Earl of Durham

Earl of Durham is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1833 for the Whig politician and colonial official John Lambton, 1st Baron Durham. Known as "Radical Jack", he played a leading role in the passing of the Great Reform Act of 1832. As Governor General of British North America, he was the author of the famous Report on the Affairs of British North America, known in Canada as the Durham Report. He had already been created Baron Durham, of the City of Durham and of Lambton Castle in the County Palatine of Durham, in 1828.[1] He was created Viscount Lambton at the same time that he was raised to the earldom.[2] These titles are also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

Earldom of Durham
Blazon Arms: Quarterly: 1st, Sable, a Fess between three Lambs passant Argent (Lambton); 2nd, Argent a Fess Gules between three Popinjays Vert, collard Gules (Lumley); 3rd, Argent, an Escutcheon Sable, within an Orle of eight Cinquefoils Gules (Hedworth); 4th, Argent, three Cinquefoils Gules (D'Arcy). Crests: 1st: A Ram's Head cabossed Argent, attired Sable (Lambton); 2nd: a Woman's Head affrontée, couped at the breast, proper, hair flowing Or, wreathed about the temples with a Garland of Cinquefoils Gules, pierced Or (Hedworth); 3rd: out of a Ducal Coronet Or, an Antelope's Head, isuant, winged Argent, attired and barbed Or (D'Arcy). Supporters: Dexter: a Lion Gules, ducally gorged Or, supporting a Flagstaff Or, therefrom flowing a Banner Azure, charged with a Cross-Potence; Sinister: a Lion Azure, ducally gorged Or, supporting a Flagstaff Or, therefrom flowing a Banner Azure, charged with a Lion passant guardant Or.
Creation date	23 March 1833
Created by	King William IV
Peerage	Peerage of the United Kingdom
First holder	John Lambton, 1st Baron Durham
Present holder	Edward Lambton, 7th Earl of Durham
Heir apparent	Frederick Lambton, Viscount Lambton
Subsidiary titles	Viscount Lambton Baron Durham
Status	Extant
Motto	LE JOUR VIENDRA (The day will come)

He was succeeded by his only surviving son, the second Earl. He served as Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham from 1854 to 1879. On his death, the titles passed to his eldest twin son, the third Earl. He was Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham from 1884 to 1928 and was made a Knight of the Garter in 1909. He died childless and was succeeded by his younger twin brother, the fourth Earl. He represented South Durham and South East Durham in the House of Commons. His grandson, the sixth Earl, was a Conservative politician. He disclaimed his peerage titles shortly after succeeding his father in 1970, but improperly continued to style himself Viscount Lambton. As of 2014, the titles are held by his only son, the seventh Earl, who succeeded in 2006. Before succeeding to the earldom, he styled himself Lord Durham to avoid confusion with his father.

Several other members of the Lambton family have also gained distinction. Both the first Earl's father, William Henry Lambton (1764–1797), and grandfather, Major-General John Lambton (1710–1794), as well as his great-uncle Henry Lambton (1697–1761), represented the City of Durham in Parliament. The Hon. Sir Hedworth Lambton (1856–1929) (who assumed the surname of Meux in lieu of Lambton), third son of the second Earl, was an Admiral of the Fleet. The Hon. Charles Lambton (1857–1949), fourth son of the second Earl, was a Brigadier-General in the Army. The Hon. George Lambton (1860–1945), fifth son of the second Earl, was a thoroughbred racehorse trainer who trained two Epsom Derby winners. The Hon. Sir William Lambton (1863–1936), sixth son of the second Earl, was a Major-General in the Army.

The ancestral seats of the Lambton family are Lambton Castle, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, and Fenton, near Wooler, Northumberland. The latter, about 2,000 acres (8.1 km²), was put up for sale in 2015 with a guide price of £10,000,000.[3]

The first earl was the inventor of Dominion Status throughout the British Empire, leading to the creation of the Commonwealth of Nations. Canada's official name was the Dominion of Canada, although it is now simply Canada. The Regional Municipality of Durham and Lambton County, both in the Canadian province of Ontario, are named after Lord Durham.