Viscount Doneraile (/ˈdʌnərəl/[citation needed]) is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland, both times for members of the St Leger family.

Viscount Doneraile
2nd Creation
Arms of the Viscount Doneraile
Arms of St Leger: Azure fretty argent, a chief or[1]
Creation date22 June 1785
CreationSecond
Created byGeorge III
PeeragePeerage of Ireland
First holderSt Leger St Leger, 1st Viscount Doneraile
Present holderRichard St Leger, 10th Viscount Doneraile
Heir apparentThe Hon. Nathaniel St Leger
Subsidiary titlesBaron Doneraile
MottoHAUT ET BON
(French for "Great and good")
Viscount Doneraile
1st Creation
Creation date23 June 1703
CreationFirst
Created byQueen Anne
PeeragePeerage of Ireland
First holderArthur St Leger, 1st Viscount Doneraile
Last holderHayes St Leger, 4th Viscount Doneraile
Remainder toThe 1st Viscount’s heirs male of the body lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titlesBaron Kilmayden
Extinction date25 April 1767
Same arms as the 2nd creation

It was first created in 1703 for Arthur St Leger, along with the subsidiary title of Baron Kilmayden, also in the Peerage of Ireland. This creation became extinct in 1767 upon the death of the fourth Viscount. His daughter, Elizabeth, had a son named St Leger Aldworth, who succeeded to the Doneraile estates and assumed the surname of St Leger in lieu of his patronymic. He notably represented Doneraile in the Irish Parliament from 1749 to 1776. The latter year, he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Doneraile. In 1785, the viscountcy was revived and he was created Viscount Doneraile, also in the Peerage of Ireland.

His grandson, the third Viscount, sat in the House of Lords as an Irish representative peer from 1830 to 1854. His son, the fourth Viscount, was an Irish Representative Peer between 1855 and 1887. He was succeeded by his second cousin, the fifth Viscount. His son, the sixth Viscount, served as Mayor of the City of Westminster.

On the death of his younger brother, the seventh Viscount, this line of the family failed, and he was succeeded by his second cousin once removed, the eighth Viscount. As of 2014, the titles are held by the latter's grandson, the tenth Viscount, who succeeded his father in 1983. He lives in California.

Doneraile Court, County Cork

The family seat was Doneraile Court, near Mallow, County Cork.

Viscounts Doneraile, First Creation (1703)

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Viscounts Doneraile, Second Creation (1785)

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The heir apparent is the present holder's son, the Hon. Nathaniel Warham Robert St John St Leger (born 1971).

References

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  1. ^ Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.365
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  • Hesilrige, Arthur G. M. (1921). Debrett's Peerage and Titles of courtesy. London: Dean & Son. p. 301.
  • Cracroft's Peerage page[unreliable source?]