Earl of Avon

Earl of Avon is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom that was created in 1961 for the former Prime Minister Anthony Eden. The title became extinct upon the death of his son, the second earl, in 1985. The name references the River Avon in Wiltshire, near the family's estate at Alvediston.

History of the title

The title was created by letters patent issued by Queen Elizabeth II on 12 July 1961, specifically for Anthony Eden following his retirement from active politics. Eden had previously been granted the subsidiary title of Viscount Eden, of Royal Leamington Spa in the County of Warwick, at the same time, which was also used as a courtesy title for his heir. The creation was a rare instance of a former Prime Minister accepting an earldom, a practice that had largely fallen out of favor by the mid-20th century. The title's extinction in 1985, just 24 years after its creation, marked one of the shortest-lived earldoms in modern British history.

Earls of Avon (1961)

* **Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon** (1897–1977). He was a prominent Conservative statesman who served as Foreign Secretary during the Munich Agreement crisis and later as Prime Minister from 1955 to 1957. His premiership was dominated by the Suez Crisis, a pivotal event in the decline of British imperial power. He was succeeded by his son. * **Nicholas Eden, 2nd Earl of Avon** (1930–1985). He served as a Member of Parliament for Bournemouth West before inheriting the title. His tenure as earl was relatively brief and low-profile, and he died without male issue, leading to the title's extinction. His death was reported in major publications like The Times.

Family and heirs

The 1st Earl was married twice: first to Beatrice Beckett, with whom he had two sons, and later to Clarissa Spencer-Churchill, a niece of Winston Churchill. His eldest son, Simon Eden, was killed in action serving with the Royal Air Force during the Burma campaign in World War II. Consequently, the earldom passed to his second son, Nicholas, upon Anthony Eden's death in 1977. The 2nd Earl married Alison Mundy but had no children. With no surviving male heirs from the 1st Earl's line, the title became extinct upon Nicholas Eden's death in 1985. The family's papers are held at the University of Birmingham.

Arms and motto

The armorial bearings of the Earl of Avon were granted by the College of Arms. The shield featured a chevron between three griffins' heads, a design element also associated with the Viscount Eden title. The crest depicted a griffin's head. The supporters were two griffins, creatures symbolizing vigilance and courage. The motto, "**Si Sit Prudentia**" (translated as "If There Be Prudence"), reflected the 1st Earl's diplomatic career, though it was often viewed with irony by critics of his actions during the Suez Crisis.

Political career of the 1st Earl

Anthony Eden had a long and distinguished political career before his elevation to the peerage. He served as Foreign Secretary in the governments of Stanley Baldwin, Neville Chamberlain, and Winston Churchill, playing a key role in the pre-war years and during World War II. He was instrumental in the formation of the United Nations and was a staunch opponent of appeasement towards Nazi Germany. He succeeded Churchill as Prime Minister in 1955. His premiership, however, was defined by the Suez Crisis of 1956, a failed military intervention in Egypt undertaken with France and Israel that led to a severe political crisis, condemnation from the United States and the Soviet Union, and ultimately his resignation in 1957. He was later awarded the Order of the Garter and documented his career in his memoirs, *Full Circle*.

Category:Earldoms in the Peerage of the United Kingdom Category:Anthony Eden