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Earl of Essex is a title that has been held by several families and individuals, of which the best-known and most closely associated with the title was Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (1566 - 1601).

The earldom was first created in the twelfth century for Geoffrey II de Mandeville. Upon the death of the third earl, the title became extinct. It was created again for Geoffrey Fitzpeter in 1199, who had married a relative of the de Mandevilles. It passed to two of his sons before again becoming extinct after William FitzGeoffrey de Mandeville's death.

The third creation was for Humphrey de Boobhun, 2nd Earl of Hereford in 1239, whose father Henry had married Maud, sister of William FitzGeoffrey de Mandeville. Both the Earldom of Hereford and the Earldom of Essex became extinct in 1373. There were several more creations until the famous Devereux creation in 1572 (for further history of the Devereux family, see the Viscount Hereford). Upon its extinction, the present creation was made in 1661.

Contents 1 Capell creation 2 Earls of Essex, first Creation (c. 1139) 3 Earls of Essex, second Creation (1199) 4 Earls of Essex, third Creation (1239) 5 Earls of Essex, fourth Creation (1376) 6 Earls of Essex, fifth Creation (1461) 7 Earls of Essex, sixth Creation (1540) 8 Earls of Essex, seventh Creation (1543) 9 Earls of Essex, eighth Creation (1572) 10 Barons Capell (1641) 11 Earls of Essex, ninth Creation (1661) 12 References

The Capell (or Capel) family descends from Sir Arthur Capell of Raines Hall in Essex and of Hadham in Hertfordshire. His grandson Arthur Capell represented Hertfordshire in both the Short and Long Parliaments. In 1641 he was raised to the Peerage of England as Baron Capell, of Hadham in the County of Hertford. Capell later fought as a Royalist in the Civil War. He tried and condemned to death by the Parliamentarians and beheaded in May 1649. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Baron. In 1661 he was created Viscount Malden, in the County of Essex, and Earl of Essex, with remainder, failing heirs male of his own, to, firstly, his brother Henry Capell (later Baron Capell of Tewkesbury; see below), failing which to, secondly, his brother Edward Capell. These titles are also in the Peerage of England. Lord Essex later served as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland and as First Lord of the Treasury. On his death the titles passed to his son, the second Earl. He was a Lieutenant-General in the Army and served as Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire. He was succeeded by his son, the third Earl. He served as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard from 1739 to 1743 and was also Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire. When he died the titles passed to his son, the fourth Earl. He also served as Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire.

He was succeeded by his eldest son from his first marriage, the fifth Earl. He sat in the House of Commons for many years and was Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire from 1801 to 1817. Lord Essex assumed the surname of Coningsby. In 1839, at the age of seventy-six, he married the vocalist and actress Catherine Stephens. He was succeeded by his nephew, the sixth Earl. He was the son of the Hon. John Thomas Capell, second son of the fourth Earl from his second marriage to Harriet Bladen. On his death the titles passed to his grandson, the seventh Earl. He was the eldest son of Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur de Vere Capell, Viscount Malden, eldest son of the sixth Earl. The line of the sixth Earl failed on the death of the seventh Earl's grandson, the ninth Earl, in 1981. The succession was unclear and it was not until 1989 that the late Earl's third cousin once removed, Robert Edward de Vere Capell, managed to prove his claim, and became the tenth Earl. He was the great-grandson of the Hon. Algernon Henry Champagné Capell (younger brother of the sixth Earl), son of the aforementioned the Hon. John Thomas Capell (half-brother of the fifth Earl), son of the second marriage of the fourth Earl. As of 2007 the titles are held by his only son, the eleventh Earl, who succeeded in 2005.

Viscount Maldon is used as the courtesy title by the Heir Apparent to the earldom (when one exists).

Two other members of the Capell family have also gained distinction. The Hon. Henry Capell, second son of the first Baron, was a politician and was created Baon Capell of Tewkesbury in 1692. The Hon. Sir Thomas Bladen Capell (1776-1853), youngest son of the second marriage of the fourth Earl, was an Admiral in the Royal Navy.

• Geoffrey de Mandeville, 1st Earl of Essex (d. 1144)
• Geoffrey de Mandeville, 2nd Earl of Essex (d. 1166)
• William de Mandeville, 3rd Earl of Essex (d. 1189) (extinct)

• Geoffrey Fitzpeter, 1st Earl of Essex (d. 1213)
• Geoffrey FitzGeoffrey de Mandeville, 2nd Earl of Essex (d. 1216)
• William FitzGeoffrey de Mandeville, 3rd Earl of Essex (d. 1227)

• Humphrey de Bohun, 1st Earl of Essex (d. 1275)
• Humphrey de Bohun, 2nd Earl of Essex (d. 1297)
• Humphrey de Bohun, 3th Earl of Essex (d. 1322)
• John de Bohun, 4th Earl of Essex (d. 1336)
• Humphrey de Bohun, 5th Earl of Essex (1309-1361)
• Humphrey de Bohun, 6th Earl of Essex (1342-1373)

• Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Essex (1355-1397) (forfeit)

• Henry Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex (d. 1483)
• Henry Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Essex (d. 1540)

• Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex (1485-1540) (forfeit)

• William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton (c. 1512–1571) (forfeit 1553; restored 1559)

• Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex (1541-1576)
• Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (1566-1601)
• Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex (1591-1646) (extinct)

• Arthur Capell, 1st Baron Capell (1604-1649)
• Arthur Capell, 2nd Baron Capell (1631-1683) (created Earl of Essex in 1661)

• Arthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex (1631-1683)
• Algernon Capell, 2nd Earl of Essex (1670-1710)
• William Capell, 3rd Earl of Essex (1697-1743)
• William Anne Capell, 4th Earl of Essex (1732-1799)
• George Capell-Coningsby, 5th Earl of Essex (1757-1839)
• Arthur Algernon Capell, 6th Earl of Essex (1803-1892)
• George Devereux de Vere Capell, 7th Earl of Essex (1857-1916)
• Algernon George de Vere Capell, 8th Earl of Essex (1884-1966)
• Reginald George de Vere Capell, 9th Earl of Essex (1906-1981, dormant 1981)
• Robert Edward de Vere Capell, 10th Earl of Essex (1920-2005, revived 1989)
• Frederick Paul de Vere Capell, 11th Earl of Essex (b. 1944)

The Heir Presumptive is the present holder's fourth cousin once removed William Jennings Capell (b. 1952). He is great-great-great-grandson of the Hon. Adolphus Frederick Charles Molyneux Capell (younger brother of the sixth Earl), younger son of the aforementioned the Hon. John Thomas Capell (half-brother of the fifth Earl), son of the second marriage of the fourth Earl. Adolphus' line is the only remaining, of which William Jennings and his son, Kevin Devereux are the only known members.

• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page
• www.thepeerage.com
• Stephen, Sir Leslie; Lee, Sir Sidney (editors). The Dictionary of National Biography, From the Earliest Times to 1900: Volume III Brown-Chaloner. Oxford University Press.