Earl of Suffolk

Earl of Suffolk is a title which has been created four times in the Peerage of England. The first creation, in tandem with the creation of the title of Earl of Norfolk, came before 1069 in favour of Ralph the Staller; but the title was forfeited by his heir, Ralph de Guader, in 1074. The second creation came in 1337 in favour of Robert de Ufford; the title became extinct on the death of his son, the second Earl, in 1382. The third creation came in 1385 in favour of Michael de la Pole. (For more information on this creation, see the Duke of Suffolk (1448 creation).) The fourth creation was in 1603^[2] for Lord Thomas Howard, the second son of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, by his second wife Margaret Audley, the daughter and eventual sole heiress^[3] of Thomas Audley, 1st Baron Audley of Walden, of Audley End in the parish of Saffron Walden in Essex. Howard was a prominent naval commander and politician and served as Earl Marshal, as Lord Chamberlain of the Household and as Lord High Treasurer. In 1597 he was summoned to Parliament as Baron Howard de Walden, and in 1603 he was further honoured, at the start of the reign of King James I, when he was created Earl of Suffolk. His second son the Hon. Thomas Howard was created Earl of Berkshire in 1626.^[1]

Earldom of Suffolk held with Earldom of Berkshire
Quarterly, 1st: Gules, on a bend between six crosses-crosslet fitchée argent, an escutcheon or, charged with a demi-lion rampant pierced through the mouth by an arrow within a double tressure flory counterflory of the first (Howard); 2nd: Gules, three lions passant guardant in pale or, armed and langued azure, in chief a label of three points argent (Thomas of Brotherton); 3rd: Chequy or and azure (Warren); 4th: Gules, a lion rampant argent (Mowbray) in the center of the shield a crescent for the difference of a second son^[1]
Creation date	before 1069 (first creation) 1337 (second creation) 1385 (forfeit 1388–89, 1399)(third creation) 21 July 1603 (fourth creation)
Created by	William the Conqueror (first creation) Edward III (second creation) Richard II (third creation) Richard II (third creation, restoration) Henry IV (third creation, restoration) James VI and I (fourth creation)
Peerage	Peerage of England
First holder	Ralph the Staller, Earl of East Anglia
Present holder	Alexander Howard, 22nd Earl of Suffolk, 15th Earl of Berkshire
Heir apparent	Arthur Howard, Viscount Andover
Remainder to	Heirs male of the body, lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titles	Viscount Andover Baron Howard of Charlton
Extinction date	1074 (first creation) 1382 (second creation) 1504 (third creation)
Seat(s)	Charlton Park, Wiltshire
Motto	Nous Maintiendrons ("We will maintain")^[1]

Heraldic achievement of 22 quarters of a Howard Earl of Suffolk, and Knight of the Garter (thus possibly 1st, 2nd or 12th Earl)

Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk

Lord Suffolk was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He had already in 1610 been summoned to the House of Lords through a writ of acceleration in his father's junior title of Baron Howard de Walden. He later served as Captain of the Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners and as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. On his death, the titles passed to his eldest son, the third Earl. He was Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Lord Suffolk had no sons and on his death in 1689 the barony of Howard de Walden fell into abeyance between his daughters (see the Baron Howard de Walden for later history of this title). He was succeeded in the earldom by his younger brother, the fourth Earl. He was childless and on his death, the title passed to his younger brother, the fifth Earl. He was succeeded by his son, the sixth Earl. He was a politician and served as First Lord of Trade. In 1706, three years before he succeeded his father, he was raised to the Peerage of England in his own right as Baron Chesterford, in the County of Essex, and Earl of Bindon, in the County of Dorset. His son, the seventh Earl, was Lord-Lieutenant of Essex and is also remembered as the owner of the slave Scipio Africanus. The Earl was childless and on his early death in 1722, the barony of Chesterford and earldom of Bindon became extinct.^[4]

He was succeeded in the earldom of Suffolk by his uncle, the eighth Earl. He died unmarried and was succeeded by his younger brother, the ninth Earl. His wife Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk, was a mistress of King George II. On Lord Suffolk's death, the titles passed to his son, the tenth Earl. He represented Bere Alston in the House of Commons. He was childless and on his death, the line of the eldest son of the first Earl failed. The earldom was inherited by the late Earl's third cousin, the fourth Earl of Berkshire, who became the 11th Earl of Suffolk as well (see the Earl of Berkshire for earlier history of this branch of the family). He was succeeded by his grandson, the twelfth Earl (the son of William Howard, Viscount Andover). He was a politician and served as Lord Privy Seal and as Secretary of State for the Northern Department. On his death, the titles passed to his posthumous son, the 13th Earl. He died as an infant and was succeeded by his great-uncle, the 14th Earl. He was the third son of the 11th Earl. He sat as Member of Parliament for Castle Rising, Malmesbury and St Michael's. On his death in 1783, the line of the fourth son of the first Earl of Berkshire failed.^[4]

The late Earl was succeeded by his third cousin, the 15th Earl. He was the great-grandson of Colonel the Hon. Philip Howard, seventh son of the first Earl of Berkshire. Lord Suffolk and Berkshire was a General in the Army. On his death, the titles passed to his son, the 16th Earl. He represented Arundel in the House of Commons. His son, the 17th Earl, sat as Whig Member of Parliament for Malmesbury. When he died the titles passed to his son, the 18th Earl. He represented Malmesbury in Parliament as a Liberal. He was succeeded by his son, the 19th Earl. He was killed in action in the First World War. His eldest son, the 20th Earl, was a bomb disposal expert. He was killed in 1941 while trying to defuse an unexploded bomb and was posthumously awarded the George Cross.^[5] From 1941 to 2022 the titles were held by his eldest son, the 21st Earl, who as a young boy succeeded on his father's death.^[1][4]

The 22nd and present Earl of Suffolk, Alexander Charles Michael Winston Robsahm Howard, was born in 1974 and educated at the University of Bristol. In 2011, he married Victoria Hamilton, a daughter of James Hamilton, with whom he has three children. The heir apparent is their only son, Arthur Charles Alexander Howard, Viscount Andover (born 2014). They also have two daughters, but were divorced in 2018.^[1]

The family seat is Charlton Park, near Malmesbury, Wiltshire.^[1]

Earls of (Norfolk and) Suffolk, first creation

• Ralph the Staller, 1st Earl of Norfolk and Suffolk (c. 1011 – 1068)
• Ralph de Guader, 2nd Earl of Norfolk and Suffolk (c. 1040 – c. 1096) (forfeit 1074)

Earls of Suffolk, second creation (1337)

• Robert de Ufford, 1st Earl of Suffolk (1298–1369)
• William de Ufford, 2nd Earl of Suffolk (1330–1382)

Earls of Suffolk, third creation (1385)

• see the Duke of Suffolk (1448 creation)
• forfeit 1504

Other Suffolk titles (16th century)

During the 16th century, the title Duke of Suffolk was created twice: 1514 (3 dukes; extinct 1551) and 1551 (1 duke; forfeit 1554).

Earls of Suffolk, fourth creation (1603)

• Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk (1561–1626)
• Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk (1584–1640)
• James Howard, 3rd Earl of Suffolk (1620–1689)
• George Howard, 4th Earl of Suffolk (1624–1691)
• Henry Howard, 5th Earl of Suffolk (1627–1709)
• Henry Howard, 6th Earl of Suffolk, 1st Earl of Bindon (1670–1718)
• Charles William Howard, 7th Earl of Suffolk, 2nd Earl of Bindon (1693–1722)
• Edward Howard, 8th Earl of Suffolk (1672–1731)
• Charles Howard, 9th Earl of Suffolk (1675–1733)
• Henry Howard, 10th Earl of Suffolk (1706–1745)
• Henry Bowes Howard, 11th Earl of Suffolk, 4th Earl of Berkshire (1687–1757)
  • William Howard, Viscount Andover (1714–1756)
• Henry Howard, 12th Earl of Suffolk, 5th Earl of Berkshire (1739–1779)
• Henry Howard, 13th Earl of Suffolk, 6th Earl of Berkshire (1779–1779)
• Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Suffolk, 7th Earl of Berkshire (1721–1783)
• John Howard, 15th Earl of Suffolk, 8th Earl of Berkshire (1739–1820)
  • Charles Nevinson Howard, Viscount Andover (1775–1800)
• Thomas Howard, 16th Earl of Suffolk, 9th Earl of Berkshire (1776–1851)
• Charles John Howard, 17th Earl of Suffolk, 10th Earl of Berkshire (1804–1876)
• Henry Charles Howard, 18th Earl of Suffolk, 11th Earl of Berkshire (1833–1898)
• Henry Molyneux Paget Howard, 19th Earl of Suffolk, 12th Earl of Berkshire (1877–1917)
• Charles Henry George Howard, 20th Earl of Suffolk, 13th Earl of Berkshire (1906–1941)
• Michael John James George Robert Howard, 21st Earl of Suffolk, 14th Earl of Berkshire (1935–2022)
• Alexander Charles Michael Winston Robsahm Howard, 22nd Earl of Suffolk, 15th Earl of Berkshire (b. 1974)

Present peer

Alexander Charles Michael Winston Robsahm Howard, 22nd Earl of Suffolk & 15th Earl of Berkshire (born 17 September 1974) is the son of the 21st Earl and his second wife, Anita Fuglesang, a Norwegian. From birth until 2022 he was known formally as Viscount Andover, one of his father's subsidiary titles. He was educated at Eton College and the University of Bristol.^[6]

He succeeded his father to the peerages in 2022.^[7]

Peerage of England
Preceded by Michael Howard	Earl of Suffolk 2022–present	Incumbent Heir apparent: Arthur Howard, Viscount Andover
	Earl of Berkshire 2022–present
Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by The Earl of Lincoln	Gentlemen The Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire	Succeeded by The Earl of Denbigh and Desmond

Other family members

Several other members of this branch of the Howard family have also gained distinction. The Hon. Edward Howard, younger son of the first Earl of Suffolk, was created Baron Howard of Escrick in 1628.^[1] The Hon. Henry Thomas Howard, second son of the 16th Earl, sat as Member of Parliament for Cricklade. The Hon. James Howard, fourth son of the 16th Earl, sat as Member of Parliament for Malmesbury. His grandson was the explorer and politician Charles Howard-Bury. The Hon. Greville Howard, younger son of the 19th Earl, sat as Member of Parliament for St Ives. The life peer, Greville Howard, Baron Howard of Rising, is the great-grandson of the Hon. Greville Howard, second son of the 17th Earl.^[8]

Line of succession

Charles Howard, 17th Earl of Suffolk, 10th Earl of Berkshire (1804–1876)   Henry Howard, 18th Earl of Suffolk, 11th Earl of Berkshire (1833–1898)   Henry Howard, 19th Earl of Suffolk, 12th Earl of Berkshire (1877–1917)   Charles Howard, 20th Earl of Suffolk, 13th Earl of Berkshire (1906–1941)   Michael Howard, 21st Earl of Suffolk, 14th Earl of Berkshire (1935–2022)   Alexander Howard, 22nd Earl of Suffolk, 15th Earl of Berkshire (b. 1974) (1). Arthur Charles Alexander Howard, Viscount Andover (b. 2014) (2). Hon. Patrick Greville Howard (b. 1940) (3). Jason Patrick Howard (b. 1968) (4). Luke Thomas Jack Howard (b. 2000) (5). Rory Alexander Howard (b. 1970) (6). Timothy Charles Howard (b. 1973) (7). Charles Edward Howard (b. 1974) (8). Henry William Charles Howard (b. 2018) Hon. Greville Theophilus Howard (1836–1880) Charles Howard (1878–1958) Henry Redvers Greville Howard (1911–1978)   (9). Greville Howard, Baron Howard of Rising (b. 1941) (10). Hon. Thomas Henry Greville Howard (b. 1983) (11). Hon. Charles Edward John Howard (b. 1986) ^[9]

Family tree

v t e Family tree of the Earls, Marquesses, and Dukes of Suffolk and the Earls of Bindon and Berkshire

Earl of Norfolk (1st creation), before 1069 Ralph the Staller (c. 1011–1068) 1st Earl of Norfolk and Suffolk, or of the East Angles, ?–1068 Ralph de Gael (c. 1040 – c. 1096) 2nd Earl of Norfolk and Suffolk, or of the East Angles, 1068–1074 Earldom of Norfolk and Suffolk, or of the East Angles (1st creation) extinct, 1382 Earl of suffolk (2nd creation), 1337 Robert Ufford (1298–1369) 1st Earl of Suffolk, 1337–1369 Earl of suffolk (3rd creation), 1385 Michael de la Pole (1330–1389) 1st Earl of Suffolk, 1385–1388 William Ufford (1330–1382) 2nd Earl of Suffolk, 1369–1382 Earldom of Suffolk (2nd creation) extinct, 1382 Thomas de Mowbray Duke of Norfolk Michael de la Pole (1367–1415) 2nd Earl of Suffolk, 1398–1399, 1399–1415 Marquess of Suffolk, 1444 Earl of Pembroke (6th creation), 1447 Duke of Suffolk (1st creation) 1448 Robert Howard (1385–1436) Margaret de Mowbray (c. 1388–1459) Elizabeth Mowbray Michael de la Pole (1394–1415) 3rd Earl of Suffolk, 1415 William de la Pole (1396–1450) 4th Earl of Suffolk, 1415–1450 1st Marquess of Suffolk, 1444–1450 Earl of Pembroke, 1447–1450 1st Duke of Suffolk, 1448–1450 Earldom (3rd creation), Marquessate, and Dukedom (1st creation) of Suffolk and Earldom of Pembroke (6th creation) forfeit, 1450 John Howard (1425–1485) Duke of Norfolk Cecily Neville Richard Plantagenet Duke of York Earldom (3rd creation), Marquessate, and Dukedom (1st creation) of Suffolk restored, 1463 Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk Richard III Duke of Gloucester King of England Edward IV King of England Elizabeth Plantagenet John de la Pole (1442–1492) 2nd Duke of Suffolk, 2nd Marquess of Suffolk, 5th Earl of Suffol, 1463–1492 Elizabeth Boleyn (c. 1480–1538) Countess of Wiltshire Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk Lord Edmund Howard Elizabeth of York Henry VII King of England Edmund de la Pole (1472–1513) 3rd Duke of Suffolk, 3rd Marquess of Suffolk, 1492–1493 6th Earl of Suffolk, 1492–1504 Marquessate and Dukedom (1st creation) of Suffolk surrendered, 1493 Earldom of Suffolk (3rd creation) forfeit, 1504 Marquess of Pembroke, 1532 Duke of suffolk (2nd creation), 1514 Anne Boleyn (c. 1501 or 1507–1536) Marquess of Pembroke 1532–1536 Henry VIII King of England Mary Tudor Queen of France Charles Brandon (1484–1545) 1st Duke of Suffolk, 1514–1545 Marquessate of Pembroke forfeit, 1536 Duke of suffolk (3rd creation), 1551 Henry Howard Earl of Surrey Catherine Howard (c. 1524–1542) Henry Grey (1517–1554) 1st Duke of Suffolk, 1551–1554 3rd Marquess of Dorset Frances Grey Dukedom of Suffolk (3rd creation) forfeit, 1554 Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk Jane Grey Disputed Queen of England Henry Brandon (1535–1551) 2nd Duke of Suffolk, 1545–1551 Charles Brandon (1537–1551) 3rd Duke of Suffolk, 1551 Dukedom of Suffolk (2nd creation) extinct, 1551 see Dukes of Norfolk family tree Earl of Suffolk (4th creation), 1603 Thomas Howard (1561–1626) 1st Earl of Suffolk, 1603–1626 Earl of Berkshire (2nd creation), 1626 Theophilus Howard (1584–1640) 2nd Earl of Suffolk, 1626–1640 Thomas Howard 1st Earl of Berkshire James Howard (c. 1620–1689) 3rd Earl of Suffolk, 1640–1689 George Howard (1625–1691) 4th Earl of Suffolk, 1689–1691 Henry Howard (1627–1709) 5th Earl of Suffolk, 1691–1709 Charles Howard (1615–1679) 2nd Earl of Berkshire Thomas Howard (1619–1706) 3rd Earl of Berkshire William Howard Philip Howard (1629–1717) Earl of Bindon, 1706 Henry Howard (1670–1718) 1st Earl of Bindon, 1706–1718 6th Earl of Suffolk, 1709–1718 Edward Howard (1672–1731) 8th Earl of Suffolk, 1722–1731 Charles Howard (1685–1733) 9th Earl of Suffolk, 1731–1733 Craven Howard Dorothy Howard Capt. Charles Howard Charles Howard (1693–1722) 2nd Earl of Bindon, 7th Earl of Suffolk, 1718–1722 Henry Howard (1706–1745) 10th Earl of Suffolk, 1733–1745 Henry Bowes Howard (1686–1757) 4th Earl of Berkshire, 1706–1745 11th Earl of Suffolk, 1733–1745 Catherine Graham Capt. Philip Howard Earldom of Bindon extinct, 1722 Henry Howard (1739–1779) 12th Earl of Suffolk, 5th Earl of Berkshire, 1745–1779 Thomas Howard (1721–1783) 14th Earl of Suffolk, 7th Earl of Berkshire, 1779–1783 John Howard (1739–1820) 15th Earl of Suffolk, 8th Earl of Berkshire, 1783–1820 Henry Howard (1779–1779) 13th Earl of Suffolk, 6th Earl of Berkshire, 1779–1779 Thomas Howard (1776–1851) 16th Earl of Suffolk, 9th Earl of Berkshire, 1820–1851 Charles Howard (1804–1876) 17th Earl of Suffolk, 10th Earl of Berkshire, 1851–1876 Henry Howard (1833–1898) 18th Earl of Suffolk, 11th Earl of Berkshire, 1876–1898 Henry Howard (1877–1917) 19th Earl of Suffolk, 12th Earl of Berkshire, 1898–1917 Charles Howard (1906–1941) 20th Earl of Suffolk, 13th Earl of Berkshire, 1917–1941 Michael Howard (1935–2022) 21st Earl of Suffolk, 14th Earl of Berkshire, 1941–2022 Alexander Howard (b. 1974) 22nd Earl of Suffolk, 15th Earl of Berkshire, from 2022 Arthur Howard (b. 2014)

See also

• Baron Howard de Walden
• Baron Howard of Escrick
• Baron Howard of Penrith
• Howard family

References

1. Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood (107 ed.). Burke's Peerage & Gentry. p. 3814. ISBN 0-9711966-2-1.
2. Cokayne, G. E. & Geoffrey H. White, eds. (1953). The Complete Peerage, or a history of the House of Lords and all its members from the earliest times, volume XII part 1: Skelmersdale to Towton. 12.1 (2nd ed.). London: The St. Catherine Press, p.464
3. Cokayne, G. E. & Geoffrey H. White, eds. (1953). The Complete Peerage, or a history of the House of Lords and all its members from the earliest times, volume XII part 1: Skelmersdale to Towton. 12.1 (2nd ed.). London: The St. Catherine Press, p.464
4. Mosley 2003, p. 3815
5. "No. 35220". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 July 1941. p. 4105.
6. Burke's Peerage, volume 3 (2003), p. 3814
7. . The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
8. Mosley 2003, p. 3816
9. Morris, Susan; Bosberry-Scott, Wendy; Belfield, Gervase, eds. (2019). "Suffolk and Berkshire". Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. Vol. 1 (150th ed.). London: Debrett's Ltd. pp. 4516–4520. ISBN 978-1-999767-0-5-1.

External links

• "Suffolk, Earls and Dukes of" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.