Earl of Bristol

Arms of Digby, Earl of Bristol: Azure, a fleur-de-lys argent

Arms of Hervey, Earl of Bristol: Gules, on a bend argent three trefoils slipped vert

Earl of Bristol is a title that has been created twice in British history, and was attested once before. Antiquaries Carew and Williams refer to Reginald de Dunstanville (c. 1110–1175, the illegitimate son of King Henry I) as Earl of Bristol. However, the first confirmed creation came in the Peerage of England in 1622 in favour of the politician and diplomat John Digby who served for many years as Ambassador to Spain, and had already been created Baron Digby of Sherborne, in the County of Dorset, in 1618, also in the Peerage of England. Digby was the brother of Sir Robert Digby of Coleshill, Warwickshire, whose son Robert Digby became 1st Baron Digby of Geashill in the Peerage of Ireland in 1620. (See the article Baron Digby for more information on this other branch of the family).

He was succeeded by his son, the second Earl. He was a prominent statesman and served as Secretary of State for King Charles I. In 1641 he was summoned to the House of Lords through a writ of acceleration in his father's junior title of Baron Digby of Sherborne. When he died the titles passed to his son, the third Earl. He sat as Member of Parliament for Dorset and served as Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset. He was childless and the titles became extinct on his death in 1698.

The second creation of the earldom came in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1714 for John Hervey. For more information on this creation, see Marquess of Bristol.

Earl of Bristol

• Reginald de Dunstanville (c. 1110–1175)

Earls of Bristol, first creation (1622)

• John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol (1586–1653)
• George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol (1612–1677)
• John Digby, 3rd Earl of Bristol (c. 1635–1698)

Earls of Bristol, second creation (1714)

• see the Marquess of Bristol

Family tree of the Barons Hervey, Earls of Bristol, and Marquesses of Bristol, Earl of St Albans and Barons Jermyn

William Hervey d. 1538 John Hervey d. 1556 Nicholas Hervey lifespan unknown William Hervey d. 1592 Henry Hervey lifespan unknown Jane Thomas lifespan unknown Baronet Hervey, of St. Martin's in the Fields, co. Middlesex, 1619 Baron Hervey of Rosse, co. Wexford, 1620 Baron Hervey of Kidbrooke, co. Kent, 1627/1628 John Hervey d. 1630 Robert Jermyn 1539–1614 William Hervey d. 1642 1st Baron Hervey of Rosse and of Kidbrooke, and Baronet Hervey Baron Hervey of Ross and of Kidbrooke and Baronet Hervey extinct, 1642 William Hervey d. 1660 Thomas Jermyn 1573–1645 Baron Jermyn of St Edmundsbury, 1643 Earl of St Albans, 1660 Thomas Hervey 1625–1694 Susan Thomas Jermyn 1604–1659 Henry Jermyn 1605–1684 1st Earl of St Albans and Baron Jermyn Earldom of St Albans extinct, 1684 Baron Hervey of Ickworth, 1703 Earl of Bristol, 1714 Baron Dover, 1685 John Hervey 1665–1751 1st Earl of Bristol and Baron Hervey Thomas Jermyn 1633–1703 2nd Baron Jermyn Henry Jermyn c. 1636–1708 1st Baron Dover, 3rd Baron Jermyn Baronies Dover and Jermyn extinct, 1708 Carr Hervey 1691–1723 styled Lord Hervey John Hervey 1696–1743 2nd Baron Hervey George William Hervey 1721–1775 2nd Earl of Bristol and Baron Hervey Augustus John Hervey 1724–1779 3rd Earl of Bristol and Baron Hervey Frederick Augustus Hervey 1730–1803 4th Earl of Bristol and Baron Hervey Marquess of Bristol and Earl Jermyn, 1826 Augustus Hervey b. 1747 George Hervey 1755–c. 1764 John Augustus Hervey 1757–1796 styled Lord Hervey Frederick William Hervey 1769–1859 1st Marquess of Bristol and Earl Jermyn 5th Earl of Bristol and Baron Hervey Frederick William Hervey 1800–1864 2nd Marquess of Bristol and Earl Jermyn 6th Earl of Bristol and Baron Hervey Frederick William John Hervey 1834–1907 3rd Marquess of Bristol and Earl Jermyn 7th Earl of Bristol and Baron Hervey Augustus Henry Charles Hervey 1837–1875 Capt. Charles Hervey 1862–1893 Frederick William Fane Hervey 1863–1951 4th Marquess of Bristol and Earl Jermyn 8th Earl of Bristol and Baron Hervey Walter Hervey 1865–1948 styled Lord Hervey   Rev. Manners Hervey 1866–1944 styled Lord Hervey   Herbert Arthur Robert Hervey 1870–1960 5th Marquess of Bristol and Earl Jermyn 9th Earl of Bristol and Baron Hervey Victor Frederick Cochrane Hervey 1915–1985 6th Marquess of Bristol and Earl Jermyn 10th Earl of Bristol and Baron Hervey Frederick William John Augustus Hervey 1954–1999 7th Marquess of Bristol and Earl Jermyn 11th Earl of Bristol and Baron Hervey Frederick William Charles Nicholas Wentworth Hervey 1961–1998 Frederick William Augustus Hervey b. 1979 8th Marquess of Bristol and Earl Jermyn 12th Earl of Bristol and Baron Hervey Frederick Hervey b. 2022 styled Earl Jermyn

References

• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
• www.thepeerage.com