# Viscount De L'Isle

Viscount De L'Isle, of Penshurst in the County of Kent, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1956 for William Sidney, 6th Baron de L'Isle and Dudley (1909–1991).

## History

This branch of the Shelley family descends from John Shelley-Sidney, the only son of the second marriage of Sir Bysshe Shelley, 1st Baronet, of Castle Goring (see Shelley baronets for earlier history of the family), by Elizabeth Jane Perry, daughter of William Perry and Elizabeth Sidney, daughter and heir of the Hon. Thomas Sidney, fourth son of Robert Sidney, 4th Earl of Leicester (a title which had become extinct in 1743; see the Earl of Leicester 1618 creation). In 1799 he assumed by royal licence the additional surname of Sidney on succeeding to the estates, including Penshurst Place in Kent, of his maternal grandmother. In 1818 he was created a Baronet, of Penshurst in the County of Kent, in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom.
His son and heir apparent, Philip Sidney, represented Eye in the House of Commons. In 1835, fourteen years before succeeding his father in the baronetcy, he was raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Baron De L'Isle and Dudley, of Penshurst in the County of Kent. He was son-in-law of then King William IV. The title derived from the fact that the title of "Viscount De L'Isle" had been held by his ancestors the Earls of Leicester (in turn deriving from their ancestors), but had become extinct along with the earldom in 1743. The title of "Dudley" came from the fact that Robert Sidney, 1st Earl of Leicester (of the 1618 creation), was the nephew of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester (of the 1564 creation), the fifth son of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, who was as well Viscount Lisle by right of his mother. Lord De L'Isle and Dudley discontinued the use of the surname Shelley.
His grandson, the fifth Baron (who only held the titles for two months in 1945 after succeeding his elder brother), notably served as Mayor of Chelsea and was a member of the London County Council. His son, the sixth Baron, was a prominent Conservative politician and served as Secretary of State for Air from 1951 to 1955. In 1956, he was created Viscount De L'Isle, of Penshurst in the County of Kent, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Lord De L'Isle later served as Governor-General of Australia. In 1965 he also succeeded his kinsman as the ninth Baronet of Castle Goring. As of 2017 the titles are held by his son, the second Viscount, who succeeded in 1991.
As heir of the college's founder, Lord De L'Isle is the hereditary visitor of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.

## Family seat

The family seat is Penshurst Place, near Tonbridge, Kent. Close to it is the parish church of St John the Baptist, where the Sidney Chapel houses many memorials to the family.

## Shelley-Sidney baronets, of Penshurst Place (1818)

* Sir John Shelley-Sidney, 1st Baronet (1771–1849)
* Sir Philip Charles Sidney, 2nd Baronet (1800–1851) (created Baron De L'Isle and Dudley in 1835)

### Baron De L'Isle and Dudley (1835)

* Philip Charles Sidney, 1st Baron De L'Isle and Dudley (1800–1851)
* Philip Sidney, 2nd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley (1828–1898)
* Philip Sidney, 3rd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley (1853–1922)
* Algernon Sidney, 4th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley (1854–1945)
* William Sidney, 5th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley (1859–1945)
* William Philip Sidney, 6th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley (1909–1991) (created Viscount De L'Isle in 1956)

### Viscount De L'Isle (1956)

* William Philip Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle (1909–1991) (succeeded to the Shelley baronetcy of Castle Goring in 1965)
* Philip John Algernon Sidney, 2nd Viscount De L'Isle (born 1945)
The heir apparent is the present holder's only son, the Hon. Philip William Edmund Sidney (born 1985).

### Title succession chart

vteTitle succession chart, Viscounts De L'Isle, Barons De L'Isle and Dudley, and Shelley/Shelley-Sidney/Shelley-Rolls/Sidney baronets (1806 and 1818 creations). :
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Shelley baronets of Castle Goring | Shelley baronets of Castle Goring | Shelley baronets of Castle Goring | Shelley baronets of Castle Goring | Shelley baronets of Castle Goring | Shelley baronets of Castle Goring |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Shelley baronets of Castle Goring | Shelley baronets of Castle Goring | Shelley baronets of Castle Goring | Shelley baronets of Castle Goring | Shelley baronets of Castle Goring | Shelley baronets of Castle Goring | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sir Bysshe Shelley 1st Baronet 1731–1815 | Sir Bysshe Shelley 1st Baronet 1731–1815 | Sir Bysshe Shelley 1st Baronet 1731–1815 | Sir Bysshe Shelley 1st Baronet 1731–1815 | Sir Bysshe Shelley 1st Baronet 1731–1815 | Sir Bysshe Shelley 1st Baronet 1731–1815 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Shelley-Sidney baronets of Penshurst Place | Shelley-Sidney baronets of Penshurst Place | Shelley-Sidney baronets of Penshurst Place | Shelley-Sidney baronets of Penshurst Place | Shelley-Sidney baronets of Penshurst Place | Shelley-Sidney baronets of Penshurst Place |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Shelley-Sidney baronets of Penshurst Place | Shelley-Sidney baronets of Penshurst Place | Shelley-Sidney baronets of Penshurst Place | Shelley-Sidney baronets of Penshurst Place | Shelley-Sidney baronets of Penshurst Place | Shelley-Sidney baronets of Penshurst Place | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sir Timothy Shelley 2nd Baronet 1753–1844 | Sir Timothy Shelley 2nd Baronet 1753–1844 | Sir Timothy Shelley 2nd Baronet 1753–1844 | Sir Timothy Shelley 2nd Baronet 1753–1844 | Sir Timothy Shelley 2nd Baronet 1753–1844 | Sir Timothy Shelley 2nd Baronet 1753–1844 | | | Maj. Robert Shelley died 1849 | Maj. Robert Shelley died 1849 | Maj. Robert Shelley died 1849 | Maj. Robert Shelley died 1849 | Maj. Robert Shelley died 1849 | Maj. Robert Shelley died 1849 | Sir John Shelley-Sidney 1st Baronet 1771–1849 | Sir John Shelley-Sidney 1st Baronet 1771–1849 | Sir John Shelley-Sidney 1st Baronet 1771–1849 | Sir John Shelley-Sidney 1st Baronet 1771–1849 | Sir John Shelley-Sidney 1st Baronet 1771–1849 | Sir John Shelley-Sidney 1st Baronet 1771–1849 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Baron De L'Isle and Dudley | Baron De L'Isle and Dudley | Baron De L'Isle and Dudley | Baron De L'Isle and Dudley | Baron De L'Isle and Dudley | Baron De L'Isle and Dudley |
| | | | | | | Percy Bysshe Shelley 1792–1822 | Percy Bysshe Shelley 1792–1822 | Percy Bysshe Shelley 1792–1822 | Percy Bysshe Shelley 1792–1822 | Percy Bysshe Shelley 1792–1822 | Percy Bysshe Shelley 1792–1822 | | | | | | | John Shelley 1806–1866 | John Shelley 1806–1866 | John Shelley 1806–1866 | John Shelley 1806–1866 | John Shelley 1806–1866 | John Shelley 1806–1866 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Philip Sidney 1st Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 2nd Baronet 1800–1851 | Philip Sidney 1st Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 2nd Baronet 1800–1851 | Philip Sidney 1st Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 2nd Baronet 1800–1851 | Philip Sidney 1st Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 2nd Baronet 1800–1851 | Philip Sidney 1st Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 2nd Baronet 1800–1851 | Philip Sidney 1st Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 2nd Baronet 1800–1851 |
| Charles Shelley 1814–1826 | Charles Shelley 1814–1826 | Charles Shelley 1814–1826 | Charles Shelley 1814–1826 | Charles Shelley 1814–1826 | Charles Shelley 1814–1826 | William Shelley 1816–1819 | William Shelley 1816–1819 | William Shelley 1816–1819 | William Shelley 1816–1819 | William Shelley 1816–1819 | William Shelley 1816–1819 | Sir Percy Shelley 3rd Baronet 1819–1889 | Sir Percy Shelley 3rd Baronet 1819–1889 | Sir Percy Shelley 3rd Baronet 1819–1889 | Sir Percy Shelley 3rd Baronet 1819–1889 | Sir Percy Shelley 3rd Baronet 1819–1889 | Sir Percy Shelley 3rd Baronet 1819–1889 | Sir Edward Shelley 4th Baronet 1827–1890 | Sir Edward Shelley 4th Baronet 1827–1890 | Sir Edward Shelley 4th Baronet 1827–1890 | Sir Edward Shelley 4th Baronet 1827–1890 | Sir Edward Shelley 4th Baronet 1827–1890 | Sir Edward Shelley 4th Baronet 1827–1890 | Sir Charles Shelley 5th Baronet 1838–1902 | Sir Charles Shelley 5th Baronet 1838–1902 | Sir Charles Shelley 5th Baronet 1838–1902 | Sir Charles Shelley 5th Baronet 1838–1902 | Sir Charles Shelley 5th Baronet 1838–1902 | Sir Charles Shelley 5th Baronet 1838–1902 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Philip Sidney 2nd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1828–1898 | Philip Sidney 2nd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1828–1898 | Philip Sidney 2nd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1828–1898 | Philip Sidney 2nd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1828–1898 | Philip Sidney 2nd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1828–1898 | Philip Sidney 2nd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1828–1898 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sir John Shelley-Rolls 6th Baronet 1871–1951 | Sir John Shelley-Rolls 6th Baronet 1871–1951 | Sir John Shelley-Rolls 6th Baronet 1871–1951 | Sir John Shelley-Rolls 6th Baronet 1871–1951 | Sir John Shelley-Rolls 6th Baronet 1871–1951 | Sir John Shelley-Rolls 6th Baronet 1871–1951 | Sir Percy Shelley 7th Baronet 1872–1953 | Sir Percy Shelley 7th Baronet 1872–1953 | Sir Percy Shelley 7th Baronet 1872–1953 | Sir Percy Shelley 7th Baronet 1872–1953 | Sir Percy Shelley 7th Baronet 1872–1953 | Sir Percy Shelley 7th Baronet 1872–1953 | Lt. Cecil Shelley 1873–1915 | Lt. Cecil Shelley 1873–1915 | Lt. Cecil Shelley 1873–1915 | Lt. Cecil Shelley 1873–1915 | Lt. Cecil Shelley 1873–1915 | Lt. Cecil Shelley 1873–1915 | Sir Sidney Shelley 8th Baronet 1880–1965 | Sir Sidney Shelley 8th Baronet 1880–1965 | Sir Sidney Shelley 8th Baronet 1880–1965 | Sir Sidney Shelley 8th Baronet 1880–1965 | Sir Sidney Shelley 8th Baronet 1880–1965 | Sir Sidney Shelley 8th Baronet 1880–1965 | Hubert Shelley 1881–1951 | Hubert Shelley 1881–1951 | Hubert Shelley 1881–1951 | Hubert Shelley 1881–1951 | Hubert Shelley 1881–1951 | Hubert Shelley 1881–1951 | Philip Sidney 3rd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1853–1922 | Philip Sidney 3rd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1853–1922 | Philip Sidney 3rd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1853–1922 | Philip Sidney 3rd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1853–1922 | Philip Sidney 3rd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1853–1922 | Philip Sidney 3rd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1853–1922 | Algernon Sidney 4th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1854–1945 | Algernon Sidney 4th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1854–1945 | Algernon Sidney 4th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1854–1945 | Algernon Sidney 4th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1854–1945 | Algernon Sidney 4th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1854–1945 | Algernon Sidney 4th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1854–1945 | Hon. Henry Sidney 1858–1896 | Hon. Henry Sidney 1858–1896 | Hon. Henry Sidney 1858–1896 | Hon. Henry Sidney 1858–1896 | Hon. Henry Sidney 1858–1896 | Hon. Henry Sidney 1858–1896 | | | William Sidney 5th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 6th Baronet 1859–1945 | William Sidney 5th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 6th Baronet 1859–1945 | William Sidney 5th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 6th Baronet 1859–1945 | William Sidney 5th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 6th Baronet 1859–1945 | William Sidney 5th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 6th Baronet 1859–1945 | William Sidney 5th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 6th Baronet 1859–1945 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sir John Shelley-Rolls 6th Baronet 1871–1951 | Sir John Shelley-Rolls 6th Baronet 1871–1951 | Sir John Shelley-Rolls 6th Baronet 1871–1951 | Sir John Shelley-Rolls 6th Baronet 1871–1951 | Sir John Shelley-Rolls 6th Baronet 1871–1951 | Sir John Shelley-Rolls 6th Baronet 1871–1951 | Sir Percy Shelley 7th Baronet 1872–1953 | Sir Percy Shelley 7th Baronet 1872–1953 | Sir Percy Shelley 7th Baronet 1872–1953 | Sir Percy Shelley 7th Baronet 1872–1953 | Sir Percy Shelley 7th Baronet 1872–1953 | Sir Percy Shelley 7th Baronet 1872–1953 | Lt. Cecil Shelley 1873–1915 | Lt. Cecil Shelley 1873–1915 | Lt. Cecil Shelley 1873–1915 | Lt. Cecil Shelley 1873–1915 | Lt. Cecil Shelley 1873–1915 | Lt. Cecil Shelley 1873–1915 | Sir Sidney Shelley 8th Baronet 1880–1965 | Sir Sidney Shelley 8th Baronet 1880–1965 | Sir Sidney Shelley 8th Baronet 1880–1965 | Sir Sidney Shelley 8th Baronet 1880–1965 | Sir Sidney Shelley 8th Baronet 1880–1965 | Sir Sidney Shelley 8th Baronet 1880–1965 | Hubert Shelley 1881–1951 | Hubert Shelley 1881–1951 | Hubert Shelley 1881–1951 | Hubert Shelley 1881–1951 | Hubert Shelley 1881–1951 | Hubert Shelley 1881–1951 | Philip Sidney 3rd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1853–1922 | Philip Sidney 3rd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1853–1922 | Philip Sidney 3rd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1853–1922 | Philip Sidney 3rd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1853–1922 | Philip Sidney 3rd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1853–1922 | Philip Sidney 3rd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1853–1922 | Algernon Sidney 4th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1854–1945 | Algernon Sidney 4th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1854–1945 | Algernon Sidney 4th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1854–1945 | Algernon Sidney 4th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1854–1945 | Algernon Sidney 4th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1854–1945 | Algernon Sidney 4th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 1854–1945 | Hon. Henry Sidney 1858–1896 | Hon. Henry Sidney 1858–1896 | Hon. Henry Sidney 1858–1896 | Hon. Henry Sidney 1858–1896 | Hon. Henry Sidney 1858–1896 | Hon. Henry Sidney 1858–1896 | | | William Sidney 5th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 6th Baronet 1859–1945 | William Sidney 5th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 6th Baronet 1859–1945 | William Sidney 5th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 6th Baronet 1859–1945 | William Sidney 5th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 6th Baronet 1859–1945 | William Sidney 5th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 6th Baronet 1859–1945 | William Sidney 5th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 6th Baronet 1859–1945 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Baronetcy inherited by the 1st Viscount De L'Isle | Baronetcy inherited by the 1st Viscount De L'Isle | Baronetcy inherited by the 1st Viscount De L'Isle | Baronetcy inherited by the 1st Viscount De L'Isle | Baronetcy inherited by the 1st Viscount De L'Isle | Baronetcy inherited by the 1st Viscount De L'Isle | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Viscount De L'Isle | Viscount De L'Isle | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Baronetcy inherited by the 1st Viscount De L'Isle | Baronetcy inherited by the 1st Viscount De L'Isle | Baronetcy inherited by the 1st Viscount De L'Isle | Baronetcy inherited by the 1st Viscount De L'Isle | Baronetcy inherited by the 1st Viscount De L'Isle | Baronetcy inherited by the 1st Viscount De L'Isle | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Viscount De L'Isle | Viscount De L'Isle | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | William Sidney 1st Viscount De L'Isle 6th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 9th Baronet 7th Baronet 1909–1991 | William Sidney 1st Viscount De L'Isle 6th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 9th Baronet 7th Baronet 1909–1991 | William Sidney 1st Viscount De L'Isle 6th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 9th Baronet 7th Baronet 1909–1991 | William Sidney 1st Viscount De L'Isle 6th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 9th Baronet 7th Baronet 1909–1991 | William Sidney 1st Viscount De L'Isle 6th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 9th Baronet 7th Baronet 1909–1991 | William Sidney 1st Viscount De L'Isle 6th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley 9th Baronet 7th Baronet 1909–1991 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Philip Sidney 2nd Viscount De L'Isle born 1945 | Philip Sidney 2nd Viscount De L'Isle born 1945 | Philip Sidney 2nd Viscount De L'Isle born 1945 | Philip Sidney 2nd Viscount De L'Isle born 1945 | Philip Sidney 2nd Viscount De L'Isle born 1945 | Philip Sidney 2nd Viscount De L'Isle born 1945 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Hon. Philip Sidney born 1985 | Hon. Philip Sidney born 1985 | Hon. Philip Sidney born 1985 | Hon. Philip Sidney born 1985 | Hon. Philip Sidney born 1985 | Hon. Philip Sidney born 1985 |