Earl of Harewood

Harewood House, the seat of the Earls of Harewood

Earl of Harewood, in the County of York, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1812 for Edward Lascelles, 1st Baron Harewood, a wealthy sugar plantation owner and former Member of Parliament for Northallerton. He had already been created Baron Harewood, of Harewood in the County of York, in 1796, in the Peerage of Great Britain, and was made Viscount Lascelles at the same time as he was given the earldom. The viscountcy is used as the courtesy title by the heir apparent to the earldom. Lascelles was the second cousin and heir at law of Edwin Lascelles, who already in 1790 had been created Baron Harewood, of Harewood Castle in the County of York (in the Peerage of Great Britain). However, this title became extinct on his death in 1795.

The Earl was succeeded by his son, the second Earl. He notably represented Yorkshire, Westbury and Northallerton in the House of Commons. His son, the third Earl, also sat as Member of Parliament for Northallerton. His great-grandson, the sixth Earl, married Princess Mary, daughter of King George V. Until 2011, the titles were held by their eldest son, the late seventh Earl, who succeeded in 1947. He was a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and was in line of succession to the British Throne. Upon his death on 11 July 2011, he was succeeded by his eldest son, David, the eighth Earl.

Several other members of the family have also gained distinction. The Hon. William Lascelles, third son of the second Earl, was a Whig politician. His fifth son Sir Frank Lascelles, was British Ambassador to Russia and to Germany.

The family seat is Harewood House, near Leeds in Yorkshire. The name of the house, like the title of the barony and earldom, is pronounced "Harwood".

Barons Harewood, First creation (1790)

• Edwin Lascelles, 1st Baron Harewood (1713–1795)

Barons Harewood, Second creation (1796)

• Edward Lascelles, 1st Baron Harewood (1740–1820) (created Earl of Harewood in 1812)

Earls of Harewood (1812)

• Edward Lascelles, 1st Earl of Harewood (1740–1820)
• Henry Lascelles, 2nd Earl of Harewood (1767–1841) DL
  • Edward Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles (1796–1839)
• Henry Lascelles, 3rd Earl of Harewood (1797–1857) DL
• Henry Thynne Lascelles, 4th Earl of Harewood (1824–1892)
• Henry Ulick Lascelles, 5th Earl of Harewood (1846–1929) GCVO DL
• Henry George Charles Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood (1882–1947) KG GCVO DSO TD
• George Henry Hubert Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood (1923–2011) KBE AM
• David Henry George Lascelles, 8th Earl of Harewood (b. 1950)

The heir apparent is the present holder's second son Alexander Edgar Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles (b. 1980)

References

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

External links

• Stirnet Genealogy: 'Lascelles1' (contains first three Earls of Harewood)