Earl Erne

Last updated

Earl Erne
Coronet of a British Earl.svg
Crichton arms.svg
Arms: Argent, a Lion rampant Azure. Crest: A Dragon's Head couped Vert, emitting fire from the mouth and ears proper. Supporters: On either side a Lion Azure, crowned with an Earl's Coronet proper.
Creation date19 August 1789
Created by George III
Peerage Peerage of Ireland
First holder John Creighton, 2nd Baron Erne
Present holderJohn Crichton, 7th Earl Erne
Heir presumptiveCharles Crichton
Remainder toThe 1st Earl's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titlesViscount Erne
Baron Erne
Baron Fermanagh
StatusExtant
Seat(s) Crom Castle
MottoGOD SEND GRACE

Earl Erne, of Crom Castle in the County of Fermanagh, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1789 for John Creighton, 2nd Baron Erne, [1] who had earlier represented Lifford (Parliament of Ireland constituency) in the Irish House of Commons. He had already been made Viscount Erne, of Crom Castle in the County of Fermanagh, in 1781, [2] also in the Peerage of Ireland, and sat from 1800 to 1828 as an Irish representative peer in the British House of Lords. The title of Baron Erne, of Crom Castle in the County of Fermanagh, was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1768 for his father Abraham Creighton. The Earl was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. On his death the titles passed to his nephew, the third Earl. He was an Irish Representative Peer from 1845 to 1885 and also served as Lord Lieutenant of County Fermanagh during the same period. In 1876 he was created Baron Fermanagh, of Lisnaskea in the County of Fermanagh, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. [3] This was to allow the Earls to sit in the House of Lords by right, rather than having to stand for election as Representative Peers. An earlier title of Baroness Fermanagh in the Peerage of Ireland was created for Mary Verney on 13 June 1792, but became extinct on her death on 15 November 1810.

Contents

Lord Erne also changed the spelling of the family surname from Creighton to Crichton. He was succeeded by his son, the fourth Earl. He was a Conservative politician and served as a Lord of the Treasury in the second Conservative administration of Benjamin Disraeli. Like his father he was also Lord Lieutenant of County Fermanagh. His grandson, the fifth Earl, held minor office from 1936 to 1939 in the National Government led by Stanley Baldwin and later Neville Chamberlain. Lord Erne was killed in the Second World War. The 6th Earl (often known as Harry Erne), who succeeded in 1940, was the Lord Lieutenant of County Fermanagh from 1986 until 2012. On his death in 2015, he was succeeded by his only son, the 7th Earl.

The 3rd Earl is also remembered as the employer of Captain Charles Boycott, whose mishandling of relations with agricultural workers on Lord Erne's estate in County Mayo caused a political and public order crisis and provoked the strategy that gave the English language the term to boycott .

The invented title of Viscount Crichton is used as a courtesy title for the Earl's heir apparent.

The family seat is Crom Castle, near Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

Barons Erne (1768)

Viscounts Erne (1781)

Earls Erne (1789)

Present peer

John Henry Michael Ninian Crichton, 7th Earl Erne (born 19 June 1971), is the son of the 6th Earl and his wife Camilla Marguerite Roberts. Styled formally as Viscount Crichton from birth, he was educated at Sunningdale School, Shiplake College, Henley-on-Thames, and at L'Institut de Touraine, in Tours, France. [4]

On 23 December 2015, he succeeded his father as Earl Erne of Crom Castle (I., 1789), Viscount Erne of Crom Castle (I., 1781), Baron Erne of Crom Castle (I., 1768), and as the Baron Fermanagh of Lisnaskea (U.K., 1876). [4]

On 4 May 2019, at Holy Trinity Church, Crom, County Fermanagh, near Crom Castle, the family seat which he still owns, Erne was married to Harriet Elizabeth Patterson, daughter of Alan James Patterson, by Ferran Glenfield, Church of Ireland Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh. [5]

The heir presumptive is the present holder's second cousin once removed, Charles David Blayney Crichton (born 1953), who has a son, Oliver Charles Martin Crichton (born 1995). [4]

Title succession chart

Title succession chart, Barons Erne, Viscounts Erne and Earls Erne
Abraham Creighton
1st Baron Erne

c. 1700 – 1772
Viscount Erne
Earl Erne
John Creighton
1st Earl Erne

1731–1828
Abraham Creighton
2nd Earl Erne

1765–1842
Lt. Col. Hon.
John Creighton
1772–1833
Baron Fermanagh
(1876, UK
)
John Crichton
3rd Earl Erne

1802–1885
John Crichton
4th Earl Erne

1839–1914
Henry Crichton
Viscount Crichton
1872–1914
Col. Hon.
George Crichton
1874–1952
George Crichton
1904–1904
John Crichton
5th Earl Erne

1907–1940
David Crichton
1914–1997
Henry Crichton
6th Earl Erne

1937–2015
Charles Crichton
born 1953
John Crichton
7th Earl Erne

born 1971
Oliver Crichton
born 1995

Notes

  1. "No. 13124". The London Gazette . 22 August 1789. p. 557.
  2. "No. 12146". The London Gazette . 23 December 1780. p. 1.
  3. "No. 24283". The London Gazette . 11 January 1876. p. 99.
  4. 1 2 3 Burke's Peerage , volume 1, 1999, p. 990; Burke's Peerage, volume 1, 2003, p. 1331.
  5. Jessica Campbell, "Crom is stunning backdrop as Earl of Erne marries", impartialreporter.com, 27 May 2019, accessed 18 February 2023.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marquess of Downshire</span> Title in the peerage of Ireland and associated titles in the peerage of Great Britain

Marquess of Downshire is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1789 for Wills Hill, 1st Earl of Hillsborough, a former Secretary of State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marquess Conyngham</span> Title in the peerage of Ireland

Marquess Conyngham, of the County of Donegal, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1816 for Henry Conyngham, 1st Earl Conyngham. He was the great-nephew of another Henry Conyngham, 1st Earl Conyngham, a member of a family of Scottish descent which had settled during the Plantation of Ulster in County Donegal in Ireland in the early 17th century. The 'founder' of the dynasty in Ireland was The Very Rev. Dr. Alexander Cunningham, Dean of Raphoe. The earlier Henry was a member of both the Irish House of Commons and the British House of Commons and served as Vice-Admiral of Ulster and as Governor of the counties of Donegal and Londonderry. In 1753 he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Conyngham, of Mount Charles in the County of Donegal, and in 1756 he was created Viscount Conyngham, in Ireland, also in the Peerage of Ireland. In 1781 he was made Baron Conyngham, of Mount Charles in the County of Donegal, with remainder to his nephew Francis Burton, and Earl Conyngham, of Mount Charles in the County of Donegal, which like the creations of 1753 and 1756 was created with normal remainder to the heirs male of his body. The latter titles were also in the Peerage of Ireland. Lord Conyngham was childless and on his death in 1781 the barony of 1753, the viscountcy and earldom became extinct while he was succeeded in the barony of 1781 according to the special remainder by his aforementioned nephew Francis. He was the eldest son of Mary, sister of the first Earl Conyngham, by her husband Francis Burton. The new 2nd Baron Conyngham, who had earlier represented Killybegs and County Clare in the Irish House of Commons, assumed by Royal licence the surname and arms of Conyngham on succeeding to the titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl of Stair</span> Title in the Peerage of Scotland

Earl of Stair is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1703 for the lawyer and statesman John Dalrymple, 2nd Viscount of Stair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl of Enniskillen</span> Title in the peerage of Ireland

Earl of Enniskillen is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1789 for William Cole, 1st Viscount Enniskillen. He had already been created Viscount Enniskillen in the Peerage of Ireland in 1776 and had inherited the title Baron Mountflorence, of Florence Court in the County of Fermanagh, which had been created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1760 for his father John Cole, who had earlier represented Enniskillen in the Irish House of Commons. The family are descended from the Ulster planter, Sir William Cole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl Belmore</span> Title in the peerage of Ireland

Earl Belmore is a title in the Peerage of Ireland that was created in 1797 for Armar Lowry-Corry, 1st Viscount Belmore, who had previously represented County Tyrone in the Irish House of Commons. He had already been created Baron Belmore, of Castle Coole in County Fermanagh, in 1781 and Viscount Belmore in 1789, also in the Peerage of Ireland. Born Armar Lowry, he was the son of Galbraith Lowry, Member of the Irish House of Commons for County Tyrone, and his wife Sarah, daughter of Colonel John Corry. In 1774, he assumed by Royal licence the additional surname of Corry. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He represented County Tyrone in both the Irish and British House of Commons, sat in the House of Lords as an Irish representative peer from 1819 to 1841, and served as Governor of Jamaica from 1828 to 1832.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl of Roden</span> Title in the Peerage of Ireland

Earl of Roden is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1771 for Robert Jocelyn, 2nd Viscount Jocelyn. This branch of the Jocelyn family descends from the 1st Viscount, prominent Irish lawyer and politician Robert Jocelyn, the son of Thomas Jocelyn, third son of Sir Robert Jocelyn, 1st Baronet, of Hyde Hall. He notably served as the Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1739 to 1756. In 1743, he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Newport, of Newport, and in 1755 he was further honoured, when he was made Viscount Jocelyn, also in the Peerage of Ireland. He was succeeded by his son, the second Viscount. He represented Old Leighlin in the Irish House of Commons and served as Auditor-General of Ireland. In 1770 he also succeeded his first cousin once removed as fifth Baronet of Hyde Hall. In 1771 he was created Earl of Roden, of High Roding in the County of Tipperary, in the Peerage of Ireland. Lord Roden married Lady Anne Hamilton, daughter of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Clanbrassil and sister of James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Clanbrassil, a title which became extinct in 1798.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl of Dudley</span> Title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom

Earl of Dudley, of Dudley Castle in the County of Stafford, is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, both times for members of the Ward family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baron Farnham</span> Title of nobility in the peerage of Ireland

Baron Farnham, of Farnham in the County of Cavan, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1756 for John Maxwell, who had previously represented Cavan Borough in the Irish House of Commons. John Maxwell's son, the second Baron, was created Viscount Farnham in 1760 and Earl of Farnham in 1763. Both titles were in the Peerage of Ireland but became extinct when he died childless in 1779. His brother and successor, the third Baron, was again created Viscount Farnham in 1781 and Earl of Farnham in 1785. These titles were also in the Peerage of Ireland. His son, the second Earl, sat in the House of Lords as an Irish representative peer from 1816 to 1823. However, he had no children and on his death in 1823 the viscountcy and earldom became extinct.

A list of the Lord Lieutenants of Fermanagh, located County Fermanagh of Northern Ireland, U.K.

Henry George Victor John Crichton, 6th Earl Erne, KCVO, was an Anglo-Irish peer and a Lord Lieutenant of Fermanagh. He was known to his family and friends as Harry Erne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Crichton, 4th Earl Erne</span> Anglo-Irish peer and Conservative politician (1839–1914)

John Henry Crichton, 4th Earl Erne,, styled Viscount Crichton from 1842 to 1885, was an Anglo-Irish peer and Conservative politician.

John Crichton, 3rd Earl Erne, KP, was an Anglo-Irish peer and politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Creighton, 1st Earl Erne</span> Irish politician (1731–1828)

John Creighton, 1st Earl Erne, PC, known as The Lord Erne between 1772 and 1781 and as The Viscount Erne between 1781 and 1789, was an Irish peer and politician.

John Henry George Crichton, 5th Earl Erne, briefly styled Viscount Crichton in 1914, was an Anglo-Irish peer, soldier and politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abraham Creighton, 1st Baron Erne</span> Irish peer and politician (1703–1772)

Abraham Creighton, 1st Baron Erne, was an Irish peer and politician.

Abraham Creighton, 2nd Earl Erne, was an Irish peer and politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis Baring, 2nd Earl of Northbrook</span> British politician

Francis George Baring, 2nd Earl of Northbrook, styled Viscount Baring from 1876 to 1904, was a British politician.

The Honourable Gustavus Hamilton was an Irish MP.

Crom Castle is a country house on the shores of Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, the seat of the Earls Erne. Standing within the 1,900-acre (7.7 km2) Crom Estate, and within a formal garden, the castle is built in stone. A central battlemented tower includes the main entrance, and there are also smaller towers to one side. It stands apart from the ruins of Old Crom Castle, of which two towers, some walls, and a ha-ha survive, and near them two ancient yew trees, believed to be at least 800 years old.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph Gore, 1st Earl of Ross</span> Anglo-Irish soldier and politician

General The Rt Hon. Ralph Gore, 1st Earl of Ross, known as Sir Ralph Gore, 6th Baronet, from 1746 until 1764, subsequently as The Baron Gore until 1768, and then as The Viscount Belleisle until 1772, was an Anglo-Irish soldier, politician and peer.

References