William Courtenay, 9th Earl of Devon

Sir William Courtenay, 2nd Baronet
William Courtenay, 3rd Viscount Courtenay (c. 1768–1835), later 9th Earl of Devon, painted in 1793 aged 25. Miniature by Richard Cosway
Bornc. 1768 (1768)
Died26 May 1835 (aged 66–67)
PartnerWilliam Beckford
FatherWilliam Courtenay
RelativesWilliam Courtenay (grandfather)
Alexander Wedderburn (uncle)
Arms of William Courtenay, 9th Earl of Devon (1475–1511): Arms: Quarterly, 1st and 4th, or three torteaux (for Courtenay); 2nd and 3rd, or a lion rampant azure (for Redvers)
William Courtenay, 3rd Viscount Courtenay (1768-1835), in the masquerade dress he wore aged 21 at his coming-of-age ball at Powderham Castle in 1789, for which event he built the Music Room at Powderham Castle.[1] Detail from portrait by Richard Cosway (1742-1821), collection of Earl of Devon, Powderham Castle, hanging over chimneypiece in Music Room
William "Kitty" Courtenay, 9th Earl of Devon, in boyhood.

William "Kitty" Courtenay, 9th Earl of Devon (c. 1768 – 26 May 1835), was the only son of William Courtenay, de jure 8th Earl of Devon, 2nd Viscount Courtenay, and his wife Frances Clack. He attracted infamy for a homosexual affair with art collector William Beckford from boyhood when it was discovered and publicised by his uncle. From October 1788 until 1831, his official title was The Rt. Hon. The Viscount Courtenay of Powderham.

  1. ^ French, Daniel, (ed.), Powderham Castle Guidebook, 2011, p.17