EDWARD DIGBY, the 2nd Earl Digby
The coronet and cypher as engraved upon this
Set of 12 Pieces of George IV Silver Gilt and Malachite Dessert Cutlery
by William Eley & William Fearn hallmarked London 1821 (9 pieces),
Robert Platt hallmarked London 1821 (2 pieces); William Tweedie hallmarked London 1824 (1 piece)
is that of Edward Digby, the 2nd Earl Digby.
Given the dates of manufacture of this set of dessert cutlery
Earl Digby could have been the only earl to have commissioned such a set.
Edward Digby, the 2nd Earl Digby (born 6th January 1773 died 12th May 1856)
was the eldest son of the second marriage of his father, Henry Digby, the 1st Earl Digby to Mary Knowler.
He succeeded his father as the 2nd Earl Digby on the 25th September 1793,
along with the subsidiary peerage of the Viscountcy of Coleshill which was created with the Earldom of Digby
for his father within the Peerage of Great Britain on the 1st November 1790.
He also succeeded his father in the earlier creations of the Barony of Digby,
of Sherborne in the County of Dorset, within the same Peerage that was created on the 19th August 1765,
as the 2nd Baron as well as in the Barony of Digby, of Geashill in the King's County as the 8th Baron.
This barony was created for the Digbys on the 29th July 1620 within the Peerage of Ireland.
Edward lived the life of a country gentleman on his estates in Dorset.
He served as the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset for close on to fifty years from 1808 until his death
aged 83 in 1856, as well as being the Colonel of the Dorset Militia.
Edward never married so both the Earldom of Digby and the Viscountcy of Coleshill fell into
extinction on his death for want of a male heir,
although both the Baronies of Digby, of the Peerage of Ireland of 1620 and of the Peerage of Great Britain of 1765
which was in special remainder to the male issue of the first baron's father was inherited by
Edward's cousin, Edward St Vincent Digby, as the 9th Baron and the 3rd Baron respectively.
Heraldry Courtesy of John Tunesi, United Kingdom |