Viscount Hereford, Premier Viscount of England (1550)

Sir Charles Robin De Bohun Devereux, 19th Viscount Hereford and 16th Baronet

Arms of Viscount Hereford, Premier Viscount of England

Arms: Argent, a fess gules, in chief three torteaux.

Crest: Out of a ducal coronet or, a talbot's head argent, eared gules.

Supporters: Dexter - A talbot argent, eared gules, ducally gorged of the last; Sinister - a reindeer gules, sttired, gorged with a ducal coronet, and lined or.

Walter Devereux, 1st Viscount Hereford and 3rd Baron Ferrers of Chartley in consideration of the active and distinguished part he had taken in the French wars of Henry VIII was created Viscount Hereford on February 2, 1550. Annual rent of twenty marks out of the revenues of the county of Hereford was given to Viscount Hereford and his male heir for ever.

Walter, 2nd Viscount Hereford, was created 1st Earl of Essex in 1572.

Robert, 2nd Earl of Essex and 3rd Viscount Hereford was a Knight of the Garter, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and Earl Marshal of England. Unfortunately, he was also a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I and was beheaded on Tower-hill on February 26, 1601 at the age of 34.

Robert, 3rd Earl of Essex and 4th Viscount Hereford, KG, was attached to the Royal cause until 1642, when he accepted a General's commission and a command in the Parliamentary Army. Upon his Lordship's death, in 1646, leaving no surviving son, the Earldom of Essex expired and the Barony of Ferrers fell into abeyance. The Viscounty devolved onto his cousin and male heir, Walter Devereux, 5th Viscount Hereford.

The Viscounty continues today with the 19th and present Viscount Hereford.

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