| Earldom of Malmesbury | |
|---|---|
  Arms: Azure a Chevron Erminois between three Hedgehogs Or on a Chief Argent the Eagle of Prussia displayed Sable beaked legged and langued Gules on the breast the Cypher F.R. and over it the Electoral Cap grasping in the dexter claw a Sceptre and in the sinister a Mound all Or and on each wing a Trefoil slipped of the last | |
| Creation date | 29 December 1800 |
| Creation | First |
| Created by | George III |
| Peerage | Peerage of Great Britain |
| First holder | James Harris, 1st Baron Malmesbury |
| Present holder | James Carleton Harris |
| Heir apparent | James Hugh Carleton Harris, Viscount FitzHarris |
| Subsidiary titles | Viscount FitzHarris Baron Malmesbury |
| Status | Extant |
| Seat(s) | Greywell Hill House |
| Former seat(s) | Heron Court |
Earl of Malmesbury is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1800 for the diplomat James Harris, 1st Baron Malmesbury.[1] The son of the grammarian and politician James Harris, he served as Ambassador to Spain, Prussia, Russia and France and also represented Christchurch in the House of Commons. Harris had been created Baron Malmesbury, of Malmesbury in the County of Wiltshire, in 1788.[2] He was made Viscount FitzHarris, of Hurn Court in the County of Southampton, at the same time as he was given the earldom. The earldom and viscountcy were the last creations in the peerage of Great Britain, future titles being made in the peerage of the United Kingdom which took effect three days later.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He sat as Member of Parliament for Helston, Horsham, Heytesbury and Wilton. His eldest son, the third Earl, was a prominent Conservative politician. He served as Foreign Secretary in 1852 and from 1858 to 1859 and was also Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords. Lord Malmesbury died childless and was succeeded by his nephew, the fourth Earl. He was the son of Admiral the Hon. Sir Edward Harris, second son of the second Earl. His eldest son, the fifth Earl, served as a Lord-in-waiting (government whip in the House of Lords) from 1922 to 1924 in the Conservative administrations of Bonar Law and Stanley Baldwin and was later Chairman of the Hampshire County Council. He was succeeded by his only son, the sixth Earl. He was Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire from 1973 to 1982. As of 2010, the titles are held by his only son, the seventh Earl, who succeeded in 2000.
Two other members of the Harris family have also gained distinction. The aforementioned the Hon. Sir Edward Harris (1808–1888), second son of the second Earl, was an admiral in the Royal Navy, held several diplomatic posts and represented Christchurch in Parliament. The Right Reverend the Hon. Charles Amyand Harris (1813–1874), third son of the second Earl, was a clergyman and served as Bishop of Gibraltar from 1868 to 1873.
The present family seat is Greywell Hill House, near Odiham, Hampshire. The former seat was Heron Court (or Hern Court or Hurn Court) at Hurn, near Christchurch, Dorset (although within the historic county boundaries of Hampshire).
- ^ "No. 15317". The London Gazette. 6 December 1788. p. 1375.
- ^ "No. 13024". The London Gazette. 13 September 1788. p. 437.