Anson family

The Anson family is a British aristocratic family whose recorded rise began with William Anson, a Staffordshire lawyer who acquired Shugborough Hall in 1624. The family subsequently produced naval officers, soldiers, parliamentarians, clergy, public officials, and cultural figures. Its most prominent early member was George Anson, 1st Baron Anson, an eighteenth-century Royal Navy commander who became Admiral of the Fleet and was elevated to the peerage in 1747. The family name is also strongly associated with two hereditary lines: the Anson baronetcy, created in 1831, and the earldom of Lichfield, also created in 1831. The principal Lichfield line developed from George Adams, the son of Sambrooke Adams and Janette Anson. When his maternal uncle Thomas Anson died in 1773, George Adams inherited substantial estates, including Shugborough, and adopted the surname Anson by royal licence. His son Thomas Anson entered Parliament for Lichfield and was raised to the peerage in 1806 as Baron Soberton and Viscount Anson. Thomas's son, also Thomas William Anson, became the 1st Earl of Lichfield in 1831 during the coronation honours of William IV. The earldom was a new creation in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, although the family had already accumulated important political and landed connections. The earls of Lichfield held their title through successive generations. The 2nd Earl served in government as Master of the Buckhounds and Postmaster General. The title passed to the 3rd Earl in 1892, the 4th Earl in 1918, and then, after the death of the 4th Earl in 1960, to his grandson Thomas Patrick John Anson, the 5th Earl of Lichfield. Known professionally as Patrick Lichfield, the 5th Earl became a successful society and fashion photographer, giving the family a prominent place in twentieth-century British cultural life. He died in 2005 and was succeeded by his only son, Thomas William Robert Hugh Anson, the 6th Earl of Lichfield. A separate branch descends through William Anson, who was created the 1st Anson Baronet in 1831. The baronetcy passed through successive holders including Sir John William Hamilton Anson, Sir William Reynell Anson, Sir Denis George William Anson, Sir John Henry Anson, Sir Edward Reynell Anson, Sir Peter Anson, and Sir Philip Roland Anson. The family therefore represents a hereditary social and historical network rather than a commercial brand: it has no known products, public-company structure, or conventional operating markets. Its continuing identity is expressed through hereditary titles, family estates, historical records, and the public careers of its members. Shugborough Hall remains the principal seat associated with the earls of Lichfield, while Birch Hall in Lancashire is associated with the Anson baronets.

The Anson family's documented history begins with William Anson, a Staffordshire lawyer who purchased Shugborough Hall in 1624. His descendants established the family's landed base in Staffordshire and later entered national public life. William Anson's grandson, another William Anson, was the father of George Anson, Thomas Anson, and Janette Anson. George Anson became the family's most celebrated eighteenth-century naval figure, serving in the Royal Navy and ultimately becoming Admiral of the Fleet. He was created Baron Anson in 1747. The main landed succession continued through Janette Anson's son George Adams. On the death of his uncle Thomas Anson in 1773, George Adams inherited the Anson estates and adopted the surname Anson under royal licence. His political and landed position enabled the next generation to obtain higher hereditary honours. His eldest son, Thomas Anson, represented Lichfield in the House of Commons and was raised to the peerage in 1806 as Baron Soberton and Viscount Anson. In 1831 Thomas's son, Thomas William Anson, became the 1st Earl of Lichfield. That same year, another branch received the hereditary Anson baronetcy through William Anson. The earldom remained connected to Shugborough Hall and passed through the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Earls of Lichfield. The 2nd Earl was active in Whig politics and held the offices of Master of the Buckhounds and Postmaster General. The 4th Earl died in 1960, after which the title passed to his grandson Thomas Patrick John Anson, the 5th Earl. The 5th Earl, professionally known as Patrick Lichfield, developed a successful career as a photographer and became widely recognized for his society and fashion work. His public career broadened the family's modern cultural profile beyond aristocratic and political history. Following Patrick Lichfield's death on 11 November 2005, the earldom passed to his only son, Thomas William Robert Hugh Anson, the 6th Earl of Lichfield. The 6th Earl married Lady Henrietta Conyngham in 2009, and their son Thomas Ossian Patrick Wolfe Anson is the heir apparent in the cited family account. The baronetcy has continued through a separate succession and is held by Sir Philip Roland Anson, the 8th Baronet, whose heir apparent is identified as his brother Hugo William Anson. Family places and memorial practices form an important part of the family's historical identity. Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire is the seat associated with the earls of Lichfield, while Birch Hall in Lancashire is associated with the Anson baronets. Members of the family have been buried at St Michael and All Angels Church in Colwich and at St Stephen's Church in Great Haywood. The family has also produced notable clergy, military officers, politicians, administrators, and professionals, including Bishop Adelbert Anson, Victoria Cross recipient Augustus Anson, General Sir George Anson, Admiral Talavera Vernon Anson, and party planner Elizabeth Anson.

• 2005

  Succession of the 6th Earl

  [1]Anson familyen.wikipedia.org

  Patrick Anson died and was succeeded by his son Thomas William Robert Hugh Anson.

• 1960

  Succession of the 5th Earl

  [1]Anson familyen.wikipedia.org

  After the death of the 4th Earl of Lichfield, the title passed to his grandson Patrick Anson.

• 1831

  Earldom and baronetcy established

  [1]Anson familyen.wikipedia.org

  Thomas William Anson became the 1st Earl of Lichfield, while William Anson was created the 1st Anson Baronet.

• 1806

  Viscountcy created

  [1]Anson familyen.wikipedia.org

  Thomas Anson was elevated as Baron Soberton and Viscount Anson.

• 1773

  The Adams branch adopts the Anson name

  [1]Anson familyen.wikipedia.org

  George Adams inherited the Anson estates and assumed the surname Anson by royal licence.

• 1747

  George Anson receives a barony

  [1]Anson familyen.wikipedia.org

  Naval commander George Anson was created 1st Baron Anson.

• 1624

  Acquisition of Shugborough Hall

  [1]Anson familyen.wikipedia.org

  William Anson acquired Shugborough Hall, establishing the principal Staffordshire estate associated with the family.

A British aristocratic family and hereditary titled house, rather than a commercial consumer brand.

1. 1Anson familyen.wikipedia.org