 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Earl of Durham" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(October 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Earldom of Durham | |
|---|---|
  Arms: Quarterly: 1st, Sable, a Fess between three Lambs passant Argent (Lambton); 2nd, Argent a Fess Gules between three Popinjays Vert, collard Gules (Lumley); 3rd, Argent, an Escutcheon Sable, within an Orle of eight Cinquefoils Gules (Hedworth); 4th, Argent, three Cinquefoils Gules (D'Arcy).Crests: 1st: A Ram's Head cabossed Argent, attired Sable (Lambton); 2nd: a Woman's Head affrontée, couped at the breast, proper, hair flowing Or, wreathed about the temples with a Garland of Cinquefoils Gules, pierced Or (Hedworth); 3rd: out of a Ducal Coronet Or, an Antelope's Head, isuant, winged Argent, attired and barbed Or (D'Arcy).Supporters: Dexter: a Lion Gules, ducally gorged Or, supporting a Flagstaff Or, therefrom flowing a Banner Azure, charged with a Cross-Potence; Sinister: a Lion Azure, ducally gorged Or, supporting a Flagstaff Or, therefrom flowing a Banner Azure, charged with a Lion passant guardant Or. | |
| Creation date | 23 March 1833 |
| Created by | King William IV |
| Peerage | Peerage of the United Kingdom |
| First holder | John Lambton, 1st Baron Durham |
| Present holder | Edward Lambton, 7th Earl of Durham |
| Heir apparent | Frederick Lambton, Viscount Lambton |
| Subsidiary titles | Viscount Lambton Baron Durham |
| Status | Extant |
| Motto | LE JOUR VIENDRA (The day will come) |
Earl of Durham is a title in thePeerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1833 for theWhig politician and colonial officialJohn Lambton, 1st Baron Durham. Known as "Radical Jack", he played a leading role in the passing of theReform Act 1832. AsGovernor General of British North America, he was the author of the famousReport on the Affairs of British North America, known inCanada as theDurham Report. He had already been createdBaron Durham, of theCity of Durham and ofLambton Castle in theCounty Palatine of Durham, in 1828.[1] He was createdViscount Lambton at the same time that he was raised to the earldom.[2] These titles are also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.
He was succeeded by his only surviving son, the second Earl. He served asLord-Lieutenant of County Durham from 1854 to 1879. On his death, the titles passed to his eldest twin son, the third Earl. He was Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham from 1884 to 1928 and was made aKnight of the Garter in 1909. He died childless and was succeeded by his younger twin brother, the fourth Earl. He representedSouth Durham andSouth East Durham in theHouse of Commons. His grandson, the sixth Earl, was aConservative politician. Hedisclaimed his peerage titles shortly after succeeding his father in 1970, but improperly continued to style himself Viscount Lambton. As of 2014, the titles are held by his only son, the seventh Earl, who succeeded in 2006. Before succeeding to the earldom, he styled himself Lord Durham to avoid confusion with his father.
Several other members of the Lambton family have also gained distinction. Both the first Earl's father,William Henry Lambton (1764–1797), and grandfather,Major-GeneralJohn Lambton (1710–1794), as well as his great-uncle Henry Lambton (1697–1761), represented theCity of Durham inParliament.The Hon.Sir Hedworth Lambton (1856–1929) (who assumed the surname of Meux in lieu of Lambton), third son of the second Earl, was anAdmiral of the Fleet. The Hon. Charles Lambton (1857–1949), fourth son of the second Earl, was aBrigadier-General inthe Army. The Hon.George Lambton (1860–1945), fifth son of the second Earl, was athoroughbred racehorse trainer who trained twoEpsom Derby winners. The Hon.Sir William Lambton (1863–1936), sixth son of the second Earl, was aMajor-General in the Army.
The ancestral seats of the Lambton family areLambton Castle, near Chester-le-Street,County Durham, and Fenton Estate, nearWooler,Northumberland. The latter, about 2,000 acres (8.1 km2), was put up for sale in 2015 with a guide price of £10,000,000.[3]
The first earl was the inventor ofDominion Status throughout theBritish Empire, leading to the creation of theCommonwealth of Nations. Canada's official name was the Dominion of Canada, although it is now simply Canada. TheRegional Municipality of Durham andLambton County, both in the Canadian province ofOntario, are named after Lord Durham.
Theheir apparent is the present holder's eldest son, Frederick Lambton, Viscount Lambton (b. 1985).
Heritage of World Civilizations Eighth Edition p762 Craig, Albert M.; Grahm, William A.; Kagan, Donald; Ozment, Steven M.; Turner, Frank M. 2009
