thumb|The Arms of Tenison (Gules, on a bend engrailed or between two leopard's faces of the last jessant-de-lys azure three crosses crosslet fitchée sable), as assumed by royal licence 10 March 1883 by [[Henry Ernest Newcomen King-Tenison, 8th Earl of Kingston, when he also adopted the additional surname of Tenison, following his marriage]]

thumb|300px|[[Mitchelstown Castle, County Cork, the former seat of the King family.]]

Earl of Kingston is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1768 for Edward King, 1st Viscount Kingston. The Earl holds the subsidiary titles Baron Kingston, of Rockingham in the County of Roscommon (created in 1764), Viscount Kingston, of Kingsborough in the County of Sligo (created in 1766), Baron Erris, of Boyle in the County of Roscommon (created in 1801), and Viscount Lorton, of Boyle in the County of Roscommon (created in 1806), also in the Peerage of Ireland. He is also a baronet in the Baronetage of Ireland. Between 1821 and 1869 the earls also held the title Baron Kingston, of Mitchelstown in the County of Cork (created in 1821), in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

Family history to 1755

The King family descends from Robert King, younger brother of John King, 1st Baron Kingston (a title which became extinct in 1761; see Baron Kingston). In 1682 Robert King was created a baronet, of Boyle Abbey in the County of Roscommon. He subsequently represented County Roscommon and Boyle in the Irish House of Commons. He was succeeded by his son, John, the second Baronet, who also represented County Roscommon and Boyle in the Irish Parliament.

John died childless and was succeeded by his younger brother, Henry, the third Baronet, who like his father and brother represented County Roscommon and Boyle in Parliament. Henry was succeeded by his eldest son, Robert, the fourth Baronet, who sat as Member of Parliament for Boyle. He died unmarried only seven years later, at which time the barony became extinct.

He was succeeded by his son, Robert, the second Earl, who represented County Cork in the Irish House of Commons.He married his kinswoman, the heiress Caroline Fitzgerald (died 1823), daughter of Richard FitzGerald by the Honourable Margaret King, daughter of James King, 4th Baron King (of the first creation). which gave him and his descendants an automatic seat in the House of Lords. His eldest son, Edward, Viscount Kingsborough, was an antiquarian and also represented County Cork in the British Parliament.

Lord Kingsborough predeceased his father, unmarried, and the earldom devolved on his younger brother, Robert, the fourth Earl. Robert sat as Member of Parliament for County Cork but was later declared to be of an "unsound mind". He died unmarried and was succeeded by his younger brother, James, the fifth Earl, who died childless in 1869, when the barony of Kingston created in 1821 became extinct.

Family history, 1869–present

The fifth Earl was succeeded in the remaining titles by his first cousin, Robert King, 2nd Viscount Lorton, who became the sixth Earl. Robert was the son of General the Honourable Robert King, fourth son of the second Earl, who had been created Viscount Lorton in the Peerage of Ireland in 1806 (see Viscount Lorton for earlier history of this branch of the family). Robert, the sixth Earl, had previously represented County Roscommon in Parliament. He died in October 1869, only a month after he succeeded in the earldom.

He was succeeded by his elder son, Robert, the seventh Earl, who died two years later at the age of forty, without any male issue. The seventh Earl was succeeded by his younger brother, Henry, the eighth Earl, who was Lord-Lieutenant of County Roscommon and sat in the House of Lords as an Irish Representative peer. Henry married Frances Margaret Christina King-Tenison, daughter of Edward King-Tenison, of Kilronan Castle, County Roscommon, and assumed in 1883 by Royal licence the additional surname of Tenison.

He was succeeded by his second but only surviving son, Henry, the ninth Earl, who fought in both the Second Boer War and the First World War and sat in the House of Lords as an Irish Representative peer. As of 2002 the titles are held by the ninth Earl's great-grandson, Robert, the twelfth Earl, who succeeded in 2002, the titles having descended from father to son. As of 31 July 2002, the twelfth Earl has not successfully proven his succession to the baronetcy and is therefore not on the Official Roll of the Baronetage. The baronetcy is considered dormant.

Extended family

The Honourable Sir Henry King, fourth son of the second Earl, was a politician and soldier. The Honourable James William King, younger son of the second Earl, was a rear-admiral in the Royal Navy. George King, son of Reverend the Honourable Richard FitzGerald King, younger son of the second Earl, was a major-general in the British Army.

The Honourable Laurence Harman King-Harman, younger son of the first Viscount Lorton, was the father of Edward King-Harman, a politician (see also Stafford-King-Harman baronets), and Sir Charles King-Harman, High Commissioner to Cyprus.

A significant cluster of individuals carrying the Kingston surname, in South West Cork, are attributed to a Col. Samuel Kingston settling and establishing a dynasty in the mid 17th century.

Seats

The former seat of the King family was Mitchelstown Castle in Mitchelstown, County Cork which was burned down by the IRA in 1922. It was home of 1st. Lord Kingston.

Mitchelstown Castle 4th Lord Kingston in 1750 had a grand house, which was probably not the original castle. (elected a Representative Peer in 1917)

  • Robert Henry Ethelbert King-Tenison, 10th Earl of Kingston (1897–1948)
  • Barclay Robert Edwin King-Tenison, 11th Earl of Kingston (1943–2002)
  • Robert Charles Henry King-Tenison, 12th Earl of Kingston (born 1969)

Present peer

Robert Charles Henry King-Tenison, 12th Earl of Kingston (born 20 March 1969) is the only son of the 11th Earl and his wife Patricia Mary Killip. He was styled formally as Viscount Kingsborough between birth and 2002 and was educated at Repton School.

On 19 March 2002, he succeeded his father as Earl of Kingston, Baron Erris of Boyle, Viscount Kingston of Kingsborough, Baron Kingston of Rockingham, and Viscount Lorton, all in the peerage of Ireland, and also became the 16th King Baronet.

See also

  • Viscount Lorton
  • Baron Kingston

References

Sources

  • Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,
  • Rebel Daughters: Ireland in conflict 1798 (2003) by Janet Todd
  • Brief biography of George King, 3rd Earl of Kingston
  • Obituary of Barclay King-Tenison, 11th Earl of Kingston