Piers Edgcumbe, 5th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe

Piers Alexander Hamilton Edgcumbe, 5th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe DL (1865–1944),[1] was a soldier who served in the South African War with distinction.

The Right Honourable The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe DL
Born	2 July 1865 (1865-07-02) England
Died	18 April 1944 (1944-04-19) aged 78 England
Nationality	British
Alma mater	Oxford University
Spouse	Lady Edith Villiers
Parent(s)	William Henry Edgcumbe, 4th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe Lady Katherine Hamilton
Military career
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Years of service	1891–1902
Rank	Captain
Unit	3rd Militia of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Battles/wars	Second Boer War

He was the son of William Henry Edgcumbe, 4th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe by his first wife, Lady Katherine Hamilton, fourth daughter of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn and his wife, Lady Louisa Russell.

Educated at Oxford University and a keen horseman, he was part of the varsity polo team playing against Cambridge in 1885–1887.[2]

He was appointed a captain in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on 23 March 1891. After the outbreak of the Boer War in 1899, he went to serve in South Africa. He left Cape Town for the United Kingdom in early May 1902, shortly before the end of the war.[3]

He succeeded his father to the earldom and Mount Edgcumbe House in 1917. He had married in 1911 Lady Edith Villiers, the only daughter of Edward Hyde Villiers, 5th Earl of Clarendon. They had no children and he was succeeded by his cousin, Kenelm William Edward Edgcumbe, 6th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe.