Baron Mount Temple

Baron Mount Temple was a title that was created twice in British history, both times in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came on 25 May 1880 when the Liberal politician the Honourable William Cowper-Temple was made Baron Mount Temple, of Mount Temple in the County of Sligo. He was born William Cowper, the second son of Peter Clavering-Cowper, 5th Earl Cowper (see Earl Cowper for earlier history of the family) by his wife the Honourable Emily, sister of William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne. Emily married as her second husband Prime Minister Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston. He died in 1865 when the viscountcy and his junior title of Baron Temple, of Mount Temple, became extinct. Emily died 11 September 1869, leaving her second husband's estates, including Broadlands in Hampshire, to her second son, William, who thereupon adopted by Royal license the surname Cowper-Temple, in whose favour the Mount Temple title was revived in 1880.

Lord Mount Temple died without issue on 16 October 1888 when the peerage became extinct. However, it was revived on 13 January 1932 when his great-nephew, the Conservative politician, Wilfrid Ashley, was made Baron Mount Temple, of Lee in the County of Southampton. He the son of the Honourable Evelyn Ashley, private secretary to and biographer of third Viscount Palmerston and the second son of Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury (see Earl of Shaftesbury for earlier history of the family), husband of Lady Emily...
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