| Earl Cathcart Chief ofClan Cathcart | |
|---|---|
  Arms: Azure, three Crosses-Crosslet fitchée, issuing from three Crescents Argent.Crest: A dexter Hand couped above the wrist and erect proper, grasping a Crescent Argent.Supporters: On either side a Parrot, wings inverted proper. | |
| Creation date | 16 July 1814 |
| Created by | The Prince Regent (acting on behalf of his fatherKing George III) |
| Peerage | Peerage of the United Kingdom |
| First holder | William Cathcart, 1st Earl Cathcart |
| Present holder | Charles Cathcart, 7th Earl Cathcart |
| Heir apparent | Alan Cathcart, Lord Greenock |
| Subsidiary titles | Viscount Cathcart Lord Cathcart Baron Greenock |
| Status | Extant |
| Motto | I HOPE TO SPEED |
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Earl Cathcart is a title in thePeerage of the United Kingdom.
The title was created in 1814 for the soldier and diplomatWilliam Cathcart, 1st Viscount Cathcart.[1] The Cathcart family[2] descends from Sir Alan Cathcart, who sometime between 1447 and 1460 was raised to thePeerage of Scotland asLord Cathcart. He later served as Warden of the West Marches and Master of the Artillery. His great-great-grandson, the third Lord, was killed at theBattle of Pinkie in 1547 (his father Alan Cathcart, Master of Cathcart, was one of many Scottish noblemen killed at theBattle of Flodden in 1513).[2] He was succeeded by his son, the fourth Lord. He fought at theBattle of Langside in 1568 and wasMaster of the Household toKing James VI. His great-great-great-grandson, the eighth Lord, was a soldier. He was amajor-general in the army and sat in theHouse of Lords as aScottish representative peer from 1734 to 1740. In 1740, Lord Cathcart was appointed commander-in-chief of the British Forces in America. However, he died on the passage out and was buried onDominica.[2]
He was succeeded by his son, the ninth Lord. He was alieutenant-general in the army and also served asBritish Ambassador to Russia. Between 1752 and 1776, Lord Cathcart sat in the House of Lords as a Scottish Representative Peer. His son, the tenth Lord, was a noted military commander and diplomat. He was a general in the army and like his father served as British Ambassador to Russia.[2] From 1788 to 1843, Lord Cathcart was a Scottish Representative Peer in the House of Lords. In 1807, he was createdBaron Greenock, ofGreenock in theCounty of Renfrew, andViscount Cathcart, ofCathcart in the County of Renfrew,[3] and in 1814 he was madeEarl Cathcart.[4] These titles were in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.
He was succeeded by his second but eldest surviving son, the second Earl.[5] Like his father he was a general in the army and also served asGovernor General of Canada from 1846 to 1847. On his death the titles passed to his second but eldest surviving son, the third Earl. He was aDeputy Lieutenant of theNorth Riding of Yorkshire and President of theRoyal Agricultural Society. His eldest son, the fourth Earl, was also a Deputy Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire. He never married and was succeeded by his younger brother, the fifth Earl.[6][7] His son, the sixth Earl, was a major-general in the army and served as a Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords from 1976 to 1989. The titles are held by the latter's only son, the seventh Earl, who succeeded in 1999. He is one of theninety elected hereditary peers that remain in the House of Lords after the passing of theHouse of Lords Act 1999, and sits on theConservative benches. Lord Cathcart lost his seat in 1999 but was able to return in 2007 in a by-election caused by the death ofLord Mowbray. He is also chief ofClan Cathcart.[8]
Several other members of the family may also be mentioned. The Hon.Sir George Cathcart, fourth son of the first Earl, was a general in the army. The Hon.Charles Cathcart, younger son of the ninth Lord, was acolonel in the British Army and representedClackmannanshire in theHouse of Commons. The Hon. Louisa Cathcart, daughter of the ninth Lord, marriedDavid Murray, 7th Viscount of Stormont. In 1793, on the death of her and Lord Stormont's uncleWilliam Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield and Mansfield, Louisa inherited (under a special remainder in the letters patent) the earldom of Mansfield created in 1776, and became the second Countess of Mansfield, while her husband inherited the earldom of Mansfield created in 1792, and became the second Earl of Mansfield (see theEarl of Mansfield and Mansfield for later history of these titles).
The family seat isGateley Hall, nearFakenham,Norfolk.
Theheir apparent is the present holder's son Alan George Cathcart, Lord Greenock (born 1986)
