Viscount St Vincent

Viscount St Vincent, of Meaford in the County of Stafford, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1801 for the noted naval commander John Jervis, Earl of St Vincent, with remainder to his nephews William Henry Ricketts and Edward Jervis Ricketts successively, and after them to his niece Mary, wife of William Carnegie, 7th Earl of Northesk. He had already been created Baron Jervis, of Meaford in the County of Stafford, and Earl of St Vincent, in the Peerage of Great Britain, in 1797, with normal remainder to his heirs male. On Lord St Vincent's death in 1823 the barony and earldom became extinct while he was succeeded in the viscountcy according to the special remainder by his nephew, the 2nd Viscount. In 1823 he assumed by Royal license the surname of Jervis in lieu of Ricketts. His great-grandson, the 4th Viscount, was part of the force that was sent in 1884 to rescue General Gordon at Khartoum, and died from wounds received at the Battle of Abu Klea in January 1885. He was succeeded by his younger brother, the 5th Viscount. As of 2012 the title is held by the eighth Viscount, who succeeded his father in September 2006. The seventh Viscount, who died at the age of 101 years and 124 days, is the oldest hereditary peer ever.