Earl of Romney

Earl of Romney (pronounced "Rumney") is a title that has been created twice.

It was first created in the Peerage of England in 1694 in favour of the soldier and politician Henry Sydney. He had been made Baron Milton and Viscount Sydney at the same time in 1689. Sydney was the younger son of Robert Sydney, 2nd Earl of Leicester. He never married and the titles became extinct on his death in 1704.

It was created for the second time in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1801 in favour of Charles Marsham, 3rd Baron Romney. The Marsham family descends from Sir John Marsham, one of the six Clerks of the Court of Chancery from 1638 to 1644 and from 1660 to 1680. In August 1663 he was created a Baronet, of Cuckston in the County of Kent, in the Baronetage of England. His grandson, the fourth Baronet (who succeeded his nephew), was also a Clerk of the Court of Chancery and represented Maidstone in the House of Commons. His son, the fifth Baronet, also sat as Member of Parliament for Maidstone and served as Governor of Dover Castle. In 1716 he was raised to the Peerage of Great Britain as Baron of Romney, of Romney in the County of Kent.

His grandson, the aforementioned third Baron, represented Maidstone and Kent in Parliament and served as Lord Lieutenant of Kent. In 1801 he was created Viscount Marsham, of The Mote in the County of Kent, and Earl of Romney, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. He was succeeded by his son, the second Earl. He was Member of Parliament for Hythe and Downton. His son, the third Earl, represented Kent West in the House of Commons. He was succeeded by his son, the fourth Earl, who held political office in the second Conservative government of Lord Salisbury as a Lord-in-waiting (government whip in the House of Lords) from 1889 to 1892.

The line of his eldest son, the fifth Earl, failed on the death of the latter's son, the sixth Earl, in 1975. The late Earl was succeeded by his first cousin, the seventh Earl. He was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Reginald Hastings Marsham, second son of the fourth Earl. As of 2010[update] the titles are held by his first cousin once removed, the eighth Earl, who succeeded in 2004. He is the son of Colonel Peter William Marsham, son of Sydney Edward Marsham, youngest son of the fourth Earl.

The family seat was at Mote House, near Maidstone, Kent, but since 1891 it has been the Gayton Hall Estate at Gayton near King's Lynn, Norfolk.

Earls of Romney, first creation

Viscounts Sydney (1689)

Henry Sydney, 1st Viscount Sydney (1641–1704) (created Earl of Romney in 1694)

Earls of Romney (1694)

Henry Sydney, 1st Earl of Romney (1641–1704)

Earls of Romney, second creation

Marsham baronets, of Cuckston (1663)

Sir John Marsham, 1st Baronet (1602–1685)
Sir John Marsham, 2nd Baronet (1637–1692)
Sir John Marsham, 3rd Baronet (1679–1696)
Sir Robert Marsham, 4th Baronet (1650–1703)
Sir Robert Marsham, 5th Baronet (1685–1724) (created Baron Romney in 1716)

Barons Romney (1716)

Robert Marsham, 1st Baron Romney (1685–1724)
Robert Marsham, 2nd Baron Romney (1712–1794)
Charles Marsham, 3rd Baron Romney (1744–1811) (created Viscount Marsham and Earl of Romney in 1801)

Earls of Romney (1801)

Charles Marsham, 1st Earl of Romney (1744–1811)
Charles Marsham, 2nd Earl of Romney (1777–1845)
Charles Marsham, 3rd Earl of Romney (1808–1874)
Charles Marsham, 4th Earl of Romney (1841–1905)
Charles Marsham, 5th Earl of Romney (1864–1933)
Charles Marsham, 6th Earl of Romney (1892–1975)
Michael Henry Marsham, 7th Earl of Romney (1910–2004)
Julian Charles Marsham, 8th Earl of Romney (b. 1948)

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, Lieutenant Colonel David Charles Marsham, Viscount Marsham (b. 1977), who served as commanding officer of 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards 2018–2023. The heir apparent's heir apparent is his son, Hon. James Julian Marsham (b. 2014)

vte Marquesses Townshend, Earls of Romney, and Baronets of Cuckston
Shirley Baronet of Staunton Harold, 1611 George Shirley 1559–1622 1st Shirley Baronet of Staunton Harold Baronet of Cuckston, 1663 Henry Shirley 1589–1633 2nd Shirley Baronet of Staunton HaroldRobert Sidney 1595–1677 Earl of Leicester John Marsham 1602–1685 1st Baronet of Cuckston Earl of Romney (1st creation), 1694Baron Townshend, of Lynn Regis, 1661 Viscount Townshend of Raynham, 1682 Charles Shirley (1623–1646) 3rd Shirley Baronet of Staunton HaroldRobert Shirley 1629–1656 4th Shirley Baronet of Staunton HaroldLady Lucy Sidney 1630–1685Henry Sydney 1641–1704 1st Earl of RomneyHoratio Townshend 1630–1687 1st Viscount Townshend and Baron TownshendJohn Marsham 1637–1692 2nd Baronet of CuckstonRobert Marsham 1650–1703 4th Baronet of Cuckston Earldom extinct, 1704 Baron Ferrers of Chartley abeyance terminated, 1677 Seymour Shirley 1647–1667 5th Shirley Baronet of Staunton HaroldRobert Shirley 1650–1717 Earl Ferrers, 14th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, 7th Shirley Baronet, of Staunton HaroldThomas Pelham 1653–1712John Marsham 1679–1696 3rd Baronet of Cuckston Baron Romney, 1716 Robert Shirley 1668–1669 6th Shirley Baronet of Staunton HaroldRobert Shirley 1673–1699Elizabeth Pelham 1681–1711Charles Townshend 1674–1738 2nd Viscount Townshend and Baron TownshendRobert Marsham 1685–1724 1st Baron Romney, 5th Baronet of Cuckston Elizabeth Compton 1694–1741 15th Baroness Ferrers of ChartleyCharles Townshend 1700–1764 3rd Viscount Townshend and Baron TownshendThomas Townshend 1701–1780 Baron Ferrers of Chartley resolved, 1749Marquess Townshend, 1787Baron Sydney of Chiselhurst, 1783 Viscount Sydney (2nd creation) of St Leonards, 1789 Charlotte Townshend d. 1770 16th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley, Baroness Compton George Townshend 1724–1807 1st Marquess Townshend, 4th Viscount Townshend and Baron TownshendThomas Townshend 1733–1800 1st Viscount SydneyRobert Marsham 1712–1794 2nd Baron Romney Earl of Leicester (6th creation), 1784Earl of Romney (2nd creation) and Viscount Marsham of The Mote, 1801 George Townshend 1753–1811 2nd Marquess Townshend, 1st Earl of Leicester, 5th Viscount Townshend and Baron Townshend, 17th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, Baron Compton John Townshend 1757–1783John Townshend 1764–1831 2nd Viscount SydneyCharles Marsham 1744–1811 1st Earl of Romney and Viscount Marsham, 3rd Baron Romney George Townshend 1778–1885 3rd Marquess Townshend, 2nd Earl of Leicester, 6th Viscount Townshend and Baron Townshend, 18th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, Baron Compton John Townshend 1798–1863 4th Marquess Townshend, 7th Viscount Townshend and Baron TownshendMary Elizabeth Marsham 1794–1847Charles Marsham 1777–1845 2nd Earl of Romney and Viscount Marsham, 4th Baron Romney Barony Ferrers of Chartley and Barony Compton in abeyance and Earldom of Leicester (6th creation) extinct, 1885Earl Sydney of Scadbury, 1874 John Townshend 1805–1890 1st Earl Sydney, 3rd Viscount SydneyCharles Marsham 1808–1874 3nd Earl of Romney and Viscount Marsham, 5th Baron Romney Earldom of Sydney extinct, 1890 John Villiers Stuart Townshend 1831–1899 5th Marquess Townshend, 8th Viscount Townshend and Baron TownshendCharles Marsham 1841–1905 4th Earl of Romney and Viscount Marsham, 6th Baron Romney John James Dudley Stuart Townshend 1866–1921 6th Marquess Townshend, 9th Viscount Townshend and Baron TownshendCharles Marsham 1864–1933 5th Earl of Romney and Viscount Marsham, 7th Baron RomneyReginald Hastings Marsham 1865–1922Sydney Edward Marsham 1879–1952 George John Patrick Dominic Townshend 1916–2010 7th Marquess Townshend, 10th Viscount Townshend and Baron TownshendCharles Marsham 1892–1975 6th Earl of Romney and Viscount Marsham, 8th Baron RomneyMichael Marsham 1910–2004 7th Earl of Romney and Viscount Marsham, 9th Baron RomneyPeter William Marsham 1913–1970 Charles George Townshend 1945–2025 8th Marquess Townshend, 11th Viscount Townshend and Baron TownshendJulian Marsham b. 1948 8th Earl of Romney and Viscount Marsham, 9th Baron Romney Thomas Charles Townshend b. 1977 9th Marquess Townshend, 12th Viscount Townshend and Baron TownshendDavid Charles Marsham b. 1977 styled Viscount Marsham Heir apparent to the Earl of Romney Rafe Thomas Townshend b. 2014 styled Viscount RaynhamJames Julian Marsham b. 2014 Heir apparent to the Marquess of Townshend
Shirley Baronet of Staunton Harold, 1611
George Shirley 1559–1622 1st Shirley Baronet of Staunton Harold
															Baronet of Cuckston, 1663
Henry Shirley 1589–1633 2nd Shirley Baronet of Staunton Harold				Robert Sidney 1595–1677 Earl of Leicester								John Marsham 1602–1685 1st Baronet of Cuckston


											Earl of Romney (1st creation), 1694		Baron Townshend, of Lynn Regis, 1661 Viscount Townshend of Raynham, 1682
Charles Shirley (1623–1646) 3rd Shirley Baronet of Staunton Harold	Robert Shirley 1629–1656 4th Shirley Baronet of Staunton Harold	Lady Lucy Sidney 1630–1685		Henry Sydney 1641–1704 1st Earl of Romney	Horatio Townshend 1630–1687 1st Viscount Townshend and Baron Townshend	John Marsham 1637–1692 2nd Baronet of Cuckston		Robert Marsham 1650–1703 4th Baronet of Cuckston
											Earldom extinct, 1704

			Baron Ferrers of Chartley abeyance terminated, 1677
Seymour Shirley 1647–1667 5th Shirley Baronet of Staunton Harold	Robert Shirley 1650–1717 Earl Ferrers, 14th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, 7th Shirley Baronet, of Staunton Harold	Thomas Pelham 1653–1712									John Marsham 1679–1696 3rd Baronet of Cuckston

																	Baron Romney, 1716
Robert Shirley 1668–1669 6th Shirley Baronet of Staunton Harold	Robert Shirley 1673–1699	Elizabeth Pelham 1681–1711				Charles Townshend 1674–1738 2nd Viscount Townshend and Baron Townshend						Robert Marsham 1685–1724 1st Baron Romney, 5th Baronet of Cuckston



		Elizabeth Compton 1694–1741 15th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley		Charles Townshend 1700–1764 3rd Viscount Townshend and Baron Townshend				Thomas Townshend 1701–1780

		Baron Ferrers of Chartley resolved, 1749		Marquess Townshend, 1787				Baron Sydney of Chiselhurst, 1783 Viscount Sydney (2nd creation) of St Leonards, 1789
		Charlotte Townshend d. 1770 16th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley, Baroness Compton		George Townshend 1724–1807 1st Marquess Townshend, 4th Viscount Townshend and Baron Townshend				Thomas Townshend 1733–1800 1st Viscount Sydney						Robert Marsham 1712–1794 2nd Baron Romney



		Earl of Leicester (6th creation), 1784														Earl of Romney (2nd creation) and Viscount Marsham of The Mote, 1801
		George Townshend 1753–1811 2nd Marquess Townshend, 1st Earl of Leicester, 5th Viscount Townshend and Baron Townshend, 17th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, Baron Compton		John Townshend 1757–1783				John Townshend 1764–1831 2nd Viscount Sydney						Charles Marsham 1744–1811 1st Earl of Romney and Viscount Marsham, 3rd Baron Romney


		George Townshend 1778–1885 3rd Marquess Townshend, 2nd Earl of Leicester, 6th Viscount Townshend and Baron Townshend, 18th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, Baron Compton		John Townshend 1798–1863 4th Marquess Townshend, 7th Viscount Townshend and Baron Townshend					Mary Elizabeth Marsham 1794–1847		Charles Marsham 1777–1845 2nd Earl of Romney and Viscount Marsham, 4th Baron Romney

		Barony Ferrers of Chartley and Barony Compton in abeyance and Earldom of Leicester (6th creation) extinct, 1885					Earl Sydney of Scadbury, 1874

									John Townshend 1805–1890 1st Earl Sydney, 3rd Viscount Sydney		Charles Marsham 1808–1874 3nd Earl of Romney and Viscount Marsham, 5th Baron Romney
									Earldom of Sydney extinct, 1890

					John Villiers Stuart Townshend 1831–1899 5th Marquess Townshend, 8th Viscount Townshend and Baron Townshend					Charles Marsham 1841–1905 4th Earl of Romney and Viscount Marsham, 6th Baron Romney


					John James Dudley Stuart Townshend 1866–1921 6th Marquess Townshend, 9th Viscount Townshend and Baron Townshend	Charles Marsham 1864–1933 5th Earl of Romney and Viscount Marsham, 7th Baron Romney		Reginald Hastings Marsham 1865–1922		Sydney Edward Marsham 1879–1952

					George John Patrick Dominic Townshend 1916–2010 7th Marquess Townshend, 10th Viscount Townshend and Baron Townshend	Charles Marsham 1892–1975 6th Earl of Romney and Viscount Marsham, 8th Baron Romney		Michael Marsham 1910–2004 7th Earl of Romney and Viscount Marsham, 9th Baron Romney		Peter William Marsham 1913–1970

					Charles George Townshend 1945–2025 8th Marquess Townshend, 11th Viscount Townshend and Baron Townshend									Julian Marsham b. 1948 8th Earl of Romney and Viscount Marsham, 9th Baron Romney

					Thomas Charles Townshend b. 1977 9th Marquess Townshend, 12th Viscount Townshend and Baron Townshend									David Charles Marsham b. 1977 styled Viscount Marsham
															Heir apparent to the Earl of Romney

					Rafe Thomas Townshend b. 2014 styled Viscount Raynham									James Julian Marsham b. 2014
					Heir apparent to the Marquess of Townshend

External links

Hansard 1803–2005: