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Barons and Earls of Morley

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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BARONS AND EARLS OF. MORLEY - In 1299 William de Morley of Morley in Norfolk was summoned to parliament as a baron, and his son Robert (d. 1360) was a celebrated warrior, being largely responsible for the English victory at Sluys and fighting at Crecy. His descendant Robert, the 6th baron (d. 1 443), had no sons, but he left a daughter Alianore, who married William Lovel (d. 1476), and Lovel was summoned to parliament as Lord Morley, ranking as the 7th holder of the title. He left a son Henry, who was killed in 1489, and Henry's heir was his sister Alice, the wife of Sir William Parker (d. 151o), hereditary marshal of Ireland. Their son Henry Parker (1476-1556) became the 10th baron, as he was summoned to the House of Lords as Lord Morley in 1523. He was a man of literary attainments and translated some of the writings of Plutarch, Boccaccio, Petrarch, Seneca, Cicero and others into English. Most of these are only found in manuscript, but his Tryumphes of Fraunces Petrarcke was published a second time in 1887. His eldest son Henry (d. 1553) died during his father's lifetime, leaving a son Henry (d. 1577) who became 11th Baron Morley on his grandfather's death. His son Edward (d. 1618), one of the judges of Mary Queen of Scots, succeeded to the barony; and Edward's son and successor was William Parker, 4th Lord Monteagle. The barony of Morley remained united with that of Monteagle until the death of William's grandson Thomas about 1686, when it fell into abeyance.

John Parker, 1st earl of Morley 0772-1840), only son of John Parker (1735-1788), who was created Baron Boringdon in 1784, but was no relation of the previous barons Morley, was a prominent supporter of Pitt and of Canning. In 1815 he was created earl of Morley. He was a public benefactor to Plymouth and its neighbourhood. He was succeeded by his son Edmund Henry Parker (1810-1864), whose son, Albert Edmund, the 3rd earl (1843-1905), was chairman of committees in the House of Lords from 1889 to 1905, after having been under-secretary for war and first commissioner of works. In 1905 his son, Edmund Robert (b. 1877), became 4th earl.