Viscount de Vesci

Viscount de Vesci, of Abbey Leix in the Queen's County, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1776 for Thomas Vesey, 2nd Baron Knapton. The title of Baron Knapton was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1750 for the first Viscount's father Sir John Denny Vesey, 2nd Baronet, of Abbey Leix, who had earlier represented Newton Limavady in the Irish House of Commons. The Baronetcy, of Abbey Leix in the Queen’s County, was created in the Baronetage of Ireland on 28 September 1698 for the first Baron's father Reverend Thomas Vesey, Bishop of Killaloe and Ossory.

The first Viscount's son, the second Viscount, sat in the House of Lords as an Irish Representative Peer from 1839 to 1855 and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Queen's County between 1831 and 1855. His son, the third Viscount, represented Queen's County in the House of Commons as a Conservative and was an Irish Representative Peer from 1857 to 1875. His son, the fourth Viscount, served as Lord Lieutenant of Queen's County from 1883 to 1903. In 1884 he was created Baron de Vesci, of Abbey Leix in the Queen’s County, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, which gave him an automatic seat in the House of Lords. However, this title became extinct on his death while he was succeeded in the Irish titles by his nephew, the fifth Viscount. He was an Irish Representative Peer from 1909 to 1958. On his death the titles passed to his nephew, the sixth Viscount. As of 2006 they are held by the latter's son, the seventh Viscount.

The family surname of Vesey is pronounced "Veezey".

Vesey Baronets, of Abbey Leix (1698)

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

Barons Knapton (1750)

*John Denny Vesey, 1st Baron Knapton (d. 1761)
*Thomas Vesey, 2nd Baron Knapton (1735-1804) (created Viscount de Vesci in 1776)

Viscounts 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)
*Yvo Richard Vesey, 5th Viscount de Vesci (1881-1958)
*John Eustace Vesey, 6th Viscount de Vesci (1919-1983)
*Thomas Eustace Vesey, 7th Viscount de Vesci (b. 1955)

The Heir Apparent is the present holder's second son, Hon. Oliver Ivo Vesey (b. 1991). The eldest son, Damian, was born in 1985, two years before his parents' marriage. The brothers are, by their mother, great-grandsons of the Maharajah Uday Chand Mahtab of Burdwan.

References

*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). "Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage" (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
* [http://www.angeltowns.com/town/peerage/ Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page]