Arthur Capell, 6th Earl of Essex

Arthur Algernon Capell (27 January 1803 – 11 September 1892) was an English aristocrat who succeed to the title Earl of Essex in 1839.

Early life Arthur Algernon Capell was the son of Hon. John Thomas Capel and Lady Caroline Paget (eldest daughter of Henry Paget, 1st Earl of Uxbridge). He was the grandson of William Capell, 4th Earl of Essex from William's second marriage to Harriet Bladen. He was given the name of Arthur Algernon Capel at birth, but the spelling of the family name was legally changed by Royal Licence to Capell on 23 July 1880.

Arthur Algernon Capell's half-uncle, George Capel-Coningsby, 5th Earl of Essex, died in 1839 without any heirs, and the succession of the title passed to Arthur. and the Earl even launched his own Cassiobury brand croquet set, made in his own sawmills in Watford.

Capell took an interest in the practice of homoeopathy which was growing in popularity at the time. He supported the activities of the British Homeopathic Association and served as a Vice President of the London Homeopathic Hospital.

Like many landowners of his time, the Earl also took an active interest in agriculture and developed a model farm, Home Farm, to the north of Cassiobury House. He was first president of the West Hertfordshire Agricultural Society, and in August 1864 he held first exhibition of the Watford and Leavesden Horticultural Society in the gardens at Cassiobury. He also held positions of Lay Rector of the Parish and president of the Watford and Bushey Volunteer Fire Brigade. The Earl also opened up the grounds of Cassiobury to the local residents of Watford, allowing the public free access to the park, on the condition that they did not hold picnics there (opening grounds to the public was now a common practice among landowners, such as at the parks of Arundel Castle, Hatfield House, Blenheim Palace and Alnwick Castle, all of continue to offer free access to local residents today). The park played host to cricket matches and parades of the Hertfordshire Yeomanry.

The prime minister of the day, Sir Robert Peel, offered to the Earl the position of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, an appointment he declined due to ill health. His eldest son, Arthur de Vere Capell, Viscount Malden, had died in 1879 aged 52 and so the Earl of Essex title passed to Arthur Algernon's grandson, George Capell.

He held almost 15,000 in England and Ireland

Legacy Photographic portraits of the 6th Earl are held in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London and the Library of Congress in the United States.