Marquess of Donegall

Marquess of Donegall is a title in the Peerage of Ireland held by the head of the Chichester family, originally from Devon, England. Sir John Chichester sat as a Member of Parliament and was High Sheriff of Devon in 1557. One of his sons, Sir Arthur Chichester, was Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1604 to 1614. In 1613, he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Chichester, of Belfast in County Antrim. He died childless in 1625 when the barony became extinct.^[3]

However, in the same year the Chichester title was revived in favour of his younger brother, Edward Chichester, who was made Baron Chichester, of Belfast in the County of Antrim, and Viscount Chichester, of Carrickfergus in County Antrim.^[4] Both titles are in the Peerage of Ireland. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Arthur Chichester. A distinguished soldier, he was created Earl of Donegall in the Peerage of Ireland in 1647 (one year before he succeeded his father), with remainder to the heirs male of his father.^[5][6]

He died without male issue and was succeeded (in the earldom according to the special remainder) by his nephew Arthur Chichester, the second Earl. He was the eldest son of Lieutenant-Colonel John Chichester, second son of the first Viscount. Lord Donegall had previously represented Donegal County in the Irish House of Commons. His eldest son, the third Earl, was a Major-General in the Spanish army and fought in the War of the Spanish Succession. He was killed in action in 1706. His eldest son, the fourth Earl, died childless and was succeeded by his nephew, the fifth Earl. He was the son of the Hon. John Chichester, younger son of the third Earl. Lord Donegall was created Baron Fisherwick, of Fisherwick in the County of Stafford, in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1790, and one year later he was further honoured when he was made Earl of Belfast and Marquess of Donegall in the Peerage of Ireland.^[7]

His grandson, the third Marquess, served as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard under Lord John Russell between 1848 and 1852. In 1841, three years before he succeeded his father in the marquessate, he was created Baron Ennishowen and Carrickfergus, of Ennishowen in the County of Donegal and of Carrickfergus in the County of Antrim, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Both his sons predeceased him and on his death in 1883 the barony of 1841 became extinct. He was succeeded in his other titles by his younger brother, the fourth Marquess. On the death of his grandson, the sixth Marquess, in 1975, the line of the second Marquess failed. The late Marquess was succeeded by his kinsman the fifth Baron Templemore (see below), who became the seventh Marquess. From 1975 until 1999, when most hereditary seats were abolished with the passage of the House of Lords Act 1999, the Marquess sat in the House of Lords as Baron Fisherwick in the Peerage of Great Britain. As of 2015, the titles are held by the latter's son, the eighth Marquess, who succeeded in 2007.^[2]

Chichester family

Several other members of the Chichester family have also gained distinction. John Chichester, grandson of Sir John Chichester, brother of the first Baron Chichester and the first Viscount Chichester, was created a baronet in 1641 (see Chichester baronets).^[8] John Chichester, second son of the first Viscount and father of the second Earl, represented Dungannon in the Irish House of Commons. For the branch of the family founded by John Chichester's younger son and namesake, John Chichester, see Baron O'Neill and Baron Rathcavan. Arthur Chichester, eldest son of Lord Spencer Chichester, second son of the first Marquess, was created Baron Templemore in 1831. Lord Arthur Chichester, fourth son of the second Marquess, and Lord John Chichester, sixth son of the second Marquess, both represented Belfast in Parliament. Robert Chichester, eldest son of Lord Adolphus Chichester, youngest son of the fourth Marquess, briefly represented Londonderry South in Parliament. His wife Dehra was also a politician while their daughter Marion Caroline Dehra was the mother of politicians James Chichester-Clark, Baron Moyola, and Sir Robin Chichester-Clark and of gardening writer and television presenter Penelope Hobhouse.

Family seat

The County in Ireland from which the title is derived is now spelt Donegal. Several locations in Belfast are named after the family, including Donegall Square, Donegall Road, Donegall Arcade, Chichester Street and Chichester Park.

The family seat was Dunbrody House, near Arthurstown, County Wexford. Ireland. Arthurstown was named for the first earl of Donegall. The house was sold by the eighth and current Marquess to chef Kevin Dundon, who converted it to a luxury hotel and restaurant in 1997.^[9] The Dunbrody Estate is, however, still in the ownership of the current Marquess of Donegall, whose present family seat is Dunbrody Park within the estate grounds.

Viscounts Chichester (1625)

• Edward Chichester, 1st Viscount Chichester (1568–1648)
• Arthur Chichester, 2nd Viscount Chichester (1606–1675) (created Earl of Donegall in 1647)

Earls of Donegall (1647)

• Arthur Chichester, 1st Earl of Donegall (1606–1675)
• Arthur Chichester, 2nd Earl of Donegall (died 1678)
• Arthur Chichester, 3rd Earl of Donegall (1666–1706)
• Arthur Chichester, 4th Earl of Donegall (1695–1757)
• Arthur Chichester, 5th Earl of Donegall (1739–1799) (created Marquess of Donegall in 1791)

Marquesses of Donegall (1791)

• Arthur Chichester, 1st Marquess of Donegall (1739–1799)
• George Augustus Chichester, 2nd Marquess of Donegall (1769–1844)
• George Hamilton Chichester, 3rd Marquess of Donegall (1797–1883)
• Edward Chichester, 4th Marquess of Donegall (1799–1889)
• George Augustus Hamilton Chichester, 5th Marquess of Donegall (1822–1904)
• Edward Arthur Donald St George Hamilton Chichester, 6th Marquess of Donegall (1903–1975)
• Dermot Richard Claud Chichester, 7th Marquess of Donegall (1916–2007)
• Arthur Patrick Chichester, 8th Marquess of Donegall (born 1952)

The heir apparent is the present holder's only son James Chichester, Earl of Belfast (born 1990).

See also

• Chichester baronets
• Baron Templemore
• Baron O'Neill
• Baron Rathcavan
• Baron Carrickfergus

References