Marquess of Donegall
| Marquessate of Donegall | |
|---|---|
 
Quarterly, 1st and 4th: Chequy or and gules, a chief vair. 2nd and 3rd: Azure fretty argent
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| Creation date | 27 June 1791 |
| Monarch | George III |
| Peerage | Peerage of Ireland |
| First holder | Arthur Chichester, 5th Earl of Donegall |
| Present holder | Patrick Chichester, 8th Marquess of Donegall |
| Heir apparent | James Chichester, Earl of Belfast |
| Remainder to | Heirs male of the body |
| Subsidiary titles |
Baron Templemore Earl of Belfast Baron Chichester of Belfast Baron Fisherwick Earl of Donegall Viscount Chichester of Carrickfergus |
| Seat(s) | Dunbrody Park |
| Former seat(s) | Dunbrody House |
| Armorial motto | Invitum sequitur honor (“Honour follows him who does not seek it") |
Marquess of Donegall is a title in the Peerage of Ireland held by the head of the Chichester family, originally from Devon, England. Sir John Chichester sat as a Member of Parliament and was High Sheriff of Devon in 1557. One of his sons, Sir Arthur Chichester, was Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1604 to 1614. In 1613, he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Chichester, of Belfast in County Antrim. He died childless in 1625 when the barony became extinct.
However, in the same year the Chichester title was revived in favour of his younger brother, Edward Chichester, who was made Baron Chichester, of Belfast in the County of Antrim, and Viscount Chichester, of Carrickfergus in County Antrim. Both titles are in the Peerage of Ireland. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Arthur Chichester. A distinguished soldier, he was created Earl of Donegall in the Peerage of Ireland in 1647 (one year before he succeeded his father), with remainder to the heirs male of his father.
He died without male issue and was succeeded (in the earldom according to the special remainder) by his nephew Arthur Chichester, the second Earl. He was the eldest son of Lieutenant-Colonel John Chichester, second son of the first Viscount. Lord Donegall had previously represented Donegal County in the Irish House of Commons. His eldest son, the third Earl, was a Major-General in the Spanish army and fought in the War of the Spanish Succession. He was killed in action in 1706. His eldest son, the fourth Earl, died childless and was succeeded by his nephew, the fifth Earl. He was the son of the Hon. John Chichester, younger son of the third Earl. Lord Donegall was created Baron Fisherwick, of Fisherwick in the County of Stafford, in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1790, and one year later he was further honoured when he was made Earl of Belfast and Marquess of Donegall in the Peerage of Ireland.
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