Henry Rolle, was the first of the family advanced to the rank of nobility. His fortune was most ample, and his merits must be presumed to have been great. He was created lord Rolle, baron of Stevenstone, by letters patent, dated in January 1747-8, but he died unmarried, in 1759, when the title expired. The same was, however, revived in the person of John Rolle (son of his youngest brother Dennis), who was created baron Rolle, of Stevenstone, June 20, 1796. His lordship has been twice married; first, to Julia-Maria, daughter and heiress of Henry Walrond, esq.; and second, to his cousin, Barbara Trefusis, daughter of Robert-George-William, lord Clinton, but has not had issue by either marriage. His peerage will therefore become extinct upon his decease. ST. HELENS. Alleyne Fitz-Herbert, descended of a very ancient family, having been employed in various diplomatic missions, was created a peer of Ireland in 1791, and was further created a peer of the United Kingdom, by the title of baron of St. Helens, in the county of Southampton, in 1801. He was born in 1753, and being unmarried, his titles, on his decease without issue male, will be extinct. SUSSEX. Prince Augustus-Frederick, sixth son of his majesty, George III., was born in 1773, and in November 1801, created duke of Sussex, and earl of Inverness, in Great Britain, and baron of Arklow, in Ireland. His royal highness was first married, at Rome, April 3, 1793, to lady Augusta Murray, daughter of John, fifth earl of Dunmore, and was remarried at St. George's, HanoverSquare, December 5, 1793. But to dissolve this marriage, a suit was instituted in the prerogative court, by which it was declared null and void in August 1794, as being in violation of the act or statute of the twelfth George III., c. 11., commonly called the royal marriage act. On this case some very important questions arise; the marriage act never having had effect in Ireland, and being incompetent to controul marriages solemnized abroad, out of his majesty's dominions, a future day may probably bring these points under a serious investigation. By lady Augusta Murray, who, in 1806, by royal licence, took the name of De Ameland, and died in March, 1830, the duke had a son, AugustusFrederick, born January 13, 1794; and a daughter Augusta, who now bear the name of D'Este. Upon the death of his royal highness without other issue, his titles of Sussex and Inverness, it is considered will be extinct, but the barony of Arklow may admit of a doubt, as an honour in a kingdom whose legislative powers were independent of the parliament of Great Britain. WALLACE. Thomas Wallace, lord Wallace, of Knaresdale, in the county of Northumberland, was so created in 1828. He was a lord of the Admiralty in 1797, and for a long time was a commissioner for the affairs of India. He was only son of James Wallace, an eminent barrister, who was attorney-general in 1779, and died in 1783. His lordship married, in February 1814, lady Jane Hope, dowager viscountess Melville, second daughter of John, second earl of Hopetoun, but by her, who died in June 1829, had not any issue. WELLESLEY. Richard-Colley Wellesley, earl of Mornington, in the peerage of Ireland, was early distinguished for his classical attainments, and soon entered into political life. He was born in June 1760, and at the institution of the order of St. Patrick, in Ireland, in 1783, was nominated a knight companion of the order. In 1786, he was a lord of the treasury, and continued to 1797, in which year he went governor-general to India, where his conduct was marked by the vigour and talent of his measures, the defeat and death of Tippoo Sultan, and the capture of Seringapatam. In 1797, he was created a peer of the United Kingdom, by the title of lord Wellesley, of Wellesley, in the county of Somerset ; and, in December 1799, was advanced to the dignity of marquess Wellesley, of Norragh, in Ireland, and had an honourable augmentation to his family coat of arms. On his return from India, he was appointed ambassador to Spain, and for some time was secretary of state for foreign affairs, as he was also twice lord-lieutenant of Ireland. His lordship married to his first lady, Hyacinthe-Gabriel, only daughter of Pierre Roland (conspicuous for the part he acted in the French Revolution). She died in 1816, without any legitimate children; and he married, secondly, in 1825, at Dublin (while viceroy), Marianne, daughter of Richard Caton, of Baltimore, esq., in the United States of North America, widow of Mr. Robert Patterson, of that place; but by her has not had any issue. The English barony and Irish marquisate, being limited to heirs male of his body, will be extinct upon his decease. It is a circumstance of rather rare occurrence, that there should be four brothers all living at the same time, holding the rank of English peers, and a younger one enjoying the highest dignity above his eldest brothers. FINIS. LONDON: PRINTED BY T. BRETTELL, RUPERT STREET, HAYMARKET. |