Arms of Marsham: Argent, a Lion passant Gules, between two Bendlets Azure. Crest: A Lion's Head erased Gules. Supporters: On either side a Lion Azure, semée of Crosses-Crosslet Or, gorged with a Naval Crown Or.
Arms of Sydney: Or, a Pheon Azure, a Crescent for difference. Crest: A Porcupine Azure, quilled, collared and chained Or, a Crescent for difference. Supporters: Dexter: A Lion Azure, collared and chained Or, ducally crowned per pale Argent and Gules, a Crescent for difference; Sinister: A Lion guardant Argent, ducally crowned Or, a Crescent for difference.
QUO FATA VOCANT (Whither the Fates call / Where destiny calls)
Earl of Romney (pronounced "Rumney") is a title that has been created twice.
It was first created in the Peerage of England in 1694 in favour of the soldier and politician Henry Sydney. He had been made Baron Milton and Viscount Sydney at the same time in 1689.[1] Sydney was the younger son of Robert Sydney, 2nd Earl of Leicester. He never married and the titles became extinct on his death in 1704.
His grandson, the aforementioned third Baron, represented Maidstone and Kent in Parliament and served as Lord Lieutenant of Kent. In 1801 he was created Viscount Marsham, of The Mote in the County of Kent, and Earl of Romney, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.[4] He was succeeded by his son, the second Earl. He was Member of Parliament for Hythe and Downton. His son, the third Earl, represented Kent West in the House of Commons. He was succeeded by his son, the fourth Earl, who held political office in the second Conservative government of Lord Salisbury as a Lord-in-waiting (government whip in the House of Lords) from 1889 to 1892.
The line of his eldest son, the fifth Earl, failed on the death of the latter's son, the sixth Earl, in 1975. The late Earl was succeeded by his first cousin, the seventh Earl. He was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Reginald Hastings Marsham, second son of the fourth Earl. As of 2010[update] the titles are held by his first cousin once removed, the eighth Earl, who succeeded in 2004. He is the son of Colonel Peter William Marsham, son of Sydney Edward Marsham, youngest son of the fourth Earl.
The heir apparent is the present holder's son, Lieutenant Colonel David Charles Marsham, Viscount Marsham (b. 1977), who served as commanding officer of 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards 2018–2023.[5][6]
The heir apparent's heir apparent is his son, Hon. James Julian Marsham (b. 2014)
