. 12541". The London Gazette. 11 May 1784. p. 1.
3. "Archive from the Lancashire Telegraph".
4. "Burke's Peerage - 8th Earl of Wilton". Burke's Peerage. Retrieved 18 May 2024.

• Debrett's Baronetage of England

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Seymour William Arthur John Egerton, 7th Earl of Wilton
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Francis Egerton Grosvenor, 8th Earl of Wilton