Viscount Southwell, of Castle Mattress in the County of Limerick, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1776 for Thomas Southwell, 3rd Baron Southwell. The Southwell family descends from Thomas Southwell. In 1662 he was created a Baronet, of Castle Mattress in the County of Limerick, in the Baronetage of Ireland. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baronet. He represented Limerick County in the Irish Parliament. In 1717 he was created Baron Southwell, of Castle Mattress, in the County of Limerick, in the Peerage of Ireland. His grandson was the aforementioned third Baron, who was elevated to a viscountcy in 1776. Before succeeded in the barony he had represented Enniscorthy in the Irish House of Commons. His great-grandson, the fourth Viscount, served as Lord Lieutenant of County Leitrim between 1872 and 1878. As of 2010 the titles are held by his great-grandson, the seventh Viscount, who succeeded his uncle in 1960.
The family surname and the title of the peerages, Southwell, is pronounced "Suthell".
Read more about Viscount Southwell: Southwell Baronets, of Castle Mattress (1662), Barons Southwell (1717), Viscounts Southwell (1776)
Famous quotes containing the words viscount and/or southwell:
“It wounds a man less to confess that he has failed in any pursuit through idleness, neglect, the love of pleasure, etc., etc., which are his own faults, than through incapacity and unfitness, which are the faults of his nature.”
—William Lamb Melbourne, 2nd Viscount (1779–1848)
“‘Remember, man, that thou art dust!’
But yet, alas, but seldom I
Do think indeed that I must die . . .”
—Robert Southwell (1561?–1595)