William Cole, 3rd Earl of Enniskillen

William Willoughby Cole, 3rd Earl of Enniskillen (January 25, 1807- November 21, 1886), known by his courtesy title of Viscount Cole from 1807 to 1840, was a British palaeontologist and Conservative Member of Parliament.

Cole was the son of John Willoughby Cole, 2nd Earl of Enniskillen, and Lady Charlotte Paget. He was educated at Harrow and Christ Church, Oxford. In his youth he began to devote his leisure to the study and collection of fossil fishes, with his friend Sir Philip de Malpas Grey Egerton, and he amassed a fine collection at Florence Court, his home in Enniskillen. This included many specimens that were described and figured by Agassiz and Egerton. This collection was subsequently acquired by the British Museum.

He was also involved in politics and represented Fermanagh in the House of Commons between 1831 and 1840, when he succeeded his father, to become the third Earl, and thus entered the House of Lords.

Lord Enniskillen married, firstly, Jane Casamaijor, daughter of James Casamaijor, in 1844. After her death in 1855 he married, secondly, the Hon. Mary Emma Brodrick, daughter of Charles Brodrick, 6th Viscount Midleton, in 1865. He died in November 1886, aged 79, and was succeeded in his titles by his second but eldest surviving son from his first marriage, Lowry. The Countess of Enniskillen died in 1896.

References

*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). "Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage" (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
* [http://www.angeltowns.com/town/peerage/ Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page]
* [http://www.thepeerage.com/ www.thepeerage.com]
*1911