Viscount St Davids

Viscount St Davids, of Lydstep Haven in the County of Pembroke, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1918 for John Philipps, 1st Baron St Davids. The Philipps family descends from Sir John Philipps (died 27 March 1629), who represented Pembrokeshire in the House of Commons. In 1621 he was created a Baronet, of Picton Castle in the County of Pembroke, in the Baronetage of England. His grandson, the third Baronet, also sat as Member of Parliament for Pembrokeshire. He was succeeded by his son, the fourth Baronet. He represented Pembroke and Haverfordwest in Parliament. His son, the fifth Baronet, sat for Haverfordwest. He was succeeded by his younger brother, the sixth Baronet. He represented Carmarthen, Petersfield and Pembrokeshire in the House of Commons.[1]

Picton Castle, the former seat of the Philipps family

His son, the seventh Baronet, was Member of Parliament for Pembrokeshire and Haverfordwest and also served as Lord-Lieutenant of Haverfordwest and of Pembrokeshire. In 1776 he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Milford. However, this title became extinct on his death in 1823. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his distant relative, the eighth Baronet. He was a descendant of Hugh Philipps, third son of the first Baronet. He was succeeded by his younger brother, the ninth Baronet. This line of the family failed on the death of the latter's son, the tenth Baronet, in 1857.

The late Baronet was succeeded by his kinsman, the eleventh Baronet. His son, the twelfth Baronet, was a clergyman and served as Vicar of Warminster from 1859 to 1897 and as Canon of Salisbury. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the thirteenth Baronet. He sat as Liberal Member of Parliament for Mid Lanarkshire and Pembrokeshire. In 1908, four years before he succeeded his father in the baronetcy, he was created Baron St Davids, of Roch Castle in the County of Pembroke, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. In 1918 he was further honoured when he was made Viscount St Davids, of Lydstep Haven in the County of Pembroke, also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Lord St Davids married as his second wife Elizabeth Frances Philipps, 14th Baroness Strange, 15th Baroness Hungerford and 14th Baroness de Moleyns (1884–1974) (see the Baron Strange, Baron Hungerford and Baron de Moleyns for earlier history of these titles). The Viscount's two sons from his first marriage were both killed in action in the First World War.

He was succeeded therefore by his son from his second marriage, Iestyn, who became the second Viscount. In 1974, he also succeeded his mother as Baron Strange, Baron Hungerford and Baron De Moleyns. His son, Colwyn Philipps, 3rd Viscount St Davids, who succeeded in 1991, held office from 1992 to 1994 in the Conservative administration of John Major and was a Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords from 1995 to 1999. However, Lord St Davids lost his seat in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999. As of 2017 the titles are held by his eldest son Rhodri Philipps, the fourth Viscount, who succeeded in 2009.

Two of the first Viscount's younger brothers, Owen Philipps, 1st Baron Kylsant, and Laurence Philipps, 1st Baron Milford, were also raised to the peerage.

The first bearer of the surname was Sir Thomas Philipps (died 1520[2]), of Clisant, Llanwinio, Carmarthenshire, Wales. He was the son of Philip ap Maredudd. He was a patrilineal descendant of Sir Aron ap Rhys, a Welsh knight who accompanied Richard I on the Crusades in 1190.[3]