Earl of Iddesleigh

Arms of Northcote: Argent, three crosses-crosslet in bend sable

Stafford Henry Northcote,
1st Earl of Iddesleigh

Earl of Iddesleigh, in the County of Devon, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1885 for the Conservative politician Sir Stafford Northcote, 8th Baronet, of Pynes in the parish of Upton Pyne near Exeter in Devon and lord of the manor of Iddesleigh, 28 miles north-west of Pynes. He served as President of the Board of Trade, Secretary of State for India, Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Treasury and Foreign Secretary and was Joint Leader of the Conservative Party from 1881 to 1885. Northcote was made Viscount St Cyres, of Newton Saint Cyres in the County of Devon, at the same time he was given the earldom. This title is also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He notably served as Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue. On his death the titles passed to his nephew, the third Earl. He was the youngest son of Reverend the Hon. John Stafford Northcote, third son of the first Earl. His eldest son, the fourth Earl, served as a Deputy Lieutenant of Devon. As of 2014 the titles are held by the latter's only son, the fifth Earl, who succeeded in 2004.

The Northcote Baronetcy, of Haynes in the County of Devon, was created in the Baronetage of England in 1641 for John Northcote. He represented Ashburton, Devon and Barnstaple in the House of Commons. His grandson, the third Baronet (who succeeded his father), died childless in 1709 and was succeeded by his younger brother, the fourth Baronet. He was a Medical Doctor. His son, the fifth Baronet, sat as Member of Parliament for Exeter. His great-great-grandson was the aforementioned eighth Baronet, who was elevated to the peerage in 1885.

Two other members of the Northcote family have also gained distinction. The Hon. Henry Northcote, second son of the first Earl, was created Baron Northcote in 1899 and served as Governor-General of Australia from 1904 to 1908. Sir Geoffrey Northcote, Governor of Hong Kong from 1937 to 1941, was the son of Reverend the Hon. Arthur Francis Northcote, fourth son of the first Earl.

The title of the earldom is pronounced "Idsly" while the family surname is pronounced "Northcut".

The family seat is Hayne, near Exeter, Devon.

Northcote Baronets, of Hayne (1641)

• Sir John Northcote, 1st Baronet (1600–1676)
• Sir Arthur Northcote, 2nd Baronet (1628–1688)
• Sir Francis Northcote, 3rd Baronet (1659–1709)
• Sir Henry Northcote, 4th Baronet (1667–1730)
• Sir Henry Northcote, 5th Baronet (1710–1743)
• Sir Stafford Northcote, 6th Baronet (1736–1770)
• Sir Stafford Henry Northcote, 7th Baronet (1762–1851)
• Sir Stafford Henry Northcote, 8th Baronet (1818–1887) (created Earl of Iddesleigh in 1885)

Earls of Iddesleigh (1885)

• Stafford Henry Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh (1818–1887)
• Walter Stafford Northcote, 2nd Earl of Iddesleigh (1845–1927)
• Henry Stafford Northcote, 3rd Earl of Iddesleigh (1901–1970)
• Stafford Henry Northcote, 4th Earl of Iddesleigh (1932–2004)
• John Stafford Northcote, 5th Earl of Iddesleigh (born 1957)

The heir apparent is the present holder's only son, Thomas Stafford Northcote, Viscount St Cyres (born 1985).

References

• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages
• Lundy, Darryl. "FAQ". The Peerage.
• British History Online- Baronets
• Line of descent of the Northcote family from Galfridus de Northcote
• Northcote Manor, seat of Galfridus de Northcote

See

• Baron Northcote

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Walter Stafford Northcote, 2nd Earl of Iddesleigh
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Henry Stafford Northcote, 3rd Earl of Iddesleigh