JERSEY, EARLS OF. Sir Edward Villiers 1_5„--1711), son of Sir Edward Villiers (162o-89), of Richmond, Surrey, was created Baron Villiers and Viscount Villiers in 1691 and earl of Jersey in 1697. His grandfather, Sir Edward Villiers (c. 1585 1626), master of the mint and president of Munster, was half brother of George Villiers, 1st duke of Buckingham, and of Christopher Villiers, ist earl of Anglesey; his sister was Elizabeth Villiers, the mistress of William III., and afterwards countess of Orkney. Villiers was knight-marshal of the royal household in succession to his father; master of the horse to Queen Mary; and lord chamberlain to William III. and Queen Anne. In 1696 he represented his country at the congress of Ryswick; he was am bassador at The Hague, and after 1697 in Paris. In 1699 he was made secretary of state for the southern department, and on three occasions he was one of the lords justices of England. After his dismissal from office by Anne in 1704 he was concerned in the Jacobite schemes. He died on Aug. 25, 1711.
The 2nd earl was William (c. 1682-1721), son of the above, an adherent of the exiled house of Stuart. The 3rd earl was the latter's son William (d. 1769), who succeeded his kinsman John Fitzgerald (c. 1692-1766) as 6th Viscount Grandison. The 3rd earl's son, George Bussy, the 4th earl (1735-1805), was the "prince of Maccaronies" at the Court of George III. The 4th earl's son, George, 5th earl of Jersey (1773-1859), married Sarah Sophia (1785-1867), daughter of John Fane, loth earl of West morland, and granddaughter of Robert Child, the banker. She inherited her grandfather's wealth, including his interest in Child's bank, and with her husband took the name of Child-Villiers. Victor Albert George Child-Villiers (b. 1845) succeeded his father George Augustus (1808-59), as 7th earl of Jersey in 1859. He was governor of New South Wales in 189o-93. The ninth earl, grandson of the above, succeeded his father on Dec. 31, 1923.