Edward Lascelles, 1st Earl of Harewood facts for kids

Edward Lascelles, 1st Earl of Harewood in his special robes

Edward Lascelles, 1st Earl of Harewood (born January 7, 1740 – died April 3, 1820) was an important person in British history. He owned a lot of land and was a big collector of art. He also held special titles as a peer and served as a member of parliament, which means he helped make laws for the country.

Early Life and Family Wealth

Edward Lascelles was the son of Edward Lascelles, who worked for the government in Barbados. His family had a long history. When his cousin, Edwin Lascelles, passed away without children, Edward inherited a very large family fortune. This wealth came from business activities in the West Indies.

This fortune made his family one of the richest in Britain. In 1799, it was thought his family was the third wealthiest in the country. They owned about £2.9 million, which was a huge amount of money back then! Edward used a lot of this money to buy beautiful artworks.

His Time in Politics

Edward Lascelles was involved in British politics for many years. He was a member of the Whig political party. He served as a member of parliament for a place called Northallerton.

He was an MP from 1761 to 1774, and then again from 1790 to 1796. Being an MP meant he represented the people of Northallerton in the government.

Special Titles and Honors

In 1796, Edward received a special honor. He was given the title of Baron Harewood. This title was connected to Harewood in Yorkshire.

Later, in 1812, he received even higher honors. He was made Viscount Lascelles and then Earl of Harewood. These titles showed his important position in British society.

Edward's Family

Edward Lascelles married Anne Chaloner on May 12, 1761. Anne was from a family in Guisborough. Together, Edward and Anne had four children.

• Lady Mary Anne Lascelles (died 1831), who married Richard York.
• Edward Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles (born around 1764 – died 1814). He never married.
• Henry Lascelles, 2nd Earl of Harewood (born 1767 – died 1841). He later became the next Earl.
• Lady Frances Lascelles (born around 1777 – died 1817). She married Hon. John Douglas and had children.