Viscount

Viscount (Old Fr. viconte, visconte; Lat. vice, 'in place of,' and comes, 'earl'), originally the officer who acted as deputy to the earl, the vicecomes, who ultimately became the sheriff (always Latinised by viccomes). The hereditary title of viscount is a degree of nobility unconnected with office. It was first granted in England to John Beaumont, created a peer by the title of Viscount Beaumont in 1440. A viscount is now the fourth degree of nobility in the United Kingdom, intermediate between earl and baron, and has not been very largely conferred. The coronet is described at CORONET. A viscount is styled 'Right Honourable'; his wife is a viscountess; and all his sons and daughters are styled 'Honourable.' See COURTESY TITLES.