Baron de Freyne
Encyclopedia
Baron de Freyne is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
.
. It was created 1851 for Arthur French, 1st Baron de Freyne
, with remainder to his younger brothers John, Charles and Fitzstephen. He had earlier represented County Roscommon
in the House of Commons
and later served as Lord Lieutenant of County Roscommon. French had already been created Baron de Freyne, of Artagh in the County of Roscommon, in 1839, also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom but with normal remainder to heirs male. Lord de Freyne was childless and on his death in 1856 the barony of 1839 became extinct. He was succeeded in the barony of 1851 according to the special remainder by his younger brother John, the second Baron.
On his death the title passed to another brother, Richard, the third Baron. In 1851 he married Catherine Maree, daughter of Luke Maree, by a Catholic
priest. Afterwards a question arose as to the validity of the marriage with she being a Roman Catholic and he a Protestant and they were again married in 1854 in the Church of Ireland
. By then they had had three sons, Charles French (1851–1925) (Member of Parliament
for County Roscommon), John French (1853–1916) and William French (1854–1868). However, due to the uncertainty over the first marriage Lord de Freyne was succeeded by his eldest son born after the marriage of 1854, Arthur French, the fourth Baron. His eldest son, the fifth Baron, was killed in action at the Battle of Aubers Ridge
in 1915. He was succeeded by his half-brother, the sixth Baron. the title is held by the latter's grandson, the eighth Baron, who succeeded his father in 2009.
, of French Park, County Roscommon, nicknamed "Tierna More" (the great landowner). He sat in the Irish House of Commons
for Carrick
, County Galway and Tulsk
. His son, Arthur French, represented County Roscommon
in the Irish Parliament. His elder son, John French, was a member of the Irish Parliament for County Roscommon. He was about to be raised to the Peerage of Ireland
as Baron Dangar in 1775 but died before the peerage was formally created. His younger brother Arthur French (1728–1799), member of the Irish Parliament for County Roscommon, refused the offer of the peerage originally intended for his brother. His son Arthur French (d. 1820) was also a member of the Irish House of Commons for County Roscommon. His eldest son was the first Baron de Freyne. Fitzstephen French
, youngest brother of the first Baron, was Member of Parliament for County Roscommon.
The ancestral seat of the Barons de Freyne was the French Park Estate, near Boyle, County Roscommon
, in the Republic of Ireland
. The manor house, originally built in the mid-17th century before being rebuilt in the Georgian style in the 18th century was demolished after the sale of the estate by the French family to the Irish Land Commission in 1952. The Land Commission removed the roof of the buildings in 1953 and eventually demolished the remaining structures in ca 1975.
The heir apparent
is the present holder's son, the Hon. Alexander French (b. 1988)
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
.
Two baronies
Baron de Freyne, of Coolavin in the County of Sligo, is a title in the Peerage of the United KingdomPeerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
. It was created 1851 for Arthur French, 1st Baron de Freyne
Arthur French, 1st Baron de Freyne
Arthur French, 1st Baron de Freyne and de Freyne was an Anglo-Irish peer and Member of Parliament.De Freyne was the eldest son of Arthur French, of French Park. The French family had been major landowners in County Sligo and County Roscommon for many years. He was elected to Parliament for...
, with remainder to his younger brothers John, Charles and Fitzstephen. He had earlier represented County Roscommon
Roscommon (UK Parliament constituency)
Roscommon was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland. The constituency sent two MPs to Westminster from the Act of Union 1800 until the constituency was split into Roscommon North and Roscommon South in 1885.-Members of Parliament:...
in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
and later served as Lord Lieutenant of County Roscommon. French had already been created Baron de Freyne, of Artagh in the County of Roscommon, in 1839, also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom but with normal remainder to heirs male. Lord de Freyne was childless and on his death in 1856 the barony of 1839 became extinct. He was succeeded in the barony of 1851 according to the special remainder by his younger brother John, the second Baron.
On his death the title passed to another brother, Richard, the third Baron. In 1851 he married Catherine Maree, daughter of Luke Maree, by a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
priest. Afterwards a question arose as to the validity of the marriage with she being a Roman Catholic and he a Protestant and they were again married in 1854 in the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
. By then they had had three sons, Charles French (1851–1925) (Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for County Roscommon), John French (1853–1916) and William French (1854–1868). However, due to the uncertainty over the first marriage Lord de Freyne was succeeded by his eldest son born after the marriage of 1854, Arthur French, the fourth Baron. His eldest son, the fifth Baron, was killed in action at the Battle of Aubers Ridge
Battle of Aubers Ridge
The Battle of Aubers Ridge was a British offensive mounted on the Western Front in 1915 during World War I.- Background :The battle was the initial British component of the combined Anglo-French offensive known as the Second Battle of Artois...
in 1915. He was succeeded by his half-brother, the sixth Baron. the title is held by the latter's grandson, the eighth Baron, who succeeded his father in 2009.
The Frenchs of French Park
The French family is descended from John FrenchJohn French
John French may refer to:* John French , English doctor and chemist* John French , Canadian ice hockey player* John French , American drummer and musician...
, of French Park, County Roscommon, nicknamed "Tierna More" (the great landowner). He sat in the Irish House of Commons
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
for Carrick
Carrick (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Carrick was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons from 1614 to 1800. It returned two members.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:...
, County Galway and Tulsk
Tulsk (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Tulsk was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons from 1611 to 1800.-1692–1801:...
. His son, Arthur French, represented County Roscommon
Roscommon County (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Roscommon County was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons from 1611 to 1800.-1692–1801:-References:...
in the Irish Parliament. His elder son, John French, was a member of the Irish Parliament for County Roscommon. He was about to be raised to the Peerage of Ireland
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
as Baron Dangar in 1775 but died before the peerage was formally created. His younger brother Arthur French (1728–1799), member of the Irish Parliament for County Roscommon, refused the offer of the peerage originally intended for his brother. His son Arthur French (d. 1820) was also a member of the Irish House of Commons for County Roscommon. His eldest son was the first Baron de Freyne. Fitzstephen French
Fitzstephen French
Fitzstephen French PC was a Whig Member of Parliament for Roscommon. He was the younger brother of Captain Charles French, 3rd Baron De Freyne and a son of Arthur French. Elected in 1832, he held the seat up until his death in 1873. He was resident in London for most of this time.-References:...
, youngest brother of the first Baron, was Member of Parliament for County Roscommon.
The ancestral seat of the Barons de Freyne was the French Park Estate, near Boyle, County Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
, in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The manor house, originally built in the mid-17th century before being rebuilt in the Georgian style in the 18th century was demolished after the sale of the estate by the French family to the Irish Land Commission in 1952. The Land Commission removed the roof of the buildings in 1953 and eventually demolished the remaining structures in ca 1975.
Barons de Freyne (of Coolavin, 1851)
- Arthur French, 1st Baron de FreyneArthur French, 1st Baron de FreyneArthur French, 1st Baron de Freyne and de Freyne was an Anglo-Irish peer and Member of Parliament.De Freyne was the eldest son of Arthur French, of French Park. The French family had been major landowners in County Sligo and County Roscommon for many years. He was elected to Parliament for...
(1786–1856) - John French, 2nd Baron de Freyne (1788–1863)
- Charles French, 3rd Baron de Freyne (1790–1868)
- Arthur French, 4th Baron de Freyne (1855–1913)
- Arthur Reginald French, 5th Baron de FreyneArthur French, 5th Baron de FreyneArthur Reginald French, 5th Baron de Freyne -Biography:He was born in London, to Arthur French of Frenchpark, County Roscommon , 4th Baron de Freyne, and his wife Lady Laura Octavia Dundas ....
(1879–1915) - Francis Charles French, 6th Baron de FreyneFrancis French, 6th Baron de FreyneFrancis Charles French, 6th Baron De Freyne DL was an Anglo-Irish hereditary peer; he was a member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom, and the Senate of Southern Ireland....
(1884–1935) - Francis Arthur John French, 7th Baron de FreyneFrancis French, 7th Baron de FreyneFrancis Arthur John French, 7th Baron de Freyne was an Irish-born aristocrat, son of Francis French, 6th Baron de Freyne and Lina Victoria Arnott....
(1927–2009) - Fulke Charles Arthur John French, 8th Baron de Freyne (b. Dublin, Ireland, 1957)
The heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
is the present holder's son, the Hon. Alexander French (b. 1988)
Sources
- Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.