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| Marquessate of Hertford | |
|---|---|
  Arms: Sable, on a bend cotised Argent a Rose Gules, between two Annulets of the first (for Conway); quartering Quarterly, 1st and 4th: Or, on a Pile Gules between six Fleurs-de-lys Azure three Lions of England (special grant); 2nd and 3rd: Gules, two Wings conjoined in lure Or (Seymour, arms of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset (d.1552)). Crests: 1st: the Bust of a Moor in profile couped at the shoulders proper, and wreathed about the temples Argent and Azure (Conway). 2nd: out of a Ducal Coronet Or, a Phoenix Or, issuing from of flames proper (Seymour). Supporters: On either side a Blackamoor wreathed about the temples Or and Sable, habited in short golden garments and in buskins gold, adorned about their waists with red and green feathers, each holding in his exterior hand a Shield Azure, garnished Or, the dexter charged with a Sun-in-Splendour gold, and the sinister with a Crescent Argent.[1] | |
| Creation date | 5 July 1793 |
| Creation | Second |
| Created by | George III |
| Peerage | Peerage of Great Britain |
| First holder | Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford |
| Present holder | Henry Seymour, 9th Marquess of Hertford |
| Heir apparent | William Seymour, Earl of Yarmouth |
| Remainder to | The 1st Marquess's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten |
| Subsidiary titles | Earl of Hertford Earl of Yarmouth Viscount Beauchamp Baron Conway Baron Conway and Killultagh |
| Status | Extant |
| Seat(s) | Ragley Hall |
| Motto | FIDE ET AMORE (By faith and love) |
| For the 1st Creation see the Dukedom of Somerset | |
The titles of Earl of Hertford and Marquess of Hertford have been created several times in the peerages of England and Great Britain.
The third Earldom of Hertford was created in 1559 for Edward Seymour, who was simultaneously created Baron Beauchamp of Hache. His grandson William Seymour was subsequently created Marquess of Hertford and restored to the title of Duke of Somerset; the Marquessate became extinct in 1675 and the other three titles in 1750.
The present Marquessate was created in 1793. Lord Hertford holds the subsidiary titles of Earl of Yarmouth (Peerage of Great Britain, 1793), Earl of Hertford (Peerage of Great Britain, 1750), Viscount Beauchamp (Peerage of Great Britain, 1750), Baron Conway, of Ragley in the County of Warwick (Peerage of England, 1703), and Baron Conway of Killultagh, of Killultagh in the County of Antrim (Peerage of Ireland, 1712). Lord Hertford's heir uses the style Earl of Yarmouth.
The Marquesses of Hertford are members of the Seymour family headed by the Duke of Somerset. Francis Seymour (1679–1732) was the fourth son of Sir Edward Seymour of Berry Pomeroy, 4th Baronet, a descendant of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset (Sir Edward's grandson Sir Edward Seymour, 6th Baronet, of Berry Pomeroy succeeded as 8th Duke of Somerset in 1750). Upon the death of his elder brother, Francis succeeded to the estates of his relative Edward Conway, 1st Earl of Conway. In 1703 he was created Baron Conway in the Peerage of England and assumed the additional surname of Conway. In 1712 he was created Baron Conway of Killultagh in the Peerage of Ireland. In 1750 his son Francis Seymour-Conway, 2nd Baron Conway, was created Viscount Beauchamp and Earl of Hertford.[2] These were revivals of titles previously held by the Dukes of Somerset, which had become extinct the same year on the death of Seymour-Conway's kinsman Algernon Seymour, 7th Duke of Somerset. In 1793 he was further honoured when he was made Earl of Yarmouth and Marquess of Hertford.[3] The latter title had also previously been held by the Dukes of Somerset, but had become extinct in 1675 (see below).
The family seat is Ragley Hall, near Alcester, Warwickshire.
- ^ Debrett's Peerage. 1968. p. 1036.
- ^ "No. 8975". The London Gazette. 31 July 1750. p. 2.
- ^ "No. 13541". The London Gazette. 29 June 1793. p. 543.