Earl of Powis

Earl of Powis (Powys) is a title that has been created three times. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1674 in favour of William Herbert, 3rd Baron Powis, a descendant of William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (c. 1501–1570). In 1687, he was further honoured when he was made (and as detailed at the article of) Marquess of Powis.

Earl of Powis 3rd creation
Arms: Per pale Azure and Gules, three Lions rampant Argent. Crest: A Wyvern wings elevated and addorsed Vert, holding in the mouth a sinister Hand couped at the wrist Gules. Supporters: Dexter: An Elephant Argent; Sinister: a Griffin wings expanded Argent, charged with five Mullets in saltire Sable, ducally gorged Gules.
Creation date	14 May 1804
Creation	Third
Created by	King George III
Peerage	Peerage of the United Kingdom
First holder	Edward Clive, 1st Earl of Powis
Present holder	John Herbert, 8th Earl of Powis
Heir apparent	Jonathan Herbert, Viscount Clive
Subsidiary titles	Viscount Clive Baron Clive, of Plessey Baron Clive, of Walcott Baron Herbert, of Chirbury Baron Powis, of Powis Castle
Status	Extant
Seat(s)	Powis Castle
Motto	UNG JE SERVIRAY (One I will serve)

Powis Castle.

The title was created again in 1748 in the Peerage of Great Britain for Henry Arthur Herbert, the husband of Barbara, daughter of Lord Edward Herbert, brother of William, 3rd Marquess of Powis. He notably represented Bletchingley and Ludlow in Parliament and served as Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire and Shropshire. Herbert had already been created Baron Herbert of Chirbury in 1743 and was made Baron Powis and Viscount Ludlow at the same time he was given the earldom. In 1749 he was also created Baron Herbert of Chirbury and Ludlow, with remainder firstly to his brother Richard Herbert and secondly to his kinsman Francis Herbert, of Ludlow. His son, the second Earl, was also Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire and Shropshire. However, on his death in 1801 all the titles became extinct (the persons in remainder to the 1749 barony had died without heirs before the 2nd Earl).

The title was created for the third time in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1804 when Edward Clive, 2nd Baron Clive (being son-in-law of the 1st Earl of the previous creation), was made Earl of Powis, in the County of Montgomeryshire. He had previously represented Ludlow in the House of Commons and served as Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire and Montgomeryshire. Clive was the husband of Lady Henrietta, daughter of the 1st Earl of Powis of the 1748 creation and sister and heiress of the 2nd Earl. He had already been created Baron Clive, of Walcot in the County of Shropshire, in 1794, in the Peerage of Great Britain, and was made Baron Powis, of Powis Castle in the County of Montgomery, Baron Herbert, of Chirbury in the County of Shropshire, and Viscount Clive, of Ludlow in the County of Shropshire, at the same time he was given the earldom. Clive was the son of the famous soldier Robert Clive, who had been raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Clive of Plassey in the County of Clare, in 1762. Known as "Clive of India", he is regarded as a key figure in the establishment of British India.

The 1st Earl was succeeded by his eldest son, the 2nd Earl. He sat as Member of Parliament for Ludlow and served as Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire. In 1807, Lord Powis assumed by Royal licence the surname and arms of Herbert. His son, the 3rd Earl, represented Shropshire North in Parliament and served as Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire. He was succeeded by his nephew, the 4th Earl. He was the son of Lieutenant-General The Rt Hon. Sir Percy Egerton Herbert, second son of the 2nd Earl. Lord Powis was Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire. In 1890, he married Violet Ida Evelyn Herbert (who later became, in 1903, the 16th Baroness Darcy de Knayth, suo jure). Their eldest son Percy Robert Herbert, Viscount Clive, died of wounds received fighting in the Battle of the Somme; their second son Mervyn Horatio Herbert, Viscount Clive, succeeded his mother in the barony on her death in 1929. However, he too predeceased his father and was succeeded in the barony by his daughter Davina as the suo jure 18th Baroness Darcy de Knayth.

Lord Powis was succeeded by his first cousin once removed, the 5th Earl. He was the son of the Hon. Colonel Edward William Herbert, son of the Hon. Robert Charles Herbert, fourth son of the second Earl. On his death the titles passed to his younger brother, the 6th Earl. He was succeeded by his second cousin, the 7th Earl. He was the son of the Right Reverend Percy Mark Herbert, Bishop of Blackburn and of Norwich, son of Major-General the Hon. William Henry Herbert, fifth son of the second Earl. As of 2020 the peerages are held by his son, the 8th Earl, who succeeded in 1993. Lord Powis is also Lord of the Manor of Clun.

The Hon. Robert Henry Clive, second son of the 1st Earl, married Harriett Windsor (later Baroness Windsor), in 1819. Their grandson Robert Windsor-Clive, 14th Baron Windsor, was created Earl of Plymouth in 1905. Consequently, the present holder of the earldom of Plymouth is also in remainder to the earldom of Powis and its subsidiary titles. George Windsor-Clive, second son of the Hon. Robert Henry Clive and Lady Windsor, was Member of Parliament for Ludlow for many years.

Another branch of the Clive family was founded by Reverend Benjamin Clive, uncle of the 1st Baron Clive. Members of this branch include George Clive, Edward Clive, George Clive, Edward Clive, Sir Sidney Clive and Sir Robert Clive.

The actor Colin Clive, known for starring in the iconic 1931 horror film Frankenstein, was also a member of the family, descending from the 1st Baron Clive.

The family seat is Powis Castle, near Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, Wales.

A bookplate showing the coat of arms for the Earl of Powis (2nd creation)

Earl of Powis, first creation (1674)

• see the Marquess of Powis

Earl of Powis, second creation (1748)

• Henry Arthur Herbert, 1st Earl of Powis (1703–1772)
• George Edward Henry Arthur Herbert, 2nd Earl of Powis (1755–1801)

Earl of Powis, third creation

Baron Clive (1762)

• Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive (1725–1774)
• Edward Clive, 2nd Baron Clive (1754–1839) (created Earl of Powis in 1804)

Earl of Powis (1804)

• Edward Clive, 1st Earl of Powis (1754–1839)
• Edward Herbert, 2nd Earl of Powis (1785–1848)
• Edward James Herbert, 3rd Earl of Powis (1818–1891)
• George Charles Herbert, 4th Earl of Powis (1862–1952)
• Edward Robert Henry Herbert, 5th Earl of Powis (1889–1974)
• Christian Victor Charles Herbert, 6th Earl of Powis (1904–1988)
• George William Herbert, 7th Earl of Powis (1925–1993)
• John George Herbert, 8th Earl of Powis (born 1952)

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, Jonathan Nicholas William Herbert, Viscount Clive (born 1979).

Title succession chart

Title succession chart, Barons Powis, Barons Herbert of Castle Island, Barons Herbert of Chirbury, Barons Clive, Earls of Powis, and Marquesses of Powis.

William ap Thomas died 1445 Earl of Pembroke (8th creation) William Herbert 1st Earl of Pembroke c. 1423 – 1469 William Herbert 2nd Earl of Pembroke 1451–1491 Sir Richard Herbert died 1510 Richard Herbert of Coldbrook died 1469 Title surrendered to the Crown 1479 Earl of Pembroke (10th creation) Baron Herbert of Cardiff William Herbert 1st Earl of Pembroke c. 1501 – 1570 Sir Richard Herbert Henry Herbert 2nd Earl of Pembroke c. 1539 – 1601 Sir Edward Herbert 1544–1595 Edward Herbert c. 1513 – 1593 For descendants, see Earl of Pembroke Baron Powis (1629) William Herbert 1st Baron Powis c. 1573 – 1655 Richard Herbert Lord of Cherbury 1557–1596 Mathew Herbert Baron Herbert of Castle Island (1624) Baron Herbert of Chirbury (first creation, 1629) Percy Herbert 2nd Baron Powis 1598–1667 Edward Herbert 1st Baron Herbert of Cherbury 1583–1648 Sir Henry Herbert Master of the Revels 1595–1673 Francis Herbert Earl of Powis (first creation, 1674) Marquess of Powis (1687) Baron Herbert of Chirbury (second creation, 1694) William Herbert 1st Marquess of Powis 1st Earl of Powis 1626–1696 Richard Herbert 2nd Baron Herbert of Chirbury c. 1604 – 1655 Henry Herbert 1st Baron Herbert of Chirbury 1654–1709 William Herbert 2nd Marquess of Powis 1665–1745 Edward Herbert 3rd Baron Herbert of Chirbury 1633–1678 Hon. Florentia Herbert 1637–1694 Henry Herbert 4th Baron Herbert of Chirbury c. 1640 – 1691 Henry Herbert 2nd Baron Herbert of Chirbury died 1738 Richard Herbert c. 1629 – 1676 Baronies extinct Barony extinct William Herbert 3rd Marquess of Powis 1698–1748 Lord Edward Herbert died 1734 Francis Herbert 1667–1719 Barony, earldom and marquessate extinct Baron Herbert of Chirbury (third creation, 1743) Baron Herbert of Chirbury and Ludlow (1749) Earl of Powis (second creation, 1748) Baron Clive (first creation, 1762) Barbara Herbert 1735–1786 Henry Herbert 1st Earl of Powis 1703–1772 Robert Clive 1st Baron Clive "Clive of India" 1725–1774 Baron Clive (second creation, 1794) Baron Herbert of Chirbury (fifth creation, 1804) Earl of Powis (third creation, 1804) George Herbert 2nd Earl of Powis 1755–1801 Lady Henrietta Herbert 1758–1830 Edward Clive 1st Earl of Powis 1754–1839 1743 barony and earldom extinct Edward Herbert 2nd Earl of Powis 1785–1848 Edward Herbert 3rd Earl of Powis 1818–1891 Hon. Percy Egerton Herbert 1822–1876 Very Rev. Hon. George Herbert 1825–1894 Hon. Robert Herbert 1827–1902 Maj. Gen. Hon. William Herbert 1834–1909 Henry Herbert 1861–1865 George Herbert 4th Earl of Powis 1862–1952 Col. Edward Herbert 1855–1924 Lt. Col. Graham Herbert 1856–1917 Arthur Herbert 1866–1907 Henry Herbert 1882–1911 Rt. Rev. Percy Herbert 1885–1968 Percy Herbert Viscount Clive 1892–1916 Mervyn Herbert Viscount Clive 1904–1943 Edward Herbert 5th Earl of Powis 1889–1974 Christian Herbert 6th Earl of Powis 1904–1988 George Herbert 7th Earl of Powis 1925–1993 John Herbert 8th Earl of Powis born 1952 Jonathan Herbert Viscount Clive born 1979

See also

• Marquess of Powis
• Baron Herbert of Chirbury
• Earl of Plymouth
• Baron Darcy de Knayth
• Ludlow Castle

References

• Kidd, Charles, ed. (1903). Debrett's peerage, baronetage, knightage, and companionage. London: Dean and son. p. 712.
• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Powis, Earls and Marquesses of" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 22 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 238.
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Christian Victor Charles Herbert, 6th Earl of Powis
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by George William Herbert, 7th Earl of Powis