John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley was born on 7 January 1826. He was the son of Hon. Henry Wodehouse and Anne Gurdon. He married Lady Florence FitzGibbon,
daughter of Richard Hobart
FitzGibbon, 3rd Earl of Clare and Diana Woodcock, on 16 August 1847. He died on 8 April 1902 at age 76.
John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley was educated at Eton College, Eton, Berkshire, England. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. He succeeded to the title of 3rd Baron Wodehouse of Kimberley, co. Norfolk [G.B., 1797] on 29 May 1846.4 He succeeded to the title of 8th Baronet Wodehouse, of Kimberley, co. Norfolk [E., 1611] on 29 May 1846.
He held the office of member of the Norfolk County Council. He held the office of Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs between 1852 and 1856. He held the office of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiaryto Russia between 1856 and 1858. He held the office of Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs between 1859 and 1861. He was Special Envoy to Denmark in 1863. He held the office of Parliamentary Under-Secretary for India in 1864. He was invested as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1864. He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland between 1864 and 1866. He was created 1st Earl of Kimberley, of Kimberley, co. Norfolk [U.K.] on 1 June 1866. He held the office of Lord Privy Seal between 1868 and 1870. He held the office of Secretary of State for the Colonies between 1870 and 1874. He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) of Norfolk. He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for Norfolk. He held the office of Secretary of State for the Colonies between 1880 and 1882. He held the office of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster between 1882 and 1883. He was invested as a Knight, Order of the Garter (K.G.) in 1885. He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law (D.C.L.) by Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. He held the office of Lord President of the Council between 1892 and 1894. He held the office of Foreign Secretary between 1894 and 1895. He held the office of Chancellor of London University in 1899.
Lady Florence FitzGibbon was born in 1825. She was the daughter of Richard Hobart FitzGibbon, 3rd Earl of Clare and Diana Woodcock. She married John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley, son of Hon. Henry Wodehouse and Anne Gurdon, on 16 August 1847. She died on 4 May 1895.
Eventually s to her father's personal ppty. As a result of her marriage, Lady Florence FitzGibbon was styled as Baroness Wodehouse of Kimberley on 16 August 1847. From 16 August 1847, her married name became Wodehouse. She was decorated with the award of Imperial Order of the Crown of India (C.I.). As a result of her marriage, Lady Florence FitzGibbon was styled as Countess of Kimberley on 1 June 1866.
Children of Lady Florence FitzGibbon and John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley1- John Wodehouse, 2nd Earl of Kimberley+1 b. 10 Dec 1848, d. 7 Jan 1932
2-Lady Alice Wodehouse+1 b. 17 Dec 1850, d. 8 Jan 1937
3-Hon. Armine Wodehouse+1 b. 24 Sep 1860, d. 1 May 1901
