Hugh de Courtenay (14 Sept 1275/6--23 Dec 1340) was the son of Hugh de Courtenay of Okehampton and Eleanor le Despenser, daughter of Lord Hugh le Despenser, the significant advisers to King Edward II. He was grandson of John de Courtenay of Okehampton by Isabel de Vere, daughter of Hugh, Earl of Oxford. John's father Robert had married Mary, the youngest daughter of William de Redvers, who had died in 1293. According to the Complete Peerage, Hugh became 9th Earl of Devon through the maternal line on extinction of the de Redvers inheritance.
"Sir Hugh de Courtenay, feudal Baron of Okehampton, who was summoned to Parliament as Baron Courtenay from 6 February 1299 to 24 July 1334 and created in 1335 Earl of Devon. The latter dignity was conferred upon his lordship in consequence of a representation made by him to the King Edward III, ( reigned 1327 -1377) with whom he was in high estimation." From A Genealogical history of the dormant, abeyant, forfeited, and extinct Peerages of the British Empire." by Sir Bernard Burke
(Burke has this Hugh dying in 1377 & succeeded by his son Hugh ( who DID die in 1377). This is obviously incorrect as Hugh junior's wife Margaret de BOHUN "assumed the title of 2nd Countess of Devon on 23rd December 1340." This date in 1340 should be the death date of THIS Hugh. WT. )
The styling of Hugh is often confused, but Edward III declared him to be Earl of Devon on 22 February 1334/5. He was the 9th Earl, but the first in the Courtenay creation. He died at Cowick near Exeter on 23 December 1340, and was buried there on 5 Feb 1341. It is possible that his body lay in state for royal visitors to come to pay respects to a great soldier and statesman because his honours and titles were confirmed by Parliamentary writ on 3 Jan 1341