Dominick Browne, 4th Baron Oranmore and Browne
Encyclopedia
Dominick Geoffrey Edward Browne, 4th Baron Oranmore and Browne, 2nd Baron Mereworth (21 October 1901 – 7 August 2002) was the longest sitting British peer and legislator.
Born the Hon. Dominick Geoffrey Edward Browne in 1901, the eldest son of the 3rd Lord Oranmore and Browne
and Lady Olwen Verena Ponsonby, daughter of Edward Ponsonby, 8th Earl of Bessborough
. He was educated at Eton
and Christ Church, Oxford
before joining the Grenadier Guards
.
In 1927 he succeeded his father, who died in a car accident in Southborough, Kent
, and took his seat in the House of Lords
as Baron Mereworth, a UK peerage (the older barony of Oranmore and Browne, in the Irish peerage, did not entitle its bearer to a seat in the Lords), although he primarily used his Irish title. He had the rare distinctions of sitting in the House of Lords for 72 years, the longest by any peer, and during that time was one of the few peers to have never spoken in the House.
In 1930 the English residence of the Browne family, Mereworth Castle
, was sold and he went to live in his Irish residence, Castle MacGarrett, in County Mayo. Castle MacGarrett, its 3000 acres (1,214.1 ha) and 150 employees gave him the chance to breed race horses and farm on a large scale. Lord Oranmore was also an aviator.
In 1939, Oranmore and Browne tried to join the British Army
, but he was told that, at 38, he would be more useful concentrating on farming; as a result his war service was with the Local Defence Force in Co Mayo.
In the early 1950s the castle was acquired by the Irish government's Irish Land Commission
and turned into a nursing home. Lord Oranmore and Browne went to live in London.
Lord Oranmore and Browne married three times :
Lord Oranmore and Browne died in London on 7 August 2002 at the age of 100.
Born the Hon. Dominick Geoffrey Edward Browne in 1901, the eldest son of the 3rd Lord Oranmore and Browne
Baron Oranmore and Browne
Baron Oranmore and Browne, of Carrabrowne Castle in the County of Galway and of Castle Macgarrett in the County of Mayo, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1836 for Dominick Browne, who had earlier represented County Mayo in the House of Commons. His son, the second Baron, sat...
and Lady Olwen Verena Ponsonby, daughter of Edward Ponsonby, 8th Earl of Bessborough
Earl of Bessborough
Earl of Bessborough is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1739 for Brabazon Ponsonby, 2nd Viscount Duncannon, who had previously represented Newtownards and County Kildare in the Irish House of Commons...
. He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
before joining the Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
.
In 1927 he succeeded his father, who died in a car accident in Southborough, Kent
Southborough, Kent
Southborough civil parish, with the title of town in the District of Tunbridge Wells, in Kent, England. It lies immediately to the north of Tunbridge Wells itself, with the A26 London road passing through it. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 11,124...
, and took his seat in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
as Baron Mereworth, a UK peerage (the older barony of Oranmore and Browne, in the Irish peerage, did not entitle its bearer to a seat in the Lords), although he primarily used his Irish title. He had the rare distinctions of sitting in the House of Lords for 72 years, the longest by any peer, and during that time was one of the few peers to have never spoken in the House.
In 1930 the English residence of the Browne family, Mereworth Castle
Mereworth Castle
Mereworth Castle is a grade I listed Palladian country house in Mereworth, Kent, England.Originally the site of a fortified manor licensed in 1332, the present building is not actually a castle, but was built in the 1720s as an almost exact copy of Palladio's Villa Rotunda. It was designed in 1723...
, was sold and he went to live in his Irish residence, Castle MacGarrett, in County Mayo. Castle MacGarrett, its 3000 acres (1,214.1 ha) and 150 employees gave him the chance to breed race horses and farm on a large scale. Lord Oranmore was also an aviator.
In 1939, Oranmore and Browne tried to join the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, but he was told that, at 38, he would be more useful concentrating on farming; as a result his war service was with the Local Defence Force in Co Mayo.
In the early 1950s the castle was acquired by the Irish government's Irish Land Commission
Irish Land Commission
The Irish Land Commission was created in 1881 as a rent fixing commission by the Land Law Act 1881, also known as the second Irish Land Act...
and turned into a nursing home. Lord Oranmore and Browne went to live in London.
Lord Oranmore and Browne married three times :
- First, 1925, Mildred Helen Egerton, daughter of Hon. Thomas Henry Frederick Egerton of the Earls of EllesmereEarl of EllesmereEarl of Ellesmere, of Ellesmere in the County of Shropshire , is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1846 for the Conservative politician Lord Francis Egerton. He was granted the courtesy title of Viscount Brackley, of Brackley in the County of Northampton, at the same...
and Lady Bertha Anson of the Earls of LichfieldEarl of LichfieldEarl of Lichfield is a title that has been created three times in British history. Lord Bernard Stewart, youngest son of Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, was to be created Earl of Lichfield by Charles I for his actions at the battles of Newbury and Naseby but died before the creation could...
(marriage dissolved 1936). Children from this marriage: - Hon. Patricia Helen Browne, b. 16 Feb 1926
- Hon. Brigid Verena Browne, b. 25 Dec 1927, d. 3 Jan 1941
- Dominick Geoffrey Thomas Browne b. 1 Jul 1929, now the 5th Baron Oranmore and BrowneBaron Oranmore and BrowneBaron Oranmore and Browne, of Carrabrowne Castle in the County of Galway and of Castle Macgarrett in the County of Mayo, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1836 for Dominick Browne, who had earlier represented County Mayo in the House of Commons. His son, the second Baron, sat...
but known as Lord Mereworth - Hon. Martin Michael Dominick Browne, b. 27 Oct 1931
- Hon. Judith Browne, b. 23 Sep 1934
- Second, 1936, Oonagh Guinness, daughter of Ernest GuinnessGuinnessGuinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
and an heir to the brewery fortune (marriage dissolved 1950). Children from this marriage: - Hon. Garech Domnagh BrowneGarech BrowneThe Hon. Garech Domnagh Browne, born 25 June, 1939, is a member of the titled family of Oranmore and Browne in the West of Ireland and is a wealthy patron of Irish arts, notably traditional Irish music...
b. 25 Jun 1939 - An unnamed son b. 28 Dec 1943, d. 30 Dec 1943
- Hon. Tara BrowneTara BrowneThe Honourable Tara Browne was a young London socialite. He is perhaps most famous today for serving as an inspiration of the Beatles song "A Day in the Life".-Biography:...
b. 4 Mar 1945, died in 1966 in a car accident
- Third, 1951, Constance Stevens, an actress with the stage name Sally GraySally GrayConstance Vera Browne, Baroness Oranmore and Browne , commonly known as Sally Gray, was an English movie actress of the 1930s and 1940s....
, famous for her roles on the stage and in various movies in the 1930s and 40s.
Lord Oranmore and Browne died in London on 7 August 2002 at the age of 100.