View source for Earl Howe

{{short description|Earldom in the Peerage of Great Britain}}
{{About|the title|the current Earl|Frederick Curzon, 7th Earl Howe|the former Admiral of the Fleet|Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{multiple issues|
{{more footnotes needed|date=June 2013}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2013}}
}}
{{Infobox nobility title
| name              = Earl Howe 
| image             = [[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|150px]]<br />[[File:Earl Howe COA.svg|180px]] 
| image_size        =  
| alt               =  
| caption           = Arms: ''Quarterly: 1st and 4th, Or, a Fess between three Wolves' Heads couped Sable (Howe); 2nd & 3rd, Argent, on a Bend Sable, three Popinjays Or, collared Gules (Curzon). Crests: 1st, Out of a Ducal Coronet Or, a Plume of five Ostrich Feathers Azure (Howe); 2nd,  A Popinjay wings displayed and inverted Or, collarge Gules (Curzon). Supporters: On either side a Cornish Chough proper, chained around the neck Or.''
| creation_date     = 15 July 1821 
| creation          = Second 
| monarch           = [[George IV|King George IV]] 
| peerage           = [[Peerage of the United Kingdom]] 
| baronetage        =  
| first_holder      = [[Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard Curzon-Howe, 2nd Viscount Curzon]]
| last_holder       =  
| present_holder    = [[Frederick Curzon, 7th Earl Howe]] 
| heir_apparent     = Thomas Curzon, Viscount Curzon 
| heir_presumptive  =  
| remainder_to      =  
| subsidiary_titles = Viscount Curzon <br /> Baron Howe <br /> Baron Curzon 
| status            =  
| extinction_date   =  
| family_seat       =  
| former_seat       =  
| motto             = '''LET CURZON HOLDE WHAT CURZON HELDE''' 
| footnotes         =  
}}

[[File:Joshua Reynolds - Portrait of George Augustus 3rd Viscount Howe.jpg|thumb|General [[George Howe, 3rd Viscount Howe]]]]
[[File:Admiral Richard Howe, 1726-99, 1st Earl Howe RMG BHC2790.tiff|thumb|[[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe]]]]
'''Earl Howe''' is a title that has been created twice in British history, for members of the Howe and Curzon-Howe family respectively. 
The first creation, in the [[Peerage of Great Britain]], was in 1788 for [[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard Howe, 4th Viscount Howe]], but it became extinct upon his death in 1799. The second creation, in the [[Peerage of the United Kingdom]], was in 1821 for [[Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard Curzon-Howe, 2nd Viscount Curzon]], and it remains extant.

==History==

===First creation (1788)===
The Howe family descended from [[John Grobham Howe (died 1679)|John Grobman Howe]], of [[Langar, Nottinghamshire]]. He married Annabella, illegitimate daughter of [[Emanuel Scrope, 1st Earl of Sunderland]]. Their son, [[Scrope Howe, 1st Viscount Howe|Scrope Howe]], sat as a [[Knight of the Shire]] for [[Nottinghamshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Nottinghamshire]]. In 1701 he was raised to the [[Peerage of Ireland]] as '''Baron Glenawley''' and '''Viscount Howe'''. The second Viscount also represented Nottinghamshire in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] and served as [[Governor of Barbados]]. He married [[Charlotte Howe, Viscountess Howe|Charlotte, Baroness von Kielmansegg]], niece of [[George I of Great Britain|George I]]. Her mother was the illegitimate half-sister of the King. Lord Howe was succeeded by his son, the third Viscount. He was a [[Brigadier-General]] in the British Army and was killed during the [[Battle of Carillon]] in 1758.

He was succeeded by his younger brother, [[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard]], the fourth Viscount. He was a distinguished naval commander best known for his victory of the [[Glorious First of June]] in 1794. In 1782 Howe was created '''Viscount Howe''', of [[Langar, Nottinghamshire|Langar]] in the [[County of Nottingham]], in the [[Peerage of Great Britain]],<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=12290 |date=27 April 1782 |page=1}}</ref> which entitled him to a seat in the [[House of Lords]]. In 1788 he was further honoured when he was made '''Baron Howe''', of Langar in the County of Nottingham, with remainder to his daughters and the heirs male of their bodies, and '''Earl Howe''', with normal remainder to heirs male of his body.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=13009 |date=22 July 1788 |page=349}}</ref> These titles were also in the Peerage of Great Britain. Lord Howe had no male issue and on his death in 1799 the viscountcy of 1782 and earldom became extinct. He was succeeded in the barony of Howe according to the special remainder by his eldest daughter, [[Sophia Howe|Sophia Charlotte]] (see below). The Irish titles passed to his younger brother, [[William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe|William]], the fifth Viscount. He was a noted soldier and served as [[Commander-in-Chief, North America|Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in North America]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]]. He had no surviving issue and on his death in 1814 the barony of Glenawley and viscounty of Howe became extinct.

[[File:Blazon of Howe Baronets of Compton (1660).svg|right|thumb|150px|[[Howe baronets of Compton (1660)]] & Viscounts and Earl Howe (1st creation) ]]

===Second creation (1821)===
The aforementioned Lady Sophia, who succeeded her father as second Baroness Howe in 1799, married the Hon. [[Penn Curzon]], Member of Parliament for [[Clitheroe (UK Parliament constituency)|Clitheroe]]. He was the only son of [[Assheton Curzon, 1st Viscount Curzon|Assheton Curzon]], second son of Sir Nathaniel Curzon, 4th Baronet, of Kedleston (ancestor of [[George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston]], and the [[Viscount Scarsdale|Barons and Viscounts Scarsdale]]; see Viscount Scarsdale for earlier history of the family). Assheton Curzon represented Clitheroe in the House of Commons for twenty-seven years. In 1794 he was raised to the [[Peerage of Great Britain]] as '''Baron Curzon''', of [[Penn, Buckinghamshire|Penn]] in the [[Buckinghamshire|County of Buckingham]],<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=13692 |date=9 August 1794 |page=818}}</ref> and in 1802 he was further honoured when he was made '''Viscount Curzon''', of Penn in the County of Buckingham, in the [[Peerage of the United Kingdom]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=15456 |date=23 February 1802 |page=199}}</ref> Lord Curzon was succeeded by his grandson, the second Viscount. He was the only son of Penn Curzon and Lady Howe. In 1821 he assumed by Royal licence the additional surname of Howe<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=17731 |date=31 July 1821 |page=1580}}</ref> and the same year the earldom held by his maternal grandfather was revived when he was created '''Earl Howe''' in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=17724 |date=14 July 1821 |page=1461}}</ref> In 1835 he also succeeded his mother as third Baron Howe. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He sat as [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] Member of Parliament for [[South Leicestershire (UK Parliament constituency)|Leicestershire South]].

[[Image:William-howe-fifth-viscount.jpg|thumb|200px|[[William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe]]]]
He died without male issue and was succeeded by his younger brother, the third Earl. He was a General in the [[British Army]]. His eldest son, the fourth Earl, was a Conservative politician and held minor office in the [[Unionist Government 1895-1905|Conservative administration of 1895 to 1905]]. On his death in 1929 the title passed to his eldest son, the fifth Earl. He was a Conservative Member of Parliament and also involved in the world of motor racing. His only son, the sixth Earl, had four daughters but no sons and on his death in 1984 the line of the fourth Earl failed. The late Earl was succeeded by his second cousin, the seventh Earl. He is the only son of the actor [[George Curzon (actor)|George Curzon]], son of the Hon. Frederick Graham Curzon-Howe, second son of the third Earl. Lord Howe held office from 1991 to 1997 in the Conservative administrations of [[John Major]] and since 2015 has been Deputy Leader of the House of Lords and Minister of State for Defence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gov.uk/government/people/lord-howe|title = The Rt Hon Earl Howe}}</ref> He is now one of the [[List of excepted hereditary peers|ninety elected hereditary peers]] that remain in the [[House of Lords]] after the passing of the [[House of Lords Act 1999]]. As a descendant of Sir Nathaniel Curzon, 4th Baronet, of Kedleston, he is also in remainder to this title, which is held by his kinsman the [[Viscount Scarsdale]].

Several other members of the Curzon-Howe family have also gained distinction. The Hon. Frederick Howe (1823–1881), third son of the first Earl, was a [[Captain (naval)|captain]] in the [[Royal Navy]]. The Hon. Ernest George Howe (1828–1885), sixth son of the first Earl, was a Colonel in the British Army. The Hon. [[Leicester Smyth|Sir Leicester Smyth]] (1829–1891) (who assumed the surname of Smyth in 1866), seventh son of the first Earl, was a General in the British Army and served as [[Governor of Gibraltar]]. The Hon. [[Montagu Curzon]] (1846–1907), eighth son of the first Earl (and eldest from his second marriage), was a Colonel in the [[Rifle Brigade]] and [[Member of Parliament]]. The Hon. [[Assheton Curzon-Howe|Sir Assheton Curzon-Howe]], ninth son and youngest child of the first Earl, was a naval commander and served as Commander-in-Chief of the [[Mediterranean Fleet (United Kingdom)|Mediterranean Fleet]] from 1908 to 1910. His eldest son Leicester Charles Assheton St John Curzon-Howe (1894–1941) was a Captain in the Royal Navy. [[Mary Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn|Lady Mary Anna Curzon-Howe]], only daughter from the second marriage of the first Earl, married [[James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn]]. Their granddaughter [[Cynthia Spencer, Countess Spencer|Lady Cynthia Hamilton]] married [[Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer]], and was the grandmother of [[Diana, Princess of Wales]]. The aforementioned [[George Curzon (actor)|George Curzon]], son of the Hon. Frederick Graham Curzon-Howe, second son of the third Earl, was an actor.

The family seat is Penn House, [[Penn Street]], [[Buckinghamshire]].

==Earl Howe, first creation==

===Viscount Howe (1701)===
*[[Scrope Howe, 1st Viscount Howe]] (1648–1713)
*[[Emanuel Howe, 2nd Viscount Howe|Emanuel Scrope Howe, 2nd Viscount Howe]] (c. 1700 – 1735)
*[[George Howe, 3rd Viscount Howe|George Augustus Howe, 3rd Viscount Howe]] (c. 1725 – 1758)
*[[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard Howe, 4th Viscount Howe]] (1726–1799) (created '''Baron Howe''' and '''Earl Howe''' in 1788)

===Earl Howe (1788)===
*[[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe]] (1726–1799)

===Viscount Howe (1701; reverted)===
*[[William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe]] (1729–1814)

==Earl Howe, second creation==
[[File:Earl Howe COA.svg|thumb|right|165px|Arms of the Earls Howe<ref>Debrett's 1976, p. 604.</ref>]]

===Baron Howe (1788)===
*[[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard Howe, 1st Baron Howe]] (1726–1799)
*[[Sophia Howe|Sophia Charlotte Waller, 2nd Baroness Howe]] (1762–1835)
*[[Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard William Penn Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe, 2nd Viscount Curzon, and 3rd Baron Howe]] (1796–1870) (had already been created '''Earl Howe''' in 1821; see below)

===Viscount Curzon (1802)===
*[[Assheton Curzon, 1st Viscount Curzon]] (1730–1820)
**Hon. Penn Assheton Curzon (1757–1797)
*[[Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard William Penn Curzon-Howe, 2nd Viscount Curzon]] (1796–1870) (created '''Earl Howe''' in 1821)

===Earl Howe (1821)===
*[[Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard William Penn Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe]] (1796–1870)
*[[George Curzon-Howe, 2nd Earl Howe|George Augustus Frederick Louis Curzon-Howe, 2nd Earl Howe]] (1821–1876)
*[[Richard Curzon-Howe, 3rd Earl Howe|Richard William Penn Curzon-Howe, 3rd Earl Howe]] (1822–1900)
*[[Richard Curzon, 4th Earl Howe|Richard George Penn Curzon, 4th Earl Howe]] (1861–1929)
*[[Francis Curzon, 5th Earl Howe|Francis Richard Henry Penn Curzon, 5th Earl Howe]] (1884–1964)
*[[Edward Curzon, 6th Earl Howe|Edward Richard Assheton Penn Curzon, 6th Earl Howe]] (1908–1984)
*[[Frederick Curzon, 7th Earl Howe|Frederick Richard Penn Curzon, 7th Earl Howe]] (born 1951)

The [[heir apparent]] is the present holder's only son, Thomas Edward Penn Curzon, Viscount Curzon (born 1994).
{{clear}}
==Succession==

===Title succession chart===
{{Curzon-Howe family tree}}

===Line of succession=== 
{{collapse top|title=Line of succession|bg=|border=0px|border2=0px}}
{{tree list}}
* [[Image:Coronet of a British Viscount.svg|15px]] ''[[Assheton Curzon, 1st Viscount Curzon]] (1729/30–1820)''
** ''Hon. Penn Assheton Curzon (1757–1797)
*** [[Image:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''[[Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard William Penn Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe]] (1796–1870)''{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
**** [[Image:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''[[George Curzon-Howe, 2nd Earl Howe|George Augustus Frederick Louis Curzon-Howe, 2nd Earl Howe]] (1821–1876)''
**** [[Image:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''Gen. [[Richard Curzon-Howe, 3rd Earl Howe|Richard William Penn Curzon-Howe, 3rd Earl Howe]] (1822–1900)''
***** [[Image:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''[[Richard Curzon, 4th Earl Howe|Richard George Penn Curzon, 4th Earl Howe]] (1861–1929)''
****** [[Image:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''[[Francis Curzon, 5th Earl Howe|Francis Richard Henry Penn Curzon, 5th Earl Howe]] (1884–1964)''
******* [[Image:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] ''[[Edward Curzon, 6th Earl Howe|Edward Richard Assheton Penn Curzon, 6th Earl Howe]] (1908–1984)''
***** ''Hon. Frederick Graham Curzon (1868–1920)''
****** ''Cdr. [[George Curzon (actor)|(Chambré) George William Penn Curzon]] (1898–1976)''
******* [[Image:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|15px]] '''[[Frederick Curzon, 7th Earl Howe|Frederick Richard Penn Curzon, 7th Earl Howe]]''' (born 1951)
******** '''(1)''' Thomas Edward Penn Curzon, Viscount Curzon (born 1994)
**** ''Col. Hon. Ernest George Curzon (1828–1885)''
***** ''Maj. Ernest Charles Penn Curzon (1856–1938)''
****** ''Charles Ernest Basset Lothian Curzon (1885–1952)''
******* ''Capt. James Quintin Penn Curzon (1923–1985)''
******** '''(2)''' Charles Mark Penn Curzon (born 1967)
**** ''Adm. Hon. [[Assheton Curzon-Howe|Sir Assheton Gore Curzon-Howe]] (1850–1911)''
***** ''Lt-Col. Assheton Penn Curzon-Howe-Herrick (1898–1959)''
****** '''(3)''' Assheton Montagu Windsor Curzon-Howe-Herrick (born 1939)
{{tree list/end}}
{{collapse bottom}}

==See also==
*[[Howe baronets]]
*[[Viscount Scarsdale]]
*[[Baron Ravensdale]]
*[[Baron Chedworth]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). ''Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage'' (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
*{{Rayment|date=February 2012}}
{{Extant British earldoms}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howe}}
[[Category:Extinct earldoms in the Peerage of Great Britain]]
[[Category:Earldoms in the Peerage of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Curzon family|*]]
[[Category:Howe family|*]]
[[Category:Noble titles created in 1788]]
[[Category:Noble titles created in 1821]]
[[Category:Earls Howe (1821 creation)| ]]