Stephen Fox-Strangways, 1st Earl of Ilchester

Stephen Fox-Strangways, 1st Earl of Ilchester PC (12 September 1704 – 26 September 1776), was a British peer and Member of Parliament.

Ilchester was the son of Sir Stephen Fox and his second wife Christiana Hope. Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland, was his younger brother and Charles James Fox his nephew. He was elected to the House of Commons for Shaftesbury in 1726, a seat he held until 1741. The latter year he was raised to the peerage as Lord Ilchester, of Ilchester in the County of Somerset, Baron of Woodford Strangways in the County of Dorset. Six years later he was created Lord Ilchester and Stavordale, Baron of Redlynch, in the County of Somerset, and in 1756 he was even further honoured when he was made Earl of Ilchester. The peerages were created, in default of male issue of his own, with remainder to his younger brother Henry. In 1763 he was admitted to the Privy Council.

Lord Ilchester married Elizabeth Horner, daughter of Thomas Strangeways Horner and Susanna Strangways, in 1735. In 1758 he assumed the additional surname of Strangways. He died in September 1776, aged 72, and was succeeded by his son Henry Thomas Fox-Strangways.

On a more scandalous note, Stephen Fox was also the acknowledged lover of Lord Hervey for a period of ten years (admittedly, one of many. But there exists many passionate letters between the two). Hervey initially favored his brother, Henry Fox, first, but when charmingly rebuffed paid infatuated court to Stephen. His relationship with Lord Hervey only ended when a marriage was arranged, by his brother Henry and his mistress of the time, Lady Strangeways, to the said lady's 13 year old daughter Elizabeth (born of her marriage, not of her liaison). To the surprise of all, Stephen gave up Lord Hervey, accepted his wife, and retired into the life of a country gentleman, hunting and reading to his heart's content. (And, made an earl for the honor of his family).

References

*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). "Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage" (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
*www.thepeerage.com
*Tillyard, Stella. "Aristocrats: Caroline, Emily, Louisa and Sarah Lennox, 1740-1832"