Earl of Harborough

The Earldom of Harborough was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain created in 1719 for Bennet Sherard, who had previously been made Baron Harborough (1714) and Viscount Sherard, with the viscountcy ending with the death of its original holder in 1732, but the other titles, created with special remainders to the grantee's cousin, persisted until 1859.

Like the Harborough barony, the Earldom was created with remainder to his cousin and heir male, Philip Sherard.

When the Earl of Harborough died in 1732, his titles devolved on his cousin, while the viscountcy, created without remainder, became extinct.

Philip Sherard, 2nd Earl, also served as Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland and had represented that county in Parliament, dying in 1750.

Though he was father of three illegitimate sons by the actress and opera singer Emma Sarah Love Calcraft Kennedy (1801-1881), including artist Edward Sherard Calcraft Kennedy (1833-1900)[1] and Reverend Bennet Sherard Calcraft Kennedy, father of author and journalist Robert Sherard, he died without legitimate issue from his marriage to Mary Eliza Temple (1818- )[2] and the Earldom and Harborough barony went extinct.