Earl of Mansfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Earldom of Mansfield |
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Quarterly, 1st and 4th, az. three stars within a double tressure flory counterflory with fleurs-de-lis (for Murray); 2nd and 3rd gu. three crosses patté or, two and one (for Barclay, of Balvaird)
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| Creation date | 1776 and 1792 |
| Monarch | George III |
| Peerage | Peerage of Great Britain |
| First holder | William Murray, 1st Baron Mansfield |
| Present holder | Alexander Murray, 9th Earl of Mansfield, 8th Earl of Mansfield |
| Heir apparent | William Murray, Viscount Stormont |
| Subsidiary titles | Viscount of Stormont Lord Balvaird Lord Scone |
| Seat(s) | Scone Palace |
| Former seat(s) | Balvaird Castle Kenwood House |
| Motto | Uni aequus virtuti ("Friendly in virtue alone") Spero meliora ("I aspire to greater things") |
The titles Earl of Mansfield, in Nottinghamshire, and Earl of Mansfield, in Middlesex, are two important titles in the Peerage of Great Britain. These two titles have been held by the same person since 1843. A "peerage" is a system of noble titles, like Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, and Baron.
Contents
The History of the Earls of Mansfield
How the Titles Began
The titles Earl of Mansfield were created for a Scottish lawyer and judge named William Murray. He was the fourth son of David Murray, 5th Viscount of Stormont. William Murray was a very important judge. He served as the top judge, called the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, from 1756 to 1788.
He first received the title Baron Mansfield in 1756. This title was meant to pass down to his male heirs. Later, two different earldoms of Mansfield were created for him:
- The first Earldom of Mansfield was created in 1776. This title was meant to go to his nephew's wife, Louisa Murray.
- The second Earldom of Mansfield was created in 1792. This one was meant for his nephew, Lord Stormont. It was called "Mansfield in Middlesex" to make it different from the first title.
Passing Down the Titles
William Murray, the first Earl, did not have any children. When he died in 1793, his barony (the title of Baron Mansfield) ended.
However, the two earldoms continued:
- His nephew's wife, Louisa, became the second Countess of Mansfield (of the 1776 creation).
- His nephew, Lord Stormont, became the second Earl of Mansfield (of the 1792 creation).
Lord Stormont was also a well-known politician. He held important government jobs like Secretary of State and Lord President of the Council.
Later Earls
Lord Stormont and Louisa's eldest son became the third Earl (of the 1792 creation). He was a Lord Lieutenant, a representative of the King or Queen in a county.
His son became the fourth Earl (of the 1792 creation). He was a politician who worked for the government as a Lord of the Treasury. In 1843, he also inherited the 1776 earldom from his grandmother, Louisa. This is how the two earldoms became united under one person.
The titles then passed to his grandson, who became the fifth and fourth Earl. He died without marrying. His younger brother then became the sixth and fifth Earl.
The seventh and sixth Earl was a Member of Parliament for Perth. He also served as Lord Lieutenant of Perthshire.
The eighth and seventh Earl worked in Margaret Thatcher's government. He was a Minister of State in the Scottish Office and later the Northern Ireland Office.
The Current Earl
Today, the titles are held by Alexander David Mungo Murray. He is the ninth Earl of Mansfield (of the 1792 creation) and the eighth Earl of Mansfield (of the 1776 creation). He also holds other family titles like Viscount of Stormont.
The main home of the family is Scone Palace, located near Scone in Perthshire. The Earl of Mansfield also has a special role as the Hereditary Keeper of Bruce's Castle of Lochmaben. The family used to own Kenwood House in London from 1754 to 1925.
Earls of Mansfield (1792 Creation)
This list shows the people who have held the title of Earl of Mansfield (created in 1792):
- William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield (1705–1793)
- David Murray, 2nd Earl of Mansfield (1727–1796)
- David William Murray, 3rd Earl of Mansfield (1777–1840)
- William David Murray, 4th Earl of Mansfield (1806–1898)
- William David Murray, 5th Earl of Mansfield (1860–1906)
- Alan David Murray, 6th Earl of Mansfield (1864–1935)
- Mungo David Malcolm Murray, 7th Earl of Mansfield (1900–1971)
- William David Mungo James Murray, 8th Earl of Mansfield (1930–2015)
- Alexander David Mungo Murray, 9th Earl of Mansfield (born 1956)
The Current Earl of Mansfield
Alexander David Mungo Murray, the 9th Earl of Mansfield, was born on October 17, 1956. He is the older son of the 8th Earl and his wife, Pamela Joan Foster. He went to Eton College for his education.
Since 1971, he was known as Viscount Stormont. On October 21, 2015, he inherited the titles of Earl of Mansfield (both creations), Lord Scone, Lord Balvaird, and Viscount of Stormont.
In 1985, he married Sophia Mary Veronica Ashbrooke. They have four children:
- Lady Isabella Mary Alexandra Murray (born 1987)
- William Philip David Mungo Murray, Viscount Stormont (born 1988), who is the next in line to inherit the titles.
- Lady Iona Margaret Sophia Murray (born 1992)
- Lady Louisa Frederica Olivia Murray (born 1996)
Earls of Mansfield (1776 Creation)
This list shows the people who have held the title of Earl of Mansfield (created in 1776):
- William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield (1705–1793)
- Louisa Murray, 2nd Countess of Mansfield (1758–1843)
- William David Murray, 4th Earl of Mansfield (1806–1898)
- After William David Murray, the people holding this title are the same as those listed for the Earls of Mansfield (1792 creation).
Dramatic Recreations
- Let Justice Be Done This was a play by Mixed Blessings Theatre Group in 2008. It included parts of the Earl of Mansfield's story.
