Earl of St Germans

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Earl of St Germans
Coronet of a British Earl.svg
Eliot arms.svg
Arms: Argent, a Fess Gules, between double-cotises wavy Azure, Crest: An Elephant's Head couped Argent, collared Gules. Supporters: On either side an Eagle reguardant, wings expanded proper, each charged on the breast with an Ermine Spot.
Creation date28 November 1815
MonarchThe Prince Regent (acting on behalf of his father King George III)
PeeragePeerage of the United Kingdom
First holderJohn Eliot, 1st Earl
Present holderAlbert Eliot, 11th Earl of St Germans
Heir presumptiveHon. Louis Eliot
Remainder toThe 1st Earl's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titlesBaron Eliot
Seat(s)Port Eliot
MottoPRÆCEDENTIBUS INSTA
(Press close upon those in the lead)

Earl of St Germans, in the County of Cornwall, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom held by the Eliot family that takes its name from the village of St Germans, Cornwall. It has the subsidiary title Baron Eliot. The family seat is Port Eliot.

Heraldic achievement of Eliot, Earls of St Germans
Port Eliot, St Germans - the Eliot family seat

History[]

Edward Eliot represented St Germans, Liskeard and Cornwall in the House of Commons and served as a commissioner of the Board of Trade and Plantations. He was the son of Richard Eliot (died 1748) and his wife Harriot, illegitimate daughter of James Craggs the Younger by his mistress, the noted actress Hester Santlow. In 1784 he was created Baron Eliot, of St Germans in the County of Cornwall, in the Peerage of Great Britain.[1] In 1789 he assumed by Royal licence the additional surname of Craggs. However, this surname has not been used by any of his descendants.

Lord Eliot's second but eldest surviving son, Edward James Eliot, pre-deceased him, and he was succeeded by his third son, John Eliot, 2nd Baron Eliot. In 1815 he was created Earl of St Germans with remainder to his younger brother the Hon. William Eliot and the heirs male of his body.[2][3] He had earlier represented Liskeard in Parliament.

William, the second Earl, was a diplomat and politician, having notably served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. His only son, the third Earl, was also a prominent politician and held ministerial office as Chief Secretary for Ireland, Postmaster General, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland and Lord Steward of the Household. His third but eldest surviving son, the fourth Earl, was in the Diplomatic Service and briefly represented Devonport in the House of Commons. In 1870 he was summoned to the House of Lords through a writ of acceleration in his father's junior title of Baron Eliot. He never married and was succeeded by his younger brother, the fifth Earl.

Henry, the fifth Earl, was in the Foreign Office for many years. This line of the family failed on the death of his second but eldest surviving son, the sixth Earl, in 1922. The late Earl was succeeded by his first cousin, the seventh Earl. He was the eldest son of Colonel the Hon. Charles George Cornwallis Eliot, sixth son of the third Earl. He never married and was succeeded by his younger brother, the eighth Earl. He held several positions at court, notably as Gentleman Usher to King Edward VII and King George V. As of 2016 the titles are held by the eleventh Earl, who succeeded his grandfather in 2016.

Barons Eliot (1784)[]

Earls of Saint Germans and Barons Eliot (1815)[]

The heir presumptive is the present Earl's uncle, the Hon. Louis Robert Eliot (b.1968)

Family tree[]

Eliot Family
Barons Eliot
Earls of Saint German

Notes[]

  1. ^ "No. 12514". The London Gazette. 27 January 1784. p. 3.
  2. ^ "No. 17066". The London Gazette. 30 September 1815. p. 1997.
  3. ^ "No. 17068". The London Gazette. 7 October 1815. p. 2042.
  4. ^ On 28 Nov 1815, Created Earl of Saint Germans, with special remainder on default of male issue to his brother, Hon William Eliot

References[]

  • Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,[page needed]
  • Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages [self-published source][better source needed]

External links[]

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