The Earldom of Castlemaine was a title created in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created for Roger Palmer, the husband of

Barbara Palmer Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland, Countess of Castlemaine (née Barbara Villiers, – 9 October 1709), was an English royal mistress of the Villiers family and perhaps the most notorious of the many mistresses of King Charles II of Eng ...

(née Villiers), mistress to King Charles II. The Earl was also given the title ''Baron Limerick''. The earldom was named after Castle Maine in

County Kerry County Kerry ( gle, Contae Chiarraí) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and forms part of the province of Munster. It is named after the Ciarraige who lived in part of the present county. The population of the co ...

. The title was limited to his male heirs by Barbara (i.e. as opposed, that is, to any later wife he might have) making it clear that the earldom was for his wife's services to the King and not his own. As the only child officially fathered by the 1st Earl (which probably was not actually his) was female, the title became extinct on his death.

Earls of Castlemaine, First Creation (1661)

Roger Palmer, 1st Earl of Castlemaine Roger Palmer, 1st Earl of Castlemaine, PC (1634–1705) was an English courtier, diplomat, and briefly a member of parliament, sitting in the House of Commons of England for part of 1660. He was also a noted Roman Catholic writer. His wife Barba ...

(1634–1705)

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Castlemaine Extinct earldoms in the Peerage of Ireland Peerages created with special remainders Noble titles created in 1661 County Kerry