How would you address an Earl in the 1800s?

For example Henry Smith, 3rd Earl of Sheffield - how would you address him in conversation etc? Its for my novel.


Thank you.|||The same way as now - "Your Lordship" or "My Lord".

"Sir" is a also a proper form of address to any noble, from the King to a mere Knight.|||Me personally?



'Sup Dogg'



Sorry



Real answer:



My Lord or Lord Sheffield



(From Wiki) Earl



Forms of address



An earl has the title Earl of [X] when the title originates from a placename, or Earl [X] when the title comes from a surname. In either case, he is referred to as Lord [X], and his wife as Lady [X]. A countess who holds an earldom in her own right also uses Lady [X], but her husband does not have a title (unless he has one in his own right).



The eldest son of an earl, though not himself a peer, is entitled to use a courtesy title, usually the highest of his father's lesser titles (if any); younger sons are styled The Honourable [Forename] [Surname], and daughters, The Lady [Forename] [Surname] (Lady Diana Spencer being a well-known example).



Furthermore in Scotland, when there are no courtesy titles involved, the heir to an earldom, and indeed any level of peerage, is styled Master of [X], and successive sons as younger of [X].|||You would address him as "Milord" and his wife as "Milady". If you were his social and political equal, you'd still use this formal title in public conversation and in most private talks. You might shorten it to "sir", but folks were a heck of a lot more formal than today. If you were his superior - say, you were a Duke or even the King, you'd address him by his title and pay him respect because if you didn't, that was insult enough that he might begin to plot your assassination and take over your position and possessions. If he liked your wife, he might do it anyway, but you wouldn't give him an excuse unless you knew your soldiers could readily whip his and that you could trust them to do it...|||'My lord'


'Lord Sheffield'


'Your lordship.'





If you were his social superior, equal or near equal it would be quite OK to call him 'Sheffield'.