List of viscounts in the peerages of Britain and Ireland

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This is a list of the 110 present and extant Viscounts in the Peerages of England, Scotland, Great Britain, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Note that it does not include extant viscountcies which have become merged (either through marriage or elevation) with higher peerages and are today in use only as subsidiary titles. For a more complete list, which adds these "hidden" viscounties as well as extinct, dormant, abeyant, and forfeit ones, see List of Viscountcies.

Contents

Order of precedence

Heraldic representation of the Coronet of a British Viscount Coronet of a British Viscount.svg
Heraldic representation of the Coronet of a British Viscount

The general order of precedence among Viscounts is:

  1. Viscounts in the Peerage of England
  2. Viscounts in the Peerage of Scotland
  3. Viscounts in the Peerage of Great Britain
  4. Viscounts in the Peerage of Ireland created before 1801
  5. Viscounts in the Peerage of the United Kingdom and Viscounts in the Peerage of Ireland created after 1801

Viscounts in the Peerages of Britain and Ireland

Key
Heir apparent to the peerage [Notes 1]
Heir presumptive to the peerage
NumberTitleDate of creationArmsCurrent holderPeerageSubsidiary TitlesHeir
1The Viscount Hereford 1550 Devereux arms.svg Robin Devereux, 19th Viscount Hereford England Henry Devereux
2The Viscount Falkland 1620 Arms of the Carey family of Chilton Foliat.png Lucius Cary, 15th Viscount Falkland Scotland Lucius Cary, Master of Falkland
3The Viscount Arbuthnott 1641 Arms Viscount of Arbuthnott (shield).svg Keith Arbuthnott, 17th Viscount of ArbuthnottScotland Christopher Arbuthnott, Master of Arbuthnott
4The Viscount Oxfuird 1651 Viscount of Oxfuird arms.svg Ian Makgill, 14th Viscount of OxfuirdScotland Max Makgill, Master of Oxfuird
5The Viscount Bolingbroke 1712 St. John arms.svg Nicholas St John, 9th Viscount BolingbrokeGreat BritainWalter St John (second cousin twice removed)
The Viscount St. John 1716Great Britain
6The Viscount Cobham 1718 Lyttelton arms.svg Christopher Lyttelton, 12th Viscount Cobham Great Britain Oliver Lyttelton
7The Viscount Falmouth 1720 COA of Boscawen, Earls of Falmouth.svg Evelyn Boscawen, 10th Viscount FalmouthGreat Britain Evelyn Boscawen
8The Viscount Torrington 1721 COA Byng, Viscount Torrington.svg Timothy Byng, 11th Viscount Torrington Great BritainColin Cranmer-Byng (fifth cousin)
9The Viscount Hood 1796 Hood (Viscount Bridport) Arms.svg Henry Hood, 8th Viscount Hood Great Britain Archibald Hood
10The Viscount Gormanston 1478 Arms of the Viscount Gormanston.svg Nicholas Preston, 17th Viscount Gormanston Ireland Jenico Preston
11The Viscount Mountgarret 1550 Earl of Carrick COA.svg Piers Butler, 18th Viscount MountgarretIreland Theo Butler
12The Viscount Valentia 1622 Annesley arms.svg Francis Annesley, 16th Viscount ValentiaIreland Peter Annesley (brother)
13The Viscount Dillon 1622 Arms of Dillon-Lee, Viscount Dillon.svg Henry Dillon, 22nd Viscount DillonIreland Francis Dillon
14The Viscount Massereene 1661 ClotworthyArmsInkscape.png John Skeffington, 14th Viscount Massereene Ireland Viscount Ferrard (Ireland 1797) Charles Skeffington
15The Viscount Charlemont 1665 Arms of the Viscount Charlemont.svg John Caulfeild, 15th Viscount CharlemontIreland Shane Caulfeild
16The Viscount Downe 1680 Arms of Dawnay.svg Richard Dawnay, 12th Viscount DowneIrelandRupert Dawney (cousin)
17The Viscount Molesworth 1716 Molesworth Escutcheon.png Robert Molesworth, 12th Viscount MolesworthIreland William Molesworth (brother)
18The Viscount Chetwynd 1717 Arms of Chetwynd, Viscount Chetwynd.svg Adam Chetwynd, 11th Viscount ChetwyndIreland Connor Chetwynd
19The Viscount Midleton 1717 Arms of the Viscount Midleton.svg Alan Brodrick, 12th Viscount MidletonIreland Ashley Brodrick
20The Viscount Boyne 1717 Arms of Viscount Boyne.svg Gustavus Hamilton-Russell, 11th Viscount BoyneIreland Gustavus Hamilton-Russell
21The Viscount Gage 1720 Arms of the Viscount Gage.svg Nicolas Gage, 8th Viscount GageIreland Henry Gage
22The Viscount Galway 1727 George Monckton-Arundell Arms.svg Philip Monckton, 13th Viscount Galway Ireland Geoffrey Monckton-Arundell
23The Viscount Powerscourt 1744 Arms of the Viscount Powerscourt.svg Mervyn Wingfield, 11th Viscount PowerscourtIrelandRichard Wingfield (fifth cousin once removed)
24The Viscount Ashbrook 1751 Arms of the Viscount Ashbrook.svg Michael Flower, 11th Viscount AshbrookIreland Rowland Flower
25The Viscount Southwell 1776 Southwell Escutcheon.png Richard Southwell, 8th Viscount SouthwellIreland Charles Southwell (brother)
26The Viscount de Vesci 1776 De Vesci of Abbey Leix arms.svg Thomas Vesey, 7th Viscount de VesciIreland Oliver Vesey
27The Viscount Lifford 1781 Lifford Escutcheon.png Edward Hewitt, 9th Viscount LiffordIreland James Hewitt
28The Viscount Bangor 1781 Arms of Ward-Hamilton.svg William Ward, 8th Viscount BangorIreland Edward Ward (half-brother)
29The Viscount Doneraile 1785 Arms of St Leger.svg Richard St Leger, 10th Viscount DoneraileIreland Nathaniel St Leger
30The Viscount Harberton 1791 PomeroyArms.png Henry Pomeroy, 11th Viscount HarbertonIreland Patrick Pomeroy
31The Viscount Hawarden 1793 Arms of the Viscount Hawarden.svg Robert Maude, 9th Viscount HawardenIreland Varian Maude
32The Viscount Monck 1801 [Notes 2] Arms of Monck.svg Charles Monck, 7th Viscount MonckIreland George Monck (brother)
33The Viscount St Vincent 1801 Arms of the Viscount St Vincent.svg Edward Jervis, 8th Viscount St VincentUnited Kingdom James Jervis
34The Viscount Melville 1802 Melville Escutcheon.png Robert Dundas, 10th Viscount MelvilleUnited Kingdom Max Dundas
35The Viscount Sidmouth 1805 Addington arms (Viscount Sidmouth).svg Jeremy Francis Addington, 8th Viscount SidmouthUnited Kingdom John Addington
36The Viscount Gort 1816 [Notes 3] Arms of the Viscount Gort.svg Foley Robert Standish Prendergast Vereker, 9th Viscount GortIreland Robert Vereker
37The Viscount Exmouth 1816 Arms of the Viscount Exmouth.svg Paul Pellew, 10th Viscount Exmouth United Kingdom Edward Pellew
38The Viscount Combermere 1827 Coats of arms of None.svg Thomas Stapleton-Cotton, 6th Viscount CombermereUnited Kingdom Laszlo Stapleton-Cotton
39The Viscount Hill 1842 Arms Hill OfHillsCourt Nash Shropshire.png David Clegg-Hill, 9th Viscount HillUnited Kingdom Michael Clegg-Hill
40The Viscount Hardinge 1846 Blazon of Viscounts Hardinge (1846).svg Andrew Hardinge, 7th Viscount HardingeUnited Kingdom Jamie Hardinge (brother)
41The Viscount Bridport 1868 Arms of the Viscount of Bridport.svg Alexander Hood, 4th Viscount Bridport United Kingdom Peregrine Hood
42The Viscount Portman 1873 Arms of the Viscount Portman.svg Christopher Portman, 10th Viscount Portman United Kingdom Luke Portman
43The Viscount Hampden 1884 Hampden Escutcheon.png Francis Brand, 7th Viscount HampdenUnited Kingdom Lucian Brand
44The Viscount Hambleden 1868 Blazon of Smith (Viscount Hambleden, 1891).svg Henry Smith, 5th Viscount Hambleden United Kingdom Bernardo Smith (brother)
45The Viscount Knutsford 1895 Coats of arms of None.svg Michael Holland-Hibbert, 6th Viscount KnutsfordUnited Kingdom Henry Holland-Hibbert
46The Viscount Esher 1897 Arms of the Viscount Esher.svg Christopher Brett, 5th Viscount EsherUnited Kingdom Matthew Brett
47The Viscount Goschen 1900 COA of Goschen, Viscounts Goschen.svg Giles Goschen, 4th Viscount Goschen United Kingdom Alexander Goschen
48The Viscount Ridley 1900 COA of Ridley.svg Matthew Ridley, 5th Viscount Ridley United Kingdom Matthew Ridley
49The Viscount Colville of Culross 1902 Colville-Lindsay arms.svg Charles Colville, 5th Viscount Colville of Culross United Kingdom Richmond Colville (brother)
50The Viscount Selby 1905 Selby Escutcheon.png Christopher Rolf Thomas Gully, 6th Viscount SelbyUnited Kingdom James Gully (great-uncle)
51The Viscount Knollys 1911 Arms of Knollys, Viscount Knollys.svg Patrick Knollys, 4th Viscount KnollysUnited Kingdom Alexander Knollys
52The Viscount Allendale 1911 Beaumont arms (Allendale).svg Wentworth Beaumont, 4th Viscount AllendaleUnited Kingdom Wentworth Beaumont
53The Viscount Chilston 1911 Arms of the Viscount Chilston.svg Alastair Akers-Douglas, 4th Viscount ChilstonUnited Kingdom Oliver Akers-Douglas
54The Viscount Scarsdale 1911 Arms of the Viscount Scarsdale.svg Peter Curzon, 4th Viscount ScarsdaleUnited Kingdom David Curzon (brother)
55The Viscount Mersey 1916 Arms of the house of Bigham, Viscounts Mersey.svg Edward John Hallam Bigham, 5th Viscount MerseyUnited Kingdom David Bigham (uncle)
56The Viscount Cowdray 1917 Cowdray Escutcheon.png Michael Pearson, 4th Viscount Cowdray United Kingdom Peregrine Pearson
57The Viscount Devonport 1917 Arms of the Viscount Devonport.svg Terence Kearley, 3rd Viscount Devonport United KingdomChester Kearley (first cousin)
58The Viscount Astor 1917 Astor (Viscount Astor) Arms.svg William Astor, 4th Viscount Astor United Kingdom William Astor
59The Viscount Wimborne 1918 Arms of the Viscount Wimborne.svg Ivor Guest, 4th Viscount Wimborne United Kingdom Ivor Guest
60The Viscount St Davids 1918 St Davids Escutcheon.png Rhodri Philipps, 4th Viscount St Davids United Kingdom Roland Philipps (brother)
61The Viscount Rothermere 1919 Rothermere Escutcheon.png Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere United Kingdom Richard Harmsworth
62The Viscount Allenby 1919 Allenby Escutcheon.png Henry Allenby, 4th Viscount AllenbyUnited Kingdom Harry Allenby
63The Viscount Chelmsford 1921 Chelmsford Escutcheon.png Frederic Thesiger, 4th Viscount ChelmsfordUnited Kingdom Frederic Thesiger
64The Viscount Long 1921 Long (Viscount Long) arms.png James Long, 5th Viscount LongUnited Kingdomnone
65The Viscount Ullswater 1921 Ullswater Escutcheon.png Nicholas Lowther, 2nd Viscount Ullswater United Kingdom Benjamin Lowther
66The Viscount Younger of Leckie 1923 Arms of the Viscount Younger of Leckie.svg James Younger, 5th Viscount Younger of Leckie United Kingdom Alexander Younger
67The Viscount Bearsted 1925 Bearsted Escutcheon.png Nicholas Samuel, 5th Viscount BearstedUnited Kingdom Harry Samuel
68The Viscount Craigavon 1927 Craigavon Escutcheon.png Janric Craig, 3rd Viscount Craigavon United Kingdomnone
69The Viscount Bridgeman 1929 Bridgeman arms.svg Robin Bridgeman, 3rd Viscount Bridgeman United Kingdom Luke Bridgeman
70The Viscount Hailsham 1929 Quintin Hogg Arms.svg Douglas Hogg, 3rd Viscount Hailsham [1] United Kingdom Quintin Hogg
71The Viscount Brentford 1929 Brentford Achievement.png Crispin Joynson-Hicks, 4th Viscount BrentfordUnited Kingdom Paul Joynson-Hicks
72The Viscount Buckmaster 1932 Buckmaster Escutcheon.png Adrian Buckmaster, 4th Viscount Buckmaster United Kingdom Rupert Buckmaster (grandson)
73The Viscount Bledisloe 1935 Charles Bathurst Arms.svg Rupert Bathurst, 4th Viscount BledisloeUnited Kingdom Benjamin Bathurst
74The Viscount Hanworth 1936 Hanworth Escutcheon.png David Pollock, 3rd Viscount Hanworth United KingdomHarold Pollock (nephew)
75The Viscount Trenchard 1936 Trenchard Escutcheon.png Hugh Trenchard, 3rd Viscount Trenchard United Kingdom Alexander Trenchard
76The Viscount Samuel 1937 Samuel Escutcheon.png Jonathan Samuel, 5th Viscount Samuel United Kingdom Benjamin Samuel (half-brother)
77The Viscount Runciman of Doxford 1937 Arms of the Viscount Runciman of Doxford.svg David Runciman, 4th Viscount Runciman of Doxford United Kingdom Thomas Runciman
78The Viscount Davidson 1937 Davidson Achievement.png Nicolas Davidson, 4th Viscount DavidsonUnited Kingdomnone
79The Viscount Weir 1938 Weir Escutcheon.png William Weir, 3rd Viscount WeirUnited Kingdom James Weir
80The Viscount Caldecote 1939 Caldecote Achievement.png Piers Inskip, 3rd Viscount CaldecoteUnited Kingdom Thomas Inskip
81The Viscount Camrose 1941 Camrose Achievement.png Jonathan Berry, 5th Viscount CamroseUnited Kingdom Hugo Berry
82The Viscount Stansgate 1942 Stansgate Escutcheon.png Stephen Benn, 3rd Viscount Stansgate United Kingdom Daniel Wedgwood-Benn
83The Viscount Margesson 1942 Margesson Escutcheon.png Richard Margesson, 3rd Viscount MargessonUnited Kingdomnone
84The Viscount Daventry 1943 Arms of the Viscount Daventry.svg James FitzRoy Newdegate, 4th Viscount DaventryUnited Kingdom Humphrey FitzRoy Newdegate
85The Viscount Addison 1945 Arms of Viscount Addison.svg William Addison, 4th Viscount Addison United Kingdom Paul Addison
86The Viscount Kemsley 1945 Kemsley Escutcheon.png Richard Berry, 3rd Viscount Kemsley United Kingdom Luke Berry
87The Viscount Marchwood 1945 Marchwood Escutcheon.png Peter Penny, 4th Viscount MarchwoodUnited Kingdom Kit Penny
88The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein 1946 Arms of the Viscount Montgomery of Alamein.svg Henry Montgomery, 3rd Viscount Montgomery of AlameinUnited Kingdomnone
89The Viscount Waverley 1952 Waverley Escutcheon.png John Anderson, 3rd Viscount Waverley United Kingdom Forbes Anderson
90The Viscount Thurso 1952 Arms of the Viscount Thurso.svg John Sinclair, 3rd Viscount Thurso United Kingdom James Sinclair
91The Viscount Brookeborough 1952 Arms of Viscount Brookeborough.svg Alan Brooke, 3rd Viscount Brookeborough United Kingdom Christopher Brooke (brother)
92The Viscount Norwich 1952 Norwich Achievement.png Jason Cooper, 3rd Viscount NorwichUnited Kingdomnone
93The Viscount Leathers 1954 Arms of the Viscount Leathers.svg Christopher Leathers, 3rd Viscount LeathersUnited Kingdom James Leathers
94The Viscount Soulbury 1954 Soulbury Achievement.png Oliver Ramsbotham, 4th Viscount SoulburyUnited Kingdom Herwald Ramsbotham
95The Viscount Chandos 1954 Lyttelton arms (Viscount Chandos).svg Thomas Lyttelton, 3rd Viscount Chandos [2] United Kingdom Oliver Lyttleton
96The Viscount Malvern 1955 Malvern Escutcheon.png Ashley Huggins, 3rd Viscount MalvernUnited Kingdom Martin Huggins (uncle)
97The Viscount De L'Isle 1956 Arms of Sydney, Viscount De L'Isle.svg Philip Sidney, 2nd Viscount De L'Isle United Kingdom Philip Sidney
98The Viscount Monckton of Brenchley 1957 Monckton of Brenchley Escutcheon.png Christopher Monckton, 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley United Kingdom Timothy Monckton (brother)
99The Viscount Tenby 1957 Arms of Lloyd George, Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor.svg Timothy Lloyd George, 4th Viscount TenbyUnited Kingdomnone
100The Viscount Mackintosh of Halifax 1957 Mackintosh of Halifax Escutcheon.png Clive Mackintosh, 3rd Viscount Mackintosh of Halifax United Kingdom Thomas Mackintosh
101The Viscount Dunrossil 1959 Dunrossil (Scotland) Escutcheon.png Andrew Morrison, 3rd Viscount DunrossilUnited Kingdom Callum Morrison
102The Viscount Stuart of Findhorn 1959 Arms of the Viscount Stuart of Findhorn.svg James Stuart, 3rd Viscount Stuart of FindhornUnited Kingdom Andrew Stuart (half-brother)
103The Viscount Rochdale 1960 Rochdale Escutcheon.png Jonathan Kemp, 3rd Viscount RochdaleUnited KingdomGeorge Kemp (nephew)
104The Viscount Slim 1960 Arms of the Viscount Slim.svg Mark Slim, 3rd Viscount SlimUnited Kingdom Rufus Slim
105The Viscount Head 1960 Arms of Head, Viscount Head.svg Richard Head, 2nd Viscount HeadUnited Kingdom Henry Head
106The Viscount Boyd of Merton 1960 Arms of Lennox-Boyd, Viscount Boyd of Merton.svg Simon Lennox-Boyd, 2nd Viscount Boyd of Merton United Kingdom Benjamin Lennox-Boyd
107The Viscount Mills 1962 Arms of the Viscount Mills.svg Christopher Mills, 3rd Viscount MillsUnited Kingdomnone
108The Viscount Blakenham 1963 Hare arms.svg Casper John Hare, 3rd Viscount BlakenhamUnited Kingdom Inigo Hare
109The Viscount Eccles 1964 Eccles Escutcheon.png John Eccles, 2nd Viscount Eccles United Kingdom William Eccles
110The Viscount Dilhorne 1964 BullerArms.PNG James Manningham-Buller, 3rd Viscount DilhorneUnited Kingdom Edward Manningham-Buller

See also

Notes

  1. The heir apparent of a viscount carries the honorific style "The Honourable", often abbreviated to "The Hon." For a discussion of this prefix, see The Honourable#United Kingdom.
  2. The Viscount Monck was created after the Acts of Union 1800. It takes precedence after earlier Viscountcies of the United Kingdom.
  3. The Viscount Gort was created after the Acts of Union 1800. It takes precedence after earlier Viscountcies of the United Kingdom.

Related Research Articles

Peerages in the United Kingdom form a legal system comprising both hereditary and lifetime titles, composed of various ranks, and within the framework of the Constitution of the United Kingdom form a constituent part of the legislative process and the British honours system. The British monarch is considered the fount of honour and is notionally the only person who can grant peerages, though there are many conventions about how this power is used, especially at the request of the British government. The term peerage can be used both collectively to refer to the entire body of titled nobility, and individually to refer to a specific title. British peerage title holders are termed peers of the Realm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viscount</span> Aristocratic title in various European countries

A viscount or viscountess is a title used in certain European countries for a noble of varying status. The status and any domain held by a viscount is a viscountcy.

The Peerage of Ireland consists of those titles of nobility created by the English monarchs in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland, or later by monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It is one of the five divisions of Peerages in the United Kingdom. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are duke, marquess, earl, viscount and baron. As of 2016, there were 135 titles in the Peerage of Ireland extant: two dukedoms, ten marquessates, 43 earldoms, 28 viscountcies, and 52 baronies. However, these titles have no official recognition in the Republic of Ireland, with Article 40.2 of the Constitution of Ireland forbidding the state conferring titles of nobility and stating that an Irish citizen may not accept titles of nobility or honour except with the prior approval of the Irish government.

The order of precedence in the United Kingdom is the sequential hierarchy for Peers of the Realm, officers of state, senior members of the clergy, holders of the various Orders of Chivalry, and is mostly determined, but not limited to, birth order, place in the line of succession, or distance from the reigning monarch. The order of precedence can also be applied to other persons in the three legal jurisdictions within the United Kingdom:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peerage Act 1963</span> United Kingdom legislation

The Peerage Act 1963 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that permits women peeresses and all Scottish hereditary peers to sit in the House of Lords and allows newly inherited hereditary peerages to be disclaimed.

The following is the order of precedence in England and Wales as of April 2024. Separate orders exist for men and women.

The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain. There are five peerages in the United Kingdom in total.

The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain between the Acts of Union 1707 and the Acts of Union 1800. It replaced the Peerage of England and the Peerage of Scotland, but was itself replaced by the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1801.

The Peerage of the United Kingdom is one of the five Peerages in the United Kingdom. It comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Acts of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain. New peers continued to be created in the Peerage of Ireland until 1898

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

Earl of Donoughmore is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It is associated with the Hely-Hutchinson family. Paternally of Gaelic Irish descent with the original name of Ó hÉalaighthe, their ancestors had long lived in the County Cork area as allies of the Mac Cárthaigh clan; they lost out during the times of Oliver Cromwell. One branch of the family converted to the Anglican Church and after inheriting territories through his mother and adding "Hutchinson" to Hely, became the Earl of Donoughmore.

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A peerage is a legal system historically comprising various hereditary titles in a number of countries, and composed of assorted noble ranks.

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References

  1. Current Viscount has life peerage Baron Hailsham of Kettlethorpe
  2. Current Viscount has life peerage Baron Lyttleton of Aldershot