Denis Browne (politician)
Encyclopedia
Denis Browne was an Irish politician.
Browne was the second son of two sons and four daughters born to Peter Browne, 2nd Earl of Alamont and Elizabeth Kelly of Lisduffe, County Galway
. He was born and raised at the family home of Westport House
, County Mayo
. He was a direct descendant of the pirate, Gráinne Ní Mháille (c.1530-c.1603).
Browne served as an officer in the 5th Royal Irish Dragoons from 1779 to 1784. Due to his brother's influence and the support of the Irish catholic interest, he was elected M.P. for County Mayo
in 1782, which he would hold till 1800. His uncle, James Browne, Prime Sergeant, was dismissed in 1782 which led to the brothers going into opposition against the government. In time, they were conciliated by the Duke of Rutland
's administration. Browne was appointed to the privy council
on 20 January 1794.
Browne had a well-earned reputation as a feared duelist. While Sheriff of County Mayo, he fought against George Robert FitzGerald
; another, during the election of 1790, against his electoral opponent, John Bingham. In 1801 he fought against another parliamentary opponent, won, and was returned unopposed for County Mayo.
Browne supported catholic emancipation
but would not help the Catholic Committee in organising elections in the county; Wolfe Tone believed this was because Browne was unwilling to lose any influence in his locality.
On the other hand, Browne and his brother supported the government, keeping the administration in Dublin well informed of events in Mayo in the years prior to the Irish Rebellion of 1798
. In 1795 the brothers assisted over five hundred Ulster families who fled to Mayo in the wake of disturbances arising from the Battle of the Diamond
. All the refugees were carefully questioned to root out any disaffected elements, the families settling on the family estates. He acquired the nickname Denis the Rope in the aftermath of the French invasion of Mayo for his zeal in hanging suspected rebels. His own home in Claremorris
was destroyed by the rebels.
Browne's subsequent support for the Acts of Union 1800 failed to gain him a peerage
, though his brother was made first Marquess of Sligo
. In the following decades he represented Mayo (1800–1818) and Kilkenny (1820–26), strongly supporting military coercion in Ireland. However, he was still a supporter of catholic emancipation.
He married his couson Anne Mahon (died 1833) of Castlegar, County Galway, in 1790, having five sons and four daughters. Two of his sons, James Browne, M.P. and Peter Browne, M.P., also served in the commons from the 1820s. He was instrumental in securing the election of his cousion, Dominick Browne, 1st Baron Oranmore and Browne
, supposedly encouraging him to fight a duel to gain votes (Martyn, 2001).
He died at his home in Claremorris. A portrait of him by Sir Joshua Reynolds hangs in Westport House
.
Browne was the second son of two sons and four daughters born to Peter Browne, 2nd Earl of Alamont and Elizabeth Kelly of Lisduffe, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway 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 city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
. He was born and raised at the family home of Westport House
Westport House
Westport House in Westport, Ireland is the stately home of Lord Altamont the Marquess of Sligo. It was built by the Browne family in the 18th Century, on the site of an O'Malley castle whose dungeons are still present today...
, County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo 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 village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
. He was a direct descendant of the pirate, Gráinne Ní Mháille (c.1530-c.1603).
Browne served as an officer in the 5th Royal Irish Dragoons from 1779 to 1784. Due to his brother's influence and the support of the Irish catholic interest, he was elected M.P. for County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo 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 village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
in 1782, which he would hold till 1800. His uncle, James Browne, Prime Sergeant, was dismissed in 1782 which led to the brothers going into opposition against the government. In time, they were conciliated by the Duke of Rutland
Duke of Rutland
Earl of Rutland and Duke of Rutland are titles in the peerage of England, derived from Rutland, a county in the East Midlands of England. The Earl of Rutland was elevated to the status of Duke in 1703 and the titles were merged....
's administration. Browne was appointed to the privy council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
on 20 January 1794.
Browne had a well-earned reputation as a feared duelist. While Sheriff of County Mayo, he fought against George Robert FitzGerald
George Robert FitzGerald
George Robert Fitzgerald, aka Fighting Fitzgerald, Irish eccentric, died 1786.FitzGerald was of the family of Turlough, Castlebar. A highly eccentric character, he is said to have become so after a blow to the head sometime in his 20's....
; another, during the election of 1790, against his electoral opponent, John Bingham. In 1801 he fought against another parliamentary opponent, won, and was returned unopposed for County Mayo.
Browne supported catholic emancipation
Catholic Emancipation
Catholic emancipation or Catholic relief was a process in Great Britain and Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century which involved reducing and removing many of the restrictions on Roman Catholics which had been introduced by the Act of Uniformity, the Test Acts and the penal laws...
but would not help the Catholic Committee in organising elections in the county; Wolfe Tone believed this was because Browne was unwilling to lose any influence in his locality.
On the other hand, Browne and his brother supported the government, keeping the administration in Dublin well informed of events in Mayo in the years prior to the Irish Rebellion of 1798
Irish Rebellion of 1798
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , also known as the United Irishmen Rebellion , was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against British rule in Ireland...
. In 1795 the brothers assisted over five hundred Ulster families who fled to Mayo in the wake of disturbances arising from the Battle of the Diamond
Battle of the Diamond
The Battle of the Diamond was a violent confrontation between the Catholic Defenders and a Protestant faction including Peep o' Day Boys, Orange Boys and local tenant farmers that took place on 21 September 1795 near Loughgall, County Armagh, Ireland. The Protestants were the victors, killing...
. All the refugees were carefully questioned to root out any disaffected elements, the families settling on the family estates. He acquired the nickname Denis the Rope in the aftermath of the French invasion of Mayo for his zeal in hanging suspected rebels. His own home in Claremorris
Claremorris
Claremorris , is a town in County Mayo in the west of Ireland, at the junction of the N17 and the N60 national routes. The population of Claremoris in the 2011 Census was 3,979....
was destroyed by the rebels.
Browne's subsequent support for the Acts of Union 1800 failed to gain him a peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
, though his brother was made first Marquess of Sligo
Marquess of Sligo
Marquess of Sligo is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1800 for John Browne, 3rd Earl of Altamont. The Marquess holds the subsidiary titles of Baron Mount Eagle, of Westport in the County of Mayo , Viscount Westport, of Westport in the County of Mayo , Earl of Altamont, in the...
. In the following decades he represented Mayo (1800–1818) and Kilkenny (1820–26), strongly supporting military coercion in Ireland. However, he was still a supporter of catholic emancipation.
He married his couson Anne Mahon (died 1833) of Castlegar, County Galway, in 1790, having five sons and four daughters. Two of his sons, James Browne, M.P. and Peter Browne, M.P., also served in the commons from the 1820s. He was instrumental in securing the election of his cousion, Dominick Browne, 1st Baron Oranmore and Browne
Dominick Browne, 1st Baron Oranmore and Browne
Dominick Browne, 1st Baron Oranmore and Browne PC , was an Irish politician.Browne was the son of Dominick Geoffrey Browne and his wife Margaret. She was the daughter of the Hon. George Browne, 4th son of John, 1st Earl of Altamont...
, supposedly encouraging him to fight a duel to gain votes (Martyn, 2001).
He died at his home in Claremorris. A portrait of him by Sir Joshua Reynolds hangs in Westport House
Westport House
Westport House in Westport, Ireland is the stately home of Lord Altamont the Marquess of Sligo. It was built by the Browne family in the 18th Century, on the site of an O'Malley castle whose dungeons are still present today...
.