THE VISCOUNTCY is the fourth grade in the peerage, which title formerly applied to the sheriff of a county, but was not used as a designation of nobility before the reign of HENRY VI, when that monarch created John, Baron Beaumont, KG, by letters patent, in 1440, Viscount Beaumont, a dignity which expired with his lordship's son and successor in 1507.
A viscountcy is always created by patent, and it descends according to the specified limitation.
The honour was originally conferred as an advancement to barons, but afterwards created frequently with the barony; and latterly it has been created without a barony.
The style of a viscount is Right Honourable, and he is officially addressed by the Crown, "Our right trusty and well beloved Cousin."
The last non-royal viscountcies to be created were in 1983 and 1984, for the Viscounts Whitelaw, Tonypandy, and Macmillan of Ovenden.
THE ROBES of a viscount differ from those of an earl in having two rows of plain white fur only.
His lordship's cap is of crimson velvet, lined with ermine, having a gold tassel at top; and the golden circle of his coronet is surmounted by fourteen pearls.
First published in December, 2013.
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