BRISTOL, EARLS AND MARQUISES OF. This Eng lish title has been held in the Hervey family since 1714, though previously an earldom of Bristol, in the Digby family, is associated with two especially famous representatives, of whom separate biographies are given. The Herveys are mentioned during the 13th century as seated in Bedfordshire, and afterwards in Suffolk, where they have held the estate of Ickworth since the i 5th century. John Hervey (1616-79), eldest son of Sir William Hervey (died 166o), was treasurer to Catherine, wife of Charles II. He left no children, and his estates passed to his brother, Sir Thomas Hervey, (died 1694).
His son JOHN HERVEY, i St earl of Bristol (1665-1751) was educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge, and became member of parlia ment for Bury St. Edmunds in March 1694. In March 1703 he was created Baron Hervey of Ickworth, and in Oct. 1714 earl of Bristol. By his first wife, he had only one son, Carr, Lord Hervey (1691 1723), who was educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge, and was member for Bury St. Edmunds from 1713 to 1722. (It has been suggested that Carr, who died unmarried on Nov. 14, 1723, was the father of Horace Walpole.) He married secondly Eliza beth Felton, of Playford, Suffolk. His eldest son, John (1696 1743), gained some renown as a writer and a politician (see