LEICESTER, EARLS OF. The first holder of this English earldom belonged to the family of Beaumont, although a certain Saxon named Edgar has been described as the 1st earl of Leices ter. Robert de Beaumont (d. 1118) is frequently but erro neously considered to have received the earldom from Henry I., about 11o7; his son Robert was undoubtedly earl of Leicester in 1131. The 3rd Beaumont earl, another Robert, was also steward of England, a dignity attached to the earldom of Leicester from this time until 1399. The earldom reverted to the crown when Robert de Beaumont, the 4th earl, died in In 1207 Simon IV., count of Montfort (q.v.), nephew and heir of Earl Robert, was confirmed in the possession of the earldom by King John, but it was forfeited when his son, the famous Simon de Montfort, was attainted and was killed at Evesham in 1265. Henry M.'s son Edmund, earl of Lancaster, was also earl of Leicester and steward of England, obtaining these offices a few months after Earl Simon's death, and the title remained with his heirs until it was merged in the crown on the accession of Henry IV.
In 1564 Queen Elizabeth created her favourite, Lord Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester (q.v.). At his death the title became extinct. In 1618 the earldom of Leicester was revived in favour
of Robert Sidney, Viscount Lisle, a nephew of the late earl and a brother of Sir Philip Sidney; it remained in this family until the death of Jocelyn (1682-1743), the 7th earl of this line, in Jocelyn left no legitimate children, but a certain John Sidney claimed to be his son and consequently to be 8th earl of Leicester.
In 1744, the year after Jocelyn's death, Thomas Coke, Baron Lovel (c. 1695-1759), was made earl of Leicester, but the title became extinct on his death in 1759. The next family to hold the earldom was that of Townshend, George Townshend (1755-1811) being created earl of Leicester in 1784. When his son George Ferrars Townshend, the 3rd marquess (1778-1855), died the earldom again became extinct. Before this date, however, an other earldom of Leicester was in existence. ' This was created in 1837 in favour of Thomas William Coke, who had inherited the estates of his relative Thomas Coke, earl of Leicester. To dis tinguish his earldom from that held by the Townshends Coke was ennobled as earl of Leicester of Holkham.
See G. E. C(okayne), Complete Peerage, vol. v. (1893).