| Earldom of Verulam | |
|---|---|
  Arms: Quarterly: 1st & 4th, Argent, on a Fess Sable, three Rowels of six-points Or, pierced Gules, in the dexter chief point an Ermine Spot (Grimston); 2nd, Sable, a Fess dancettée, between two Leopard’s Faces Or (Luckyn); 3rd, Argent, three Bugle Horns Sable, stringed Gules (Forrester)Crest: A Stag’s Head erased proper, attired Or.Supporters: Dexter: A stag reguardant proper, attired Or; Sinister: A Griffin reguardant Or. | |
| Creation date | 24 November 1815 |
| Created by | The Prince Regent (acting on behalf of his fatherKing George III) |
| Peerage | Peerage of the United Kingdom |
| First holder | James Grimston, 4th Viscount Grimston |
| Present holder | John Grimston, 7th Earl of Verulam |
| Heir apparent | James Grimston, Viscount Grimston |
| Subsidiary titles | Viscount Grimston(1719) Viscount Grimston(1815) Lord Forrester of Corstorphine Baron Dunboyne Baron Verulam Baronet ‘of Little Waltham’ |
| Status | Extant |
| Seat(s) | Gorhambury House |
| Motto | MEDIOCTRIA FIRMA (Moderate things are stable) |
Earl of Verulam is a title in thePeerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1815 forJames Grimston, 4th Viscount Grimston. He was madeViscount Grimston (in the peerage of the United Kingdom) at the same time.[1] Verulam had previously representedSt Albans (RomanVerulamium) in theHouse of Commons. In 1808 he had also succeeded his maternal cousin as tenthLord Forrester (in thePeerage of Scotland). He was succeeded by his son, the second Earl.
Grimston was aTory politician and held minor office in the first two governments of theEarl of Derby. His son, the third Earl, represented St Albans in Parliament as aConservative. His grandson, the sixth Earl (who succeeded his elder brother) was nominated to the traditionallysafe seat ofSt Albans for the party. As of 2017[update] the titles are held by his son, the seventh Earl, who succeeded in 1973.
The titles ofViscount Grimston andBaron Dunboyne had been created in 1719 in thePeerage of Ireland for William Grimston, Member of Parliament for St Albans.[2] Born William Luckyn, he was the great-nephew of Sir Samuel Grimston, 3rd Baronet, of Bradfield (a title which became extinct upon his death in 1700), whose surname he assumed on succeeding to his estates. In 1737 he also succeeded his elder brother as fifth Baronet of Little Waltham (see below). He was succeeded by his son, the second Viscount. He also represented St Albans in the House of Commons. His son, the third Viscount, was Member of Parliament for St Albans andHertfordshire. In 1790 he was createdBaron Verulam, ofGorhambury in theCounty of Hertford, in thePeerage of Great Britain.[3] He was succeeded by his son, the aforementioned fourth Viscount, who was created Earl of Verulam in 1815.
TheLuckyn Baronetcy, of Little Waltham in theCounty of Essex, was created in theBaronetage of England in 1629 for William Luckyn. The second Baronet representedHarwich in Parliament. The fourth Baronet was succeeded by his younger brother, the aforementioned William Grimston, 1st Viscount Grimston.
Lord Verulam thus holds titles in England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom.
Another member of the Grimston family wasRobert Grimston, 1st Baron Grimston of Westbury. He was the son of Reverend Canon the Hon. Robert Grimston, third son of the second Earl of Verulam.
The family seat isGorhambury House, nearSt Michael,Hertfordshire.
Theheir apparent is the present holder's son James Walter Grimston, Viscount Grimston (b. 1978)
The heir apparent's heir apparent is his son, the Hon. John Innes Archie Grimston (b. 2010).
