William Jennings Capell

For other people with the same name, see William Capell (disambiguation).

For other people with the same name, see William Jennings (disambiguation).

William Jennings "Bill" Capell (born 9 August 1952), an American retired grocery clerk from Yuba City, California, is the heir presumptive to the Earldom of Essex. He will become the 12th earl if the current earl, Paul Capell, 11th Earl of Essex (currently 80 and unmarried), predeceases him without in-wedlock male issue.^[1]

Claim

Capell had considered renouncing the earldom to maintain his United States citizenship^{[citation needed]} (under the United Kingdom's Peerage Act 1963, a person may disclaim a hereditary peerage). U.S. law, however, requires renunciation of noble titles only of persons seeking to become naturalized citizens and of holders of government office (unless they have congressional authorization). As Capell is neither, there would be no legal impediment to his use of the title as a U.S. citizen; indeed, there is precedent in the case of the Earl of Wharncliffe, currently a Maine construction worker.

Like the sixth and later earls, Capell is descended from the younger son of the fourth Earl. His father, Bladen Horace Capell, claimed the title after the ninth earl died in 1981, but Robert de Vere Capell (1920–2005) eventually proved that his ancestor, Algernon, was older than Bladen's ancestor Adolphus and thus took his seat in the House of Lords in 1989.

Personal life

Capell has two children:

• Jennifer Elaine Capell (b. 1974), married Alfred Cabrera in 2004
• Kevin Devereux Capell (b. 1982)

Should Capell succeed to the earldom, his son would acquire the courtesy title Viscount Malden and his daughter Lady Jennifer Cabrera.

In 2005, Capell made his first visit to England with his wife, daughter, and son-in-law. The visit was televised on the tabloid show Inside Edition.^[1]

Family tree

Recent relations

(Frances Hanbury Williams, d.1759)

William Anne Capell, 4th Earl

Harriet Bladen d.1821

George Capell, 5th Earl

The Hon. John Capel m. Lady Caroline Paget

Arthur Capell, 6th Earl m. Lady Caroline Beauclerk

The Hon. Algernon Capell m. Caroline Paget

The Hon. Adolphus Capell m. Charlotte Maynard

Arthur de Vere Capell, Viscount Malden m. Emma Meux

Charles Capell m. Alice Bellairs

Rev. Horatio Bladen Capell m. Ada Augusta Howkins

George de Vere Capell, 7th Earl m. Eleanor Hartford

Arthur de Vere Capell m. Alice Currie

Horace Capell m. Clara Jackson

Algernon de Vere Capell, 8th Earl m. Mary Stewart Freeman

Robert de Vere Capell, 10th Earl m. Doris Tomlinson

Bladen Ozro Capell m. Madge Crawford

Reginald de Vere Capell, 9th Earl

Paul de Vere Capell, 11th Earl

Bladen Horace Capell m. Mae Walley

William Jennings Capell

Kevin Capell