Marquess of Reading

Rufus Isaacs,
1st Marquess of Reading

British army recruitment poster for World War I featuring Viscount Reading, the poster was part of a campaign to recruit Jewish Soldiers

Marquess of Reading is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1926 for Rufus Isaacs, 1st Earl of Reading, the former Viceroy of India and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales. He had already been created Baron Reading, of Erleigh in the County of Berkshire, in 1914, Viscount Reading, of Erleigh in the County of Berkshire, in 1916, and Viscount Erleigh, of Erleigh in the County of Berkshire, and Earl of Reading, in 1917. The marquessate is the highest title in the British peerage ever attained by a Jew, and is the junior-most extant Marquessate in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

Lord Reading was succeeded by his son, the second Marquess. He notably held ministerial office from 1951 to 1957 in the Conservative administrations of Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden. As of 2010^[update] the titles are held by his grandson, the fourth Marquess, who succeeded his father in 1980. The Isaacs family lived until recently at Jaynes Court, Bisley, Gloucestershire.

In May 1804, the title of Baron Reading was offered to the outgoing Prime Minister, Henry Addington, who had many links with the town, as a subsidiary title of the customary retirement Earldom for Prime Ministers. However, Addington refused the honour, though later accepting a peerage as Viscount Sidmouth. See also Earl of Banbury.

Marquesses of Reading (1926)

• Rufus Daniel Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading (1860–1935)
• Gerald Rufus Isaacs, 2nd Marquess of Reading (1889–1960)
• Michael Alfred Rufus Isaacs, 3rd Marquess of Reading (1916–1980)
• Simon Charles Henry Rufus Isaacs, 4th Marquess of Reading (b. 1942)

The heir apparent is the present holder's son Julian Michael Rufus Isaacs, Viscount Erleigh (b. 1986)

References

• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages
• Lord Reading Yacht Club
• Lord Reading Law Society