Connor Maguire, 2nd Baron of Enniskillen
Encyclopedia
Connor Maguire, 2nd Baron of Enniskillen (1616–1645) was an Irish nobleman from Ulster who took part in the Irish Rebellion of 1641
. He was executed for high treason
.
, son of Sir Bryan Maguire who was created a peer on account of the family loyally to the English crown. His mother was an O'Neill. He is said to have been partly educated at Magdalen College, Oxford
, but did not matriculate in the university.
He succeeded to the peerage in 1634, and attended the parliament which met in Dublin on 10 March 1640. In Dublin during the session in February 1641, he was recruited by Roger More, who had conceived the plan of raising Catholic Ireland while the English government was busy with Scotland. Married to a lady of the Pale, Maguire was valued for his influence among her connections.
In August 1641 he first heard of the plan for seizing Dublin Castle
; the chief hope of the conspirators rested on Colonel Owen Roe O'Neill
, who served the king of Spain in the Low Countries. The rising was fixed for 23 October but Hugh Og MacMahon disclosed the plot on the night of the 22nd. Roger More escaped, but Maguire was captured, with MacMahon and Colonel Reade (afterwards Sir John and gentleman of the bedchamber), who had served the king in Scotland. The two latter were racked, but Maguire admitted all the material facts without torture on 26 March 1642, and made a fuller voluntary statement some six months later.
In June 1642 Maguire, MacMahon, and Reade were moved to the Tower of London
, and eleven months later they were transferred to Newgate Prison
as close prisoners. In October 1643 Reade escaped when Maguire and MacMahon were sent back to the Tower. In August 1644 both prisoners escaped, but were retaken within six weeks. After many delays Maguire was brought to trial in the king's bench
before Justice Francis Bacon
. in February 1644-5. MacMahon had already been hanged.
The peerage in Maguire’s case made a difficulty. There were precedents for trying in England treasons committed in Ireland; that being admitted as good law, it was easy to show that an Irish peer was a commoner in England, and as such Maguire was tried. Many points of law were raised, but he was sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. He was a Catholic, but was not allowed a priest, and was executed at Tyburn
.
, by whom he had a son. The chieftainship of Fermanagh during the civil war fell to his brother Rory, who was killed in the winter of 1648. Descendants direct or collateral were long called Barons of Enniskillen in the service of France or of James II. The last titular lord was a retired captain of Lally's regiment at the outbreak of the revolution in 1689.
Irish Rebellion of 1641
The Irish Rebellion of 1641 began as an attempted coup d'état by Irish Catholic gentry, who tried to seize control of the English administration in Ireland to force concessions for the Catholics living under English rule...
. He was executed for high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
.
Life
He was born in County FermanaghCounty Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, son of Sir Bryan Maguire who was created a peer on account of the family loyally to the English crown. His mother was an O'Neill. He is said to have been partly educated at Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, but did not matriculate in the university.
He succeeded to the peerage in 1634, and attended the parliament which met in Dublin on 10 March 1640. In Dublin during the session in February 1641, he was recruited by Roger More, who had conceived the plan of raising Catholic Ireland while the English government was busy with Scotland. Married to a lady of the Pale, Maguire was valued for his influence among her connections.
In August 1641 he first heard of the plan for seizing Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
; the chief hope of the conspirators rested on Colonel Owen Roe O'Neill
Owen Roe O'Neill
Eoghan Ruadh Ó Néill , anglicised as Owen Roe O'Neill , was a seventeenth century soldier and one of the most famous of the O'Neill dynasty of Ulster.- In Spanish service :...
, who served the king of Spain in the Low Countries. The rising was fixed for 23 October but Hugh Og MacMahon disclosed the plot on the night of the 22nd. Roger More escaped, but Maguire was captured, with MacMahon and Colonel Reade (afterwards Sir John and gentleman of the bedchamber), who had served the king in Scotland. The two latter were racked, but Maguire admitted all the material facts without torture on 26 March 1642, and made a fuller voluntary statement some six months later.
In June 1642 Maguire, MacMahon, and Reade were moved to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, and eleven months later they were transferred to Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison was a prison in London, at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey just inside the City of London. It was originally located at the site of a gate in the Roman London Wall. The gate/prison was rebuilt in the 12th century, and demolished in 1777...
as close prisoners. In October 1643 Reade escaped when Maguire and MacMahon were sent back to the Tower. In August 1644 both prisoners escaped, but were retaken within six weeks. After many delays Maguire was brought to trial in the king's bench
King's Bench
The Queen's Bench is the superior court in a number of jurisdictions within some of the Commonwealth realms...
before Justice Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon (judge)
-Life:He was the son of John Bacon, of King's Lynn, Norfolk, born about 1587. He began his legal studies at Barnard's Inn, and was admitted a member of Gray's Inn in February 1607. He was not called to the bar until eight years later in 1615...
. in February 1644-5. MacMahon had already been hanged.
The peerage in Maguire’s case made a difficulty. There were precedents for trying in England treasons committed in Ireland; that being admitted as good law, it was easy to show that an Irish peer was a commoner in England, and as such Maguire was tried. Many points of law were raised, but he was sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. He was a Catholic, but was not allowed a priest, and was executed at Tyburn
Tyburn
Tyburn is a former village just outside the then boundaries of London that was best known as a place of public execution.Tyburn may also refer to:* Tyburn , river and historical water source in London...
.
Family
Maguire married Mary, daughter of Thomas Fleming of Castle Fleming, Queen's CountyCounty Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
, by whom he had a son. The chieftainship of Fermanagh during the civil war fell to his brother Rory, who was killed in the winter of 1648. Descendants direct or collateral were long called Barons of Enniskillen in the service of France or of James II. The last titular lord was a retired captain of Lally's regiment at the outbreak of the revolution in 1689.