Earl of Iddesleigh

Earl of Iddesleigh, in the County of Devon, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1885 for the Conservative politician Sir Stafford Northcote, 8th Baronet. He served as President of the Board of Trade, Secretary of State for India, Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Treasury and Foreign Secretary and was Joint Leader of the Conservative Party from 1881 to 1885. Northcote was made Viscount St Cyres, of Newton Saint Cyres in the County of Devon, at the same time he was given the earldom. This title is also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He notably served as Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue. On his death the titles passed to his nephew, the third Earl. He was the youngest son of Reverend the Hon. John Stafford Northcote, third son of the first Earl. His eldest son, the fourth Earl, served as a Deputy Lieutenant of Devon. As of 2010 the titles are held by the latter's only son, the fifth Earl, who succeeded in 2004.

The Northcote Baronetcy, of Haynes in the County of Devon, was created in the Baronetage of England in 1641 for John Northcote. He represented Ashburton, Devon and Barnstaple in the House of Commons. His grandson, the third Baronet (who succeeded his father), died childless in 1709 and was succeeded by his younger brother, the fourth Baronet. He was a Medical Doctor. His son, the fifth Baronet, sat as Member of Parliament for Exeter. His great-great-grandson was the aforementioned eighth Baronet, who was elevated to the peerage in 1885.

Two other members of the Northcote family have also gained distinction. The Hon. Henry Northcote, second son of the first Earl, was created Baron Northcote in 1899 and served as Governor-General of Australia from 1904 to 1908. Sir Geoffrey Northcote, Governor of Hong Kong from 1937 to 1941, was the son of Reverend the Hon. Arthur Francis Northcote, fourth son of the first Earl.

The title of the earldom is pronounced "Idsly" while the family surname is pronounced "Northcut".

The original seat of the family in the reign of King Henry I was Northcote Manor near Tiverton in Devon, however this had passed out of the possession of the family by the time of King Henry VIII. The Baronet's seat was Hayne, whilst the 5th Baronet married the heiress of Stafford, of Pynes. Both Hayne and Pynes are near Exeter in Devon. Pynes was recently sold, and the present Earl lives at Hayne.