Biography of Arthur Annesley 1st Earl Mountnorris 1744-1816

In September 1741 [his father] Richard Annesley 6th Earl Anglesey [aged 48] and [his mother] Juliana Donovan Countess Anglesey were married in secret. The secrecy led to issues with his son Arthur's succession as Earl Anglesey.

On 7th August 1744 Arthur Annesley 1st Earl Mountnorris was born to [his father] Richard Annesley 6th Earl Anglesey [aged 51] and [his mother] Juliana Donovan Countess Anglesey.

In 1752 [his father] Richard Annesley 6th Earl Anglesey [aged 59] and [his mother] Juliana Donovan Countess Anglesey were married. They had married in secret before. Juliana Donovan Countess Anglesey by marriage Countess Anglesey.

On 14th February 1761 [his father] Richard Annesley 6th Earl Anglesey [aged 68] died. Earl Anglesey and Baron Annesley Newport Pagnell Buckinghamshire extinct. His son Arthur [aged 16] succeeded 8th Viscount Valentia, 6th Baron Altham.

Arthur Annesley 1st Earl Mountnorris didn't succeed as 7th Earl Anglesey since his parent's secret marriage in September 1741 was not supported by sufficient evidence for the English House of Lords to accept his legitimacy. He was subsequently created Earl Mountnorris of Mountnorris Castle in Armagh more or less in compensation.

He succeeded to the Irish titles Viscount Valentia and Baron Altham since the Irish House of Lords did believe his legitimacy.

On 10th May 1767 Arthur Annesley 1st Earl Mountnorris [aged 22] and Lucy Lyttelton Baronet were married. She by marriage Baroness Altham. He the son of Richard Annesley 6th Earl Anglesey and Juliana Donovan Countess Anglesey.

On 4th December 1770 [his son] George Annesley 2nd Earl Mountnorris was born to Arthur Annesley 1st Earl Mountnorris [aged 26] and [his wife] Lucy Lyttelton Baronet. He married 3rd September 1790 Anne Courtenay Countess Mountnorris, daughter of William Courtenay 8th Earl Devon and Frances Clack Countess Devon.

On 19th April 1771 John Eliot 1st Baronet [aged 35] and Grace Dalrymple [aged 17] were married. She commenced an affair with Arthur Annesley [aged 26]. Eliot sued Annesley for criminal conversation [adultery] and received £12,000 in damages before successfully obtaining a divorce.

On 26th September 1777 [his mother] Juliana Donovan Countess Anglesey died.

On 20th September 1783 Arthur Annesley 1st Earl Mountnorris [aged 39] and Sarah Cavendish Countess Mountnorris were married. She by marriage Viscountess Valentia. He the son of Richard Annesley 6th Earl Anglesey and Juliana Donovan Countess Anglesey.

On 3rd September 1790 George Annesley 2nd Earl Mountnorris [aged 19] and Anne Courtenay Countess Mountnorris [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Countess Mountnorris of Mountnorris Castle in Armagh. She the daughter of William Courtenay 8th Earl Devon and Frances Clack Countess Devon. He the son of Arthur Annesley 1st Earl Mountnorris [aged 46] and Lucy Lyttelton Baronet.

On 3rd December 1793 Arthur Annesley 1st Earl Mountnorris [aged 49] was created 1st Earl Mountnorris of Mountnorris Castle in Armagh. [his wife] Sarah Cavendish Countess Mountnorris by marriage Countess Mountnorris of Mountnorris Castle in Armagh.

The London Gazette 13609. From Tuesday 31st December 1793 to Saturday 4th January 1794.

To the Right Honorable Arthur Viscount Valentia [aged 49], and the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten, the Dignity of Earl Mountnorris, of Mountnorris Castle, in the County of Armagh.

To the Right Honorable Andrew Thomas Lord Castlestewart [aged 68], and the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten, the Dignity of Viscount Castlestewart, in the County of Tyrone.

On 4th December 1814 [his son-in-law] John Thomas Henry Somerset [aged 27] and Catherine Annesley were married. She the daughter of Arthur Annesley 1st Earl Mountnorris [aged 70] and Sarah Cavendish Countess Mountnorris. He the son of Henry Somerset 5th Duke Beaufort and Elizabeth Boscawen Duchess Beaufort [aged 67].

On 4th July 1816 Arthur Annesley 1st Earl Mountnorris [aged 71] died. His son George [aged 45] succeeded 2nd Earl Mountnorris of Mountnorris Castle in Armagh, 9th Viscount Valentia, 7th Baron Altham.

[his daughter] Catherine Annesley was born to Arthur Annesley 1st Earl Mountnorris and Sarah Cavendish Countess Mountnorris. She married 4th December 1814 John Thomas Henry Somerset, son of Henry Somerset 5th Duke Beaufort and Elizabeth Boscawen Duchess Beaufort.