Earl of Cardigan

For Lord Cardigan, who led the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War, see James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan.

Earl of Cardigan is a title in the Peerage of England, currently held by the Marquesses of Ailesbury, and used as a courtesy title by the heir apparent to that Marquessate, currently Thomas Brudenell-Bruce, Earl of Cardigan, son of the 9th Marquess. The Brudenell family descends from Sir Robert Brudenell, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1520 to 1530. His great-grandson, Sir Thomas Brudenell, was created a Baronet in the Baronetage of England, styled "of Deene in the County of Northampton", on 29 June 1611.^[2] On 26 February 1628, he was raised to the Peerage of England as Baron Brudenell, of Stanton Wyvill in the County of Leicester, and on 20 April 1661 he was further honoured when he was made Earl of Cardigan, also in the Peerage of England. On his death, the titles passed to his son, Robert, the 2nd Earl, and on the 2nd Earl's death to his grandson, George, the 3rd Earl, the 2nd Earl's only son, Francis, Lord Brudenell, having predeceased his father.

Earldom of Cardigan
Arms of Brudenell, Earl of Cardigan: Argent, a chevron gules between three morions azure^[1]
Creation date	20 April 1661
Created by	Charles II
Peerage	Peerage of England
First holder	Thomas Brudenell, 1st Earl of Cardigan
Present holder	Thomas Brudenell-Bruce, Earl of Cardigan
Heir apparent	Charles Adam Brudenell-Bruce, Viscount Savernake
Remainder to	the male heirs of the body lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titles	Baron Brudenell of Stanton Wyvill in the County of Leicester
Former seat(s)	Tottenham House Deene Park

James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan

The 3rd Earl's eldest son George, the 4th Earl, married Lady Mary Montagu, daughter of John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu, and succeeded to the Montagu estates on his father-in-law's death in 1749, including the Lordship of Bowland. He assumed the same year by Royal licence the surname of Montagu in lieu of Brudenell. In 1766, he was created Marquess of Monthermer and Duke of Montagu in the Peerage of Great Britain, revivals of the titles which had become extinct on his father-in-law's death in 1749. Montagu's only son and heir, John Montagu, Marquess of Monthermer, had already been created Baron Montagu, of Boughton in the County of Northampton, in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1762, a revival of another title held by his maternal grandfather. However, Lord Monthermer died childless in 1770, predeceasing his father. The barony of Montagu died with him. In 1786, the Duke of Montagu was also created Baron Montagu, of Boughton in the County of Northampton, in the Peerage of Great Britain, with remainder to the younger sons of his daughter, Lady Elizabeth Montagu, wife of Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch. On the Duke's death in 1780, the marquessate and dukedom became extinct while he was succeeded in the barony of Montagu according to the special remainder by his grandson, Henry Scott (see Baron Montagu of Boughton for further history of this title; see also Duke of Montagu).

The earldom, barony of Brudenell and baronetcy passed to the Duke's younger brother, James, the 5th Earl, who already on 17 October 1780 had been created Baron Brudenell, of Deene in the County of Northampton, in the Peerage of Great Britain, in his own right. However, he died childless in 1811 when the barony of 1780 became extinct. He was succeeded in the remaining titles by his nephew, Robert, the 6th Earl, only son of Robert Brudenell, third son of the 3rd Earl. The 6th Earl's only son, James, 7th Earl, gained fame for his role in the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War. He was childless and on his death in 1868 the titles were inherited by his second cousin, George, 2nd Marquess of Ailesbury, grandson of Thomas Brudenell, the fourth and youngest son of the 3rd Earl. Thomas had succeeded his maternal uncle, the 3rd Earl of Ailesbury and 4th Earl of Elgin, in 1747 as Baron Bruce, of Tottenham in the County of Wilts, had in 1766 assumed the surname "Brudenell-Bruce", and had in 1776 been created Earl of Ailesbury in the Peerage of Great Britain. The 1st Earl of Ailesbury was succeeded by his son, Charles, the 2nd Earl of Ailesbury, who in 1821 had been created Viscount Savernake, of Savernake Forest in the County of Wilts, Earl Bruce, of Whorlton in the County of York, and Marquess of Ailesbury, in the County of Buckingham. He was succeeded by his son, the aforementioned 2nd Marquess of Ailesbury and 8th Earl of Cardigan. For further history of the titles, see Marquess of Ailesbury.

The Earldom remains united with the Marquessate of Ailesbury; and indeed, since the descendants of the 1st Earl of Ailesbury are the only remaining descendants of the 1st Earl of Cardigan, the titles will never be separated. The Earldom remains visible, however, as it is used as a courtesy title by the heirs apparent to the Marquessate.

The family seat Deene Park was not united with the marquessate but was passed down to Commodore Lord Robert Thomas Brudenell-Bruce, the second surviving son of the 3rd Marquess. Lord Robert's son George inherited the family seat along with the family's remaining estates in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire^[3] and reverted the family name back to "Brudenell" by Royal Licence.^[4] Deene Park is currently the residence of George's grandson Robert Brudenell.

Baron Brudenell (1628)

• Thomas Brudenell, 1st Baron Brudenell (c. 1593–1663) (Created Earl of Cardigan in 1661)

Earls of Cardigan (1661)

• Thomas Brudenell, 1st Earl of Cardigan (c. 1593–1663)
• Robert Brudenell, 2nd Earl of Cardigan (1607-1703)
• George Brudenell, 3rd Earl of Cardigan (1692–1732)
• George Brudenell, later Montagu, 4th Earl of Cardigan (1712–1790) (created Marquess of Monthermer and Duke of Montagu in 1766 and Baron Montagu of Boughton in 1786)

Dukes of Montagu (1766), Baron Montagu (1786)

• George Brudenell, later Montagu, 1st Duke of Montagu, 1st Marquess of Monthermer, 4th Earl of Cardigan, 4th Baron Brudenell, 1st Baron Montagu (1712–1790)
  • John Montagu, Marquess of Monthermer, 1st Baron Montagu (of 1762) (1735–1770)

Earls of Cardigan (1661; Reverted)

• James Brudenell, 5th Earl of Cardigan, 5th Baron Brudenell, 1st Baron Brudenell (of 1780: extinct) (1715–1811)
• Robert Brudenell, 6th Earl of Cardigan, 6th Baron Brudenell (1760–1837) (nephew of his predecessor)
• James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, 7th Baron Brudenell (1797–1868) (son of his predecessor)
• George William Frederick Brudenell-Bruce, 2nd Marquess of Ailesbury, 8th Earl of Cardigan, 8th Baron Brudenell (1804–1878) (2nd cousin to his predecessor)

see Marquess of Ailesbury for further succession

Family tree

v t e Earls and Marquesses of Ailesbury, Earls of Cardigan, Earls of Elgin, and Earls of Kincardine family tree

Edward Bruce of Blairhall c. 1505–1565 Lord Kinloss, 1602 Lord Bruce of Kinloss, 1604 Lord Bruce of Kinloss, 1608 Edward Bruce 1548–1611 1st Lord Kinloss, Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1604), and Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1608) George Bruce of Carnock c. 1550–1625 Margaret Primrose Earl of Elgin, Lord Bruce of Kinloss, and Baron Bruce of Whorlton in the County of York, 1633 Edward Bruce 1594–1613 2nd Lord Kinloss, Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1604), and Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1608) Thomas Bruce 1599–1663 1st Earl of Elgin, Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1633), and Baron Bruce of Whorlton, 3rd Lord Kinloss, Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1604), and Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1608) Mary Preston George Bruce (2nd) of Carnock d. 1643 Robert Bruce of Broomhall d. 1652 Earl of Ailesbury (1st creation), Viscount Bruce, and Baron Bruce of Skelton, 1664 Baron Brudenell of Stonton in the County of Leicester, 1628 Earl of Cardigan, 1661 Earl of Kincardine and Lord Bruce of Torry, 1647 See also: Dukes of Montrose family tree for the Earl of Kincardine 1644 creation Robert Bruce 1627–1685 2nd Earl of Elgin, Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1633), and Baron Bruce of Whorlton, 1st Earl of Ailesbury, Viscount Bruce, and Baron Bruce of Skelton, 4th Lord Kinloss, Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1604), and Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1608) Thomas Brudenell c. 1583–1663 1st Earl of Cardigan and Baron Brudenell of Stonton Edward Bruce d. 1662 1st Earl of Kincardine and Lord Bruce of Torry Alexander Bruce c. 1629–1680 2nd Earl of Kincardine and Lord Bruce of Torry Alexander Bruce d. 1706 4th Earl of Kincardine and Lord Bruce of Torry Thomas Bruce 1656–1741 3rd Earl of Elgin, Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1633), and Baron Bruce of Whorlton, 2nd Earl of Ailesbury, Viscount Bruce, and Baron Bruce of Skelton, 5th Lord Kinloss, Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1604), and Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1608) Robert Brudenell 1607–1703 2nd Earl of Cardigan and Baron Brudenell of Stonton Alexander Bruce c. 1666–1705 3rd Earl of Kincardine and Lord Bruce of Torry Robert Bruce d. 1718 5th Earl of Kincardine and Lord Bruce of Torry Alexander Bruce 1662–1721 6th Earl of Kincardine and Lord Bruce of Torry Thomas Bruce 1663–1739/1740 7th Earl of Kincardine and Lord Bruce of Torry Baron Bruce of Tottenham in the County of Wilts, 1746 Charles Bruce 1682–1747 4th Earl of Elgin, Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1633), and Baron Bruce of Whorlton, 3rd Earl of Ailesbury, Viscount Bruce, and Baron Bruce of Skelton, 6th Lord Kinloss, Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1604), and Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1608), 1st Baron Bruce of Tottenham George Brudenell 1685–1732 3rd Earl of Cardigan and Baron Brudenell of Stonton Elizabeth Brudenell 1689–1745 William Bruce 1710–1740 8th Earl of Kincardine and Lord Bruce of Torry Earldom of Ailesbury, Viscountcy of Bruce, Whorlton Barony Bruce, Barony of Bruce of Skelton, and Lordship of Kinloss extinct, 1747 Earl of Ailesbury Buckinghamshire, Great Britain (2nd creation), 1747 George Brudenell, later Montagu 1712–1790 Duke of Montagu, Marquess of Monthermer, 4th Earl of Cardigan and Baron Brudenell of Stonton James Brudenell 1725–1811 5th Earl of Cardigan and Baron Brudenell of Stonton Robert Brudenell 1726–1768 Thomas Brudenell-Bruce 1729–1815 1st Earl of Ailesbury, 2nd Baron Bruce of Tottenham Charles Bruce 1732–1771 5th Earl of Elgin, Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1633) and Lord Bruce of Kinloss, 9th Earl of Kincardine and Lord Bruce of Torry, Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1604), Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1608) Marquess of Ailesbury, Earl Bruce of Whorlton, County of York, and Viscount Savernake of Savernake Forest, Wiltshire, 1821 Robert Brudenell 1760–1837 6th Earl of Cardigan and Baron Brudenell of Stonton Charles Brudenell-Bruce 1773–1856 1st Marquess of Ailesbury, Earl Bruce, and Viscount Savernake, 2nd Earl of Ailesbury, 3rd Baron Bruce of Tottenham William Robert Bruce 1764–1771 6th Earl of Elgin and Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1633), 10th Earl of Kincardine and Lord Bruce of Torry Thomas Bruce 1766–1841 7th Earl of Elgin and Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1633), 11th Earl of Kincardine and Lord Bruce of Torry Baron Elgin of Elgin, 1849 James Brudenell🐴 1797–1868 7th Earl of Cardigan and Baron Brudenell of Stonton George Brudenell-Bruce 1804–1878 2nd Marquess of Ailesbury, Earl Bruce, Viscount Savernake, 8th Earl of Cardigan and Baron Brudenell of Stonton, 3rd Earl of Ailesbury, 4th Baron Bruce of Tottenham Ernest Brudenell-Bruce 1811–1886 3rd Marquess of Ailesbury, Earl Bruce, Viscount Savernake, 9th Earl of Cardigan and Baron Brudenell of Stonton, 4th Earl of Ailesbury, 5th Baron Bruce of Tottenham James Bruce 1811–1863 8th Earl of Elgin and Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1633), 12th Earl of Kincardine (1647) and Lord Bruce of Torry, 1st Baron Elgin George John Brudenell-Bruce 1839–1868 Henry Brudenell-Bruce 1842–1911 5th Marquess of Ailesbury, Earl Bruce of Whorlton, and Viscount Savernake, 11th Earl of Cardigan and Baron Brudenell of Stonton, 6th Earl of Ailesbury, 7th Baron Bruce of Tottenham Victor Alexander Bruce 1849–1917 9th Earl of Elgin and Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1633), 13th Earl of Kincardine (1647) and Lord Bruce of Torry, 2nd Baron Elgin George William Thomas Brudenell-Bruce 1863–1894 4th Marquess of Ailesbury, Earl Bruce of Whorlton, and Viscount Savernake, 10th Earl of Cardigan and Baron Brudenell of Stonton, 5th Earl of Ailesbury, 6th Baron Bruce of Tottenham George William James Chandos Brudenell-Bruce 1873–1961 6th Marquess of Ailesbury, Earl Bruce of Whorlton, and Viscount Savernake, 12th Earl of Cardigan and Baron Brudenell of Stonton, 7th Earl of Ailesbury, 8th Baron Bruce of Tottenham Edward James Bruce 1881–1968 10th Earl of Elgin and Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1633), 14th Earl of Kincardine (1647) and Lord Bruce of Torry, 3rd Baron Elgin Chandos Sydney Cedric Brudenell-Bruce 1904–1974 7th Marquess of Ailesbury, Earl Bruce of Whorlton, and Viscount Savernake, 13th Earl of Cardigan and Baron Brudenell of Stonton, 8th Earl of Ailesbury, 9th Baron Bruce of Tottenham Michael Sydney Cedric Brudenell-Bruce 1926–2024 8th Marquess of Ailesbury, Earl Bruce of Whorlton, and Viscount Savernake, 14th Earl of Cardigan and Baron Brudenell of Stonton, 9th Earl of Ailesbury, 10th Baron Bruce of Tottenham Andrew Douglas Alexander Thomas Bruce b. 1924 11th Earl of Elgin and Lord Bruce of Kinloss (1633), 15th Earl of Kincardine (1647) and Lord Bruce of Torry, 4th Baron Elgin David Michael James Brudenell-Bruce b. 1952 9th Marquess of Ailesbury, Earl Bruce of Whorlton, and Viscount Savernake, 15th Earl of Cardigan and Baron Brudenell of Stonton, 10th Earl of Ailesbury, 11th Baron Bruce of Tottenham Charles Edward Bruce b. 1961 styled Lord Bruce Heir apparent to the Earldom of Elgin and the Earldom of Kincardine Thomas James Brudenell-Bruce b. 1982 styled Earl of Cardigan Heir apparent to the Marquessate of Ailesbury and Earldom of Cardigan

References

1. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.185, as quartered by the Duke of Buccleuch
2. George Edward Cokayne Complete Baronetage 1900
3. "Edmund Brudenell - obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 13 November 2014.
4. Mosley, Charles (1999). Burke's Peerage and Baronetage: 106th Edition. Burke's Peerage. p. 39.

Sources

• Kidd, Charles, ed. (1903). Debrett's peerage, baronetage, knightage, and companionage. London: Dean and son. p. 198.
• Joan Wake, The History of the Brudenells of Deene (London: Cassels) 1953.
• "Archival material relating to Brudenell, family, Earls of Cardigan". UK National Archives.

Baronetage of England
Preceded by Tresham baronets	Brudenell baronets 29 June 1611	Succeeded by St Paul baronets