Archibald Acheson, 3rd Earl of Gosford

Archibald Acheson, 3rd Earl of Gosford KP (20 August 1806 – 15 June 1864), styled Viscount Acheson between 1807 and 1849, was a British peer and Member of Parliament.

Early life

Gosford was born on 20 August 1806. He was the only son of Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford of Gosford Castle, County Armagh and the former Mary Sparrow (1777–1841). He had four younger sisters, including Lady Mary Acheson (wife of James Hewitt, 4th Viscount Lifford) and Lady Millicent Acheson (wife of Dr. Henry Bence Jones). His mother was the only daughter and heiress of Robert Sparrow of Worlingham Hall and Mary (née Bernard) Sparrow (sister and heiress of Sir Robert Bernard, 5th Baronet and only daughter of Sir John Bernard, 4th Baronet).

Career He was elected in 1830 as the Member of Parliament for County Armagh in the British House of Commons, a seat he held until 1847, when he was ennobled as 1st Baron Acheson, of Clancairney, County Armagh, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. He was Lord of the bedchamber between 1831 and 1834. He succeeded to his father's Irish titles and estates in 1849, including the Worlingham Hall estate which he sold at auction in August 1849. He was created a Knight of the Order of St. Patrick in 1855.

Personal life On 22 June 1832, he was married to Lady Theodosia Brabazon (1808-1876), daughter of John Brabazon, 10th Earl of Meath and the former Lady Melosina Adelaide Meade (fourth daughter of John Meade, 1st Earl of Clanwilliam). Together, they were the parents of seven children: Archibald Brabazon Sparrow Acheson, 4th Earl of Gosford (1841–1922), who married Lady Louisa Montagu, the second daughter of William Montagu, 7th Duke of Manchester and the former Countess Louisa von Alten. His wife was a Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Alexandra.