Francis Courtenay (died 1638)


Francis Courtenay, de jure 4th Earl of Devon, of Powderham, Devon, was an English Member of Parliament. In 1831 he was recognised retrospectively as having been de jure 4th Earl of Devon, having succeeded his father in 1630.

Origins

He was the second but eldest surviving son of Sir William V Courtenay, de jure 3rd Earl of Devon of Powderham Castle, Devon, by his first wife Elizabeth Manners, daughter of Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland, KG.

Career

He was MP for Devonshire in 1625 and for Grampound in 1626.

Marriage and children

He married twice. His first marriage in 1606 was to Mary Pole, eldest daughter of Sir William Pole, of Shute, Devon, the antiquary. They had no children.
Secondly he married Elizabeth Seymour, a daughter of Sir Edward Seymour, 2nd Baronet of Berry Pomeroy, Devon, by whom he had children including Sir William Courtenay, 1st Baronet.