Earl of Shaftesbury - Succession To The Earldom

Succession To The Earldom

The first Earl was succeeded by his son, Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 2nd Earl of Shaftesbury. He represented Melcombe Regis and Weymouth in the House of Commons. His son, Anthony Ashley-Cooper, succeeded as the 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury upon his death. The 3rd Earl sat as a Member of Parliament but is chiefly remembered as a writer and philosopher. On his death, the titles passed to his son, Anthony Ashley-Cooper, who became the 4th Earl of Shaftesbury. The 4th Earl notably served as Lord Lieutenant of Dorset and Councillor of the Colony of Georgia. He died in 1711, at which time, his son inherited the title of 5th Earl.

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 5th Earl of Shaftesbury was educated at Winchester and served as Deputy Lieutenant of Dorset. Cropley Ashley-Cooper, younger brother of the 5th Earl, inherited the title of 6th Earl upon the death of his older brother in 1811. The 6th Earl, represented Dorchester in Parliament. He served as member of the Privy Council and Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords. Upon his death, the title was passed to his son. The 7th Earl was a prominent politician, social reformer and philanthropist. He was known as the reforming Lord Shaftesbury in the 19th century, who fought for the abolition of slavery. His eldest son, the 8th Earl, sat as Member of Parliament for Hull and Cricklade. He was succeeded by his son, the 9th Earl, who was the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, County Antrim and Dorset and Lord Steward of the Household. On his death, the titles passed to his grandson, the 10th Earl, the son of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, Lord Ashley.

In 2004, Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 10th Earl of Shaftesbury was murdered by his third wife, Jamila M'Barek, and her brother. They were convicted of the crime in 2007, two years after the 10th Earl's body was found dismembered in the French Alps. As of 2010 the titles are held by Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, who inherited the titles after his older brother, Anthony Ashley Cooper, 11th Earl of Shaftesbury died in May 2005. The 11th Earl died of a heart attack in New York City, while visiting his younger brother on holiday.

Other prominent members of the Ashley-Cooper family include Liberal politician Evelyn Ashley, second son of the 7th Earl; his son, noted politician, Wilfrid Ashley, 1st Baron Mount Temple, who was a member of the Conservative Party, and his daughter, Edwina, who married Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, and last Vicereine of India.

It is through the marriage of Edwina to the Earl of Mountbatten that the Earls of Shaftesbury became closely aligned with members of the royal family. Edwina Mountbatten was a leading member of London society. Edwina's mother was Amalia Mary Maud Cassel (1879–1911), daughter of the international magnate Sir Ernest Cassel, who was a friend and private financier to the future King Edward VII. Cassel was one of the richest and most powerful men in Europe.

When her grandfather died in 1921, Edwina inherited his vast fortune, which included £2 million, the 5,000 acres (20 km2) country seat of Broadlands, Romsey, co. Hampshire; Brooke House in London; Moulton Paddocks estate in Newmarket, Suffolk; and the seaside home at Branksome Dene in Bournemouth, Dorset. She also inherited Classiebawn Castle, Mullaghmore, County of Sligo, Ireland. Ashley and Mountbatten were married on 18 July 1922 at St Margaret's, Westminster. The Royal family were all present and the then-Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VIII) served as best man. The relationship between the two families continues today, as descendants of the Ashley-Cooper line have often been named godchildren of various members of the royal family.

It was at the country seat of Broadlands that Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Phillip, spent their honeymoon night in 1947. In turn, Prince Charles and his first wife, Lady Diana Spencer, spent their honeymoon night there in 1981.