Earl of Swinton

Earl of Swinton is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1955 for the prominent Conservative politician Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Viscount Swinton.[1] He had already been created Viscount Swinton, of Masham in the County of York, in 1935,[2] and was made Baron Masham, of Ellington in the County of York, at the same time he was given the earldom. Born Philip Lloyd-Greame, he was the husband of Mary Constance "Molly" Boynton, granddaughter of Samuel Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Baron Masham. When his wife inherited the large Masham estates in 1924, they assumed the surname of Cunliffe-Lister in lieu of Lloyd-Greame.

Earldom of Swinton
Arms of the Earl of Swinton

Blazon

Arms: Quarterly: 1st & 4th, Ermine, on a Fess Sable, three Mullets Or, and for distinction a Cross-Crosslet Sable (Lister); 2nd, Sable, three Conies courant Argent, and for distinction a Cross-Crosslet Argent (Cunliffe); 3rd, Or, two Chevronels Sable, on a Chief Sable, three Escallops Or (Greame). Crests: Centre: a Stag’s Head proper, erased Or, attired Sable, charged on the neck, for distinction, with a Cross-Crosslet Sable (Lister). Dexter: a Greyhound sejant Argent, collared with a ring attached Sable, charged on the shoulder, for distinction, with a Cross-Crosslet Sable (Cunliffe). Sinister: on a Mount Vert, a Pair of Wings addorsed Or semée of Escallops Sable (Greame). Supporters: On either side a Stag proper, collared with a Chain Or, suspended therefrom to the dexter a Rose Argent, and to the sinister an Escallop Argent.

Creation date5 May 1955
Created byQueen Elizabeth II
PeeragePeerage of the United Kingdom
First holderPhilip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Earl of Swinton
Present holderMark William Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 4th Earl of Swinton
Heir apparentWilliam Edward Cunliffe-Lister, Lord Masham
Remainder tothe 1st Earl's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titlesViscount Swinton
Baron Masham
Seat(s)Dykes Hill House
Former seat(s)Swinton Park
Motto1st: RETINENS VESTIGIA FAMÆ (Maintaining the tradition of fame) (Lister);
2nd: FIDELITER (Faithfully) (Cunliffe);
3rd: C’EST LA VIRTU SEUL QUI DONNE LA NOBLESSE (Virtue alone confers nobility) (Greame).

The earl was succeeded by his grandson, who became the second earl. He was the eldest son of Major the Hon. John Yarburgh Cunliffe-Lister, who was killed in the Second World War. Lord Swinton notably served as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard (deputy chief government whip in the House of Lords) from 1982 to 1986 in the Conservative administration of Margaret Thatcher. His wife was Susan Cunliffe-Lister, Baroness Masham of Ilton. As of 2021 the titles are held by Lord Swinton's nephew, the fourth earl, who succeeded his father in that year.

The title is named after Swinton Park near Masham, North Yorkshire. The family seat is now Dykes Hill House, also near Masham.

Viscount Swinton (1935)

Earl of Swinton (1955)

Present peer

Mark William Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 4th Earl of Swinton (born 15 September 1970), is the son of the 3rd Earl and his wife Elizabeth Susan Whitelaw, eldest daughter of William Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw. He was styled as Lord Masham between 2006 and 2021.[3]

A geophysicist with a degree in engineering from Durham University, he converted the family seat, Swinton Park, into a luxury hotel.[4]

On 21 March 2021, Cunliffe-Lister succeeded his father as Earl of Swinton, Viscount Swinton, of Masham, and Baron Masham.

On 17 June 2000, he married Felicity C. Shadbolt, daughter of Kenneth Shadbolt,[3] and they have three children:

  • Lady Grace Elizabeth Cunliffe-Lister (born 2002)[3]
  • William Edward Cunliffe-Lister, Lord Masham (born 2004), heir apparent
  • Timothy Cunliffe-Lister (born 2007)

Male-line family tree
Male-line family tree, Barons Masham, Viscounts Swinton, and Earls of Swinton.
Baron Masham
Viscount Swinton
Earl of Swinton
Philip Cunliffe-Lister
1st Earl of Swinton
1884–1972
Hon.
John Cunliffe-Lister
1913–1943
David Cunliffe-Lister
2nd Earl of Swinton
1937–2006		Nicholas Cunliffe-Lister
3rd Earl of Swinton
1939–2021
Mark Cunliffe-Lister
4th Earl of Swinton
born 1970
William Cunliffe-Lister
Lord Masham
born 2004

See also

Notes
  1. "No. 40470". The London Gazette. 6 May 1955. p. 2619.
  2. "No. 34226". The London Gazette. 3 December 1935. p. 7659.
  3. Burke's Peerage, volume 3, 2003, p. 3840.
  4. "New business venture for two Durham graduates". Durham Newswire. Durham University. 2006. Retrieved 12 July 2022.

References
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