On 03 Sep 1553 Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon (age 26) was created 1st Earl Devon. The Earldom was created with a special remainder i.e. to his heirs male forever, rather than to the heirs male of his body, so that on his death in 1556 he was succeeded by his fourth cousin William Courtenay 2nd Earl Devon (age 24) who was not a descendant of his. The position was not made clear, however, until 1831, when the 9th Earl, William "Kitty" Courtenay 9th Earl Devon claimed the Earldom and became the de facto Earl of Devon.