The second earl was the son of Catherine Conduitt, whose mother was Catherine Barton, half-niece of the eminent mathematical scientist Sir Isaac Newton. The earls of Portsmouth therefore are direct descendants of Isaac Newton's mother, and three of the earls have been named after Newton. The earls were in possession of a large trove of Newton's personal papers, until they were auctioned in 1936. Those documents are commonly known as the "Portsmouth Papers".[2]
The third Earl declared himself King of Hampshire and his brother had him declared insane.[3]
The fourth Earl represented Andover and Devonshire North in Parliament. In 1794, he assumed by Royal licence for himself and his issue the surname and arms of Fellowes only.
The fifth Earl resumed, without Royal licence, the family surname and arms of Wallop.
Oliver Henry Wallop, the eighth Earl, had moved from England to the United States, and been living the life of a rancher in Sheridan, Wyoming, at the time of the death of his older brother, the seventh Earl. Known as O.H. Wallop, he had served two terms a state representative in the Wyoming Legislature.[4] He had become an American citizen in 1891, and was allowed to take his seat in the House of Lords only after renouncing American citizenship.[5]
The current holder is Quentin Wallop, 10th Earl of Portsmouth, who succeeded in 1984, is the only son of Oliver Kintzing Wallop, Viscount Lymington (1923–1984).
The American politician Malcolm Wallop was a grandson of the 8th Earl.
The heir apparent is the present holder's son Oliver Henry Rufus Wallop, Viscount Lymington (b. 1981). As of 22 March 2016, Viscount Lymington is engaged to Flora Pownall.[6]
Further reading
Watney, V., History of the Wallop Family, 4 Vols.
Foyster, E., The Trials of the King of Hampshire: Madness, Secrecy and Betrayal in Georgian England.
^Dry, Sarah (Winter 2015). "The Strange Tale of Newton's Papers". The New Atlantis. Washington, D.C.: The Center for the Study of Technology and Society. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
^Eagleton, Terry (7 September 2016). "Jack in the Belfry". London Review of Books. 38 (17).
^"Neighbors Put Out Over Losing Cowpuncher Friend, Who Is to Become Earl", Pittsburgh Press, September 9, 1925, p10; "Wyoming Cowboy Is Earl of Portsmouth, Inheriting the Title of Brother in England", New York Times, September 9, 1925, p1
^"Earl of Portsmouth Quits Wyoming Ranch; Ends American Citizenship of 42 Years", New York Times, April 8, 1933, p31
^"Viscount Lymington to marry Flora Pownall". Peerage News. 22 March 2016.
References
Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990, [page needed]