Earldom of Rotherham

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Earldom of Rotherham
Creation Date 1356
Created by Edward III
Peerage England
First Holder Francis Fitzgerald
Current Holder Richard Fitzgerald
Heir Apparent Richard Fitzgerald
Subsidiary Titles Viscount Surrey
Country Seat Rotherham
Associated County Yorkshire

The Earldom of Rotherham is an ancient hereditary title in the Peerage of England. The first holder of the title was Sir Francis Fitzgerald.

History

The Fitzgerald family is an ancient one, dating back to the 14th century. Sir Francis Fitzgerald of Surreton in Cheshire was awarded the Earldom of Rotherham by Edward III in 1356 for his valour in the Battle of Poitiers. The current Lord Rotherham is the 21st Earl. The Earl's seat is at Rotherham in Yorkshire.

Since 1702 the title of Viscount Surrey has also belonged to the Earl of Rotherham.

List of Earls of Rotherham (1356)

This list is incomplete.

  • Francis Fitzgerald, 1st Earl of Rotherham (1321-1374)
  • Lawrence Fitzgerald, 18th Earl of Rotherham, 15th Viscount Surrey (1678-1719)
  • Robert Fitzgerald, 19th Earl of Rotherham, 16th Viscount Surrey (1698-1763)
  • Andrew Fitzgerald, 20th Earl of Rotherham, 17th Viscount Surrey (1724-1789)
  • Richard Fitzgerald, 21st Earl of Rotherham, 18th Viscount Surrey (born 1752)

The heir apparent is the current Earl's son, Richard Fitzgerald, 19th Viscount Surrey.