William Nevill, 1st Marquess of Abergavenny



William Nevill, 1st Marquess of Abergavenny (16 September 1826 – 12 December 1915), styled Viscount Neville between 1845 and 1868 and known as The Earl of Abergavenny between 1868 and 1876, was a British peer.

Background and education
Nevill was the eldest son of William Nevill, 4th Earl of Abergavenny, by Caroline Leeke, daughter of Ralph Leeke, of Longford Hall, Shropshire. He was born on 16 September 1826 at Longford and baptised there on 19 September. Nevill was educated at Eton.

Career
Nevill purchased a commission as cornet and sub-lieutenant in the 2nd Life Guards on 23 July 1844, but retired from the Army in June 1847. On 12 May 1849, he was commissioned a lieutenant in the West Kent Yeomanry. He resigned in May 1852. On 2 August 1852, he was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Sussex.

Lord Abergavenny was appointed honorary Colonel of the West Kent Yeomanry. and, from September 1901, the Sussex Yeomanry. He was also a Justice of the Peace for Kent and Monmouthshire. He succeeded his father in the earldom in 1868. Abergavenny was appointed honorary colonel of the West Kent Yeomanry on 17 February 1875. On 14 January 1876 he was created Earl of Lewes, in the County of Sussex, and Marquess of Abergavenny, in the County of Monmouth. He was further honoured when he was made a Knight of the Garter in 1886. On 28 September 1901, he was appointed honorary colonel of the Sussex Yeomanry.

Family
Lord Abergavenny married Caroline Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone (1826–1892), daughter of Sir John Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone, 2nd Baronet and Louisa Augusta Venables-Vernon-Harcourt, daughter of Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt, Archbishop of York, on 2 May 1848, at St George's, Hanover Square. They had ten children:


 * Lady Cicely Louisa Nevill (1851–1932), married Colonel Charles Gathorne-Hardy, son of Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, 1st Earl of Cranbrook.
 * Reginald William Bransby Nevill, 2nd Marquess of Abergavenny (1853–1927)
 * Henry Gilbert Ralph Nevill, 3rd Marquess of Abergavenny (1854–1938)
 * Lord George Montacute Nevill (1856–1920), married Florence Soanes and had issue, including Guy Larnach-Nevill, 4th Marquess of Abergavenny.
 * Lady Alice Maud Nevill (1858–1898), married Colonel Henry Morland.
 * Lord William Beauchamp Nevill (1860–1939), married Luisa del Campo Mello.
 * Lord Richard Plantagenet Nevill (1862–1939), died unmarried.
 * Lady Idina Mary Nevill (1865–1951), married Thomas Brassey, 2nd Earl Brassey.
 * Lady Rose Nevill (1866–1913), married Kenelm Pepys, 4th Earl of Cottenham and had issue.
 * Lady Violet Nevill (1866–1910), married Henry Wellesley, 3rd Earl Cowley and had issue.

The Marchioness of Abergavenny died at Eridge Castle on 13 September 1892, aged 66, and was buried there. Lord Abergavenny died on 12 December 1915 at Eridge Castle, aged 89, and was buried there on 16 December. He was succeeded in the marquessate by his eldest son, Reginald.