200px|thumb|right|Arms of Viscount de Vesci of Abbeyleix, being a [[Difference (heraldry)|differenced version of his ancestral arms of Vesey: Or, on a cross sable a patriarchal cross of the field]]

Viscount de Vesci, of Abbeyleix in the Queen's County, now called County Laois (pronounced "leash"), is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1776 for Thomas Vesey, 2nd Baron Knapton and 3rd Baronet.

History

The baronetcy, of Abbeyleix in the Queen's County, was created in the Baronetage of Ireland on 28 September 1698 for Reverend Thomas Vesey, Bishop of Killaloe (1713–1714) and Bishop of Ossory (1714–1730).

The title Baron Knapton was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1750 for John Vesey, 2nd Baronet, son of the 1st Baronet, who had earlier represented Newtownards in the Irish House of Commons.

The 2nd Baron Knapton was made Viscount de Vesci in 1776.

The family title of Vesci is pronounced "Vessee" and the family surname of Vesey is pronounced "Veezey".

The family seat was Abbeyleix House, near Abbeyleix, County Laois.

Vesey baronets, of Abbeyleix (1698)

  • Sir Thomas Vesey, 1st Baronet (died 1730)
  • Sir John Denny Vesey, 2nd Baronet (died 1761) (created Baron Knapton in 1750)

Baron Knapton (1750)

  • John Denny Vesey, 1st Baron Knapton (died 1761)
  • Thomas Vesey, 2nd Baron Knapton (1735–1804) (created Viscount de Vesci in 1776)

Viscount de Vesci (1776)

  • Thomas Vesey, 1st Viscount de Vesci (1735–1804)
  • John Vesey, 2nd Viscount de Vesci (1771–1855)
  • Thomas Vesey, 3rd Viscount de Vesci (1803–1875)
  • John Robert William Vesey, 4th Viscount de Vesci (1844–1903) (created Baron de Vesci [UK] in 1884)
  • Ivo Richard Vesey, 5th Viscount de Vesci (1881–1958)
  • John Eustace Vesey, 6th Viscount de Vesci (1919–1983)
  • Thomas Eustace Vesey, 7th Viscount de Vesci (born 1955)

The heir apparent is the present holder's second son, Hon. Oliver Ivo Vesey (born 1991). In 1905, he was a lieutenant in the Irish Guards.

Male-line family tree

References

Notes

  • Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.