| Earldom of Stradbroke | |
|---|---|
  Arms of Rous, Earls of Stradbroke:Sable, a fess dancettée or between three crescents argent[1] | |
| Creation date | 18 July 1821 |
| Created by | King George IV |
| Peerage | Peerage of the United Kingdom |
| First holder | John Rous, 1st Earl of Stradbroke |
| Present holder | Keith Rous, 6th Earl of Stradbroke |
| Heir apparent | Robert Rous, Viscount Dunwich |
| Remainder to | The 1st Earl’sheirs male of the body lawfully begotten |
| Subsidiary titles | Viscount Dunwich Baron Rous Baronet ‘of Henham’ |
| Status | Extant |
| Former seat | Henham Park |
| Motto | JE VIVE EN ESPOIR (I live in hope) |
Earl of Stradbroke, in the County ofSuffolk, is a title in thePeerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1821 forJohn Rous, 1st Baron Rous, who had earlier representedSuffolk in theHouse of Commons.
He had already succeeded his father as 6th Rous Baronet (of Henham) in 1771 and been createdBaron Rous, ofDennington in theCounty of Suffolk, in thePeerage of Great Britain in 1796,[2] and was madeViscount Dunwich, in the County of Suffolk, at the same time he was given the earldom.[3] He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl who notably served asLord Lieutenant of Suffolk. AdmiralHenry John Rous, was the second son of the first Earl.
The third Earl wasGovernor of Victoria from 1920 to 1926 as well as Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the fourth Earl, who also served as Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk.
As of 2019[update], the titles are held by the latter's nephew, the sixth Earl, who succeeded his father the 5th Earl in 1983 and until 2016 lived at Mt Fyan's Station, Dundonnell, Victoria, Australia,[4] a 5,900-hectare (14,580 acre) ranch which he purchased in 1989 and sold in 2016 for $ Aus 34 million[5] (£19 million). Lord Stradbroke has been married twice and has thirteen children.[6] His younger brother is Lieutenant GeneralSir William Rous.
The seat of the Rous family from the early 14th century was Dennington Hall, Woodbridge (near Stradbroke) in Suffolk, in 2015, the residence of Robert Charles Rous, a grandson of the 3rd Earl.[7] The family seat ofHenham Hall, nearBlythburgh,Suffolk, was demolished in 1953 by the 4th Earl, but the 6th Earl still owns the 4,200-acre park.
The arms of Rous areSable, a fess dancettée or between three crescents argent;[8] Crest:A Pyramid of Bay Leaves in the form of a cone Vert. Supporters: Dexter:A Lion Argent, maned and tufted Or, gorged with a Wreath of Bay Leaves Vert. Sinister:A Sea-Horse Argent, maned and finned Or, the tail round an Anchor Azure, gorged with a Wreath of Bay Leaves Vert.
TheBaronetcy, ofHenham in the County of Suffolk, was created in theBaronetage of England in 1660 forJohn Rous. He sat asMember of Parliament forDunwich andEye. His son, the second Baronet, represented Dunwich and Suffolk in Parliament. On his death the title passed to his son, the third Baronet. He was Member of Parliament for Dunwich. His nephew, the fifth Baronet, represented Suffolk in the House of Commons. He was succeeded by his son, the aforementioned sixth Baronet, who was later elevated to the peerage.
Theheir apparent is the present holder's eldest son Robert Keith Rous, Viscount Dunwich (b. 1961).
