Cholmondeley, Robert, Earl of Leinster 1584?-1659, was the eldest son of Sir Hugh Cholmondeley of Cholmondeley [qv.] and Mary [see Cholmondeley, Mary, Lady], sole daughter and heiress of Christopher Holford. On 29 June 1611 he was made a baronet and became M.P. for Cheshire 1625, and in 1628 was created Viscount Cholmondeley of Kells, in Leinster. For his special services in raising several companies of foot in Cheshire in 1642, in collecting other forces for defending the city of Chester at its first siege, and for his conduct in the fight at Tilston Heath, he was, at Oxford 1 Sept. 1645, created a baron of England by the title Lord Cholmondeley of Wiche-Malbank (Nantwich), and in the ensuing March Earl of Leinster. After the triumph of the parliamentary party he was suffered to compound for his estate by a fine of 7,742l. He died 2 Oct. 1659, aged 75, and was buried in the chancel of Malpas church. He was married to Catharine, younger daughter and coheiress of John, lord Stanhope of Harrington, vice-chancellor of the household to James I, but had no legitimate issue. Robert, son of his brother Hugh, became heir to his estate, but the lands of Holford, which he inherited from his mother, were settled on Thomas Cholmondeley, his natural son by Mrs. Coulson, to whom, as was thought, he was affianced but never married.

Sources:
     Collins's Peerage of England (ed. 1812), iv. 29-30
     Lodge's Peerage of Ireland (Archdall), v. 64-5
     Lloyd's Memoirs
     Ormerod's Cheshire
     Earwaker's East Cheshire.

Contributor: T. F. H. [Thomas Finlayson Henderson]

Published: 1887