Viscount Mersey

John Bigham, 1st Viscount Mersey.

Viscount Mersey, of Toxteth in the County Palatine of Lancaster, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1916 for the lawyer and politician John Bigham, 1st Baron Mersey. He had already been created Baron Mersey, of Toxteth in the County Palatine of Lancaster, in 1910, also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. His son, the second Viscount, was a Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords and also served as Liberal Chief Whip in the House of Lords from 1944 to 1949. His son, the third Viscount, married Katherine Petty-Fitzmaurice, 12th Lady Nairne, the eldest daughter of Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 6th Marquess of Lansdowne and 10th Lord Nairne. They were both succeeded by their son, the fourth Viscount Mersey and thirteenth Lord Nairne. As of 2013 the titles are held by the latter's son, the fifth Viscount, who succeeded in 2006.

The family seat is Bignor Park, near Pulborough, Sussex.

Viscounts Mersey (1916)

• John Charles Bigham, 1st Viscount Mersey (1840–1929)
• Charles Clive Bigham, 2nd Viscount Mersey (1872–1956)
• Edward Clive Bigham, 3rd Viscount Mersey (1906–1979)
• Richard Maurice Clive Bigham, 4th Viscount Mersey (1934–2006)
• Edward John Hallam Bigham, 5th Viscount Mersey (b. 1966)

The heir presumptive is the present holder's uncle Hon. David Edward Hugh Bigham (b. 1938).
The heir presumptive's heir apparent is his son Charles Richard Petty Bigham (b. 1967).
The heiress presumptive to the lordship of Nairne is the present holder's daughter Hon. Flora Diana Joan Bigham, Mistress of Nairne (b. 2003).

See also

• Lord Nairne

References

• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Richard Maurice Clive Bigham, 4th Viscount Mersey