Gilbert Ireland
Encyclopedia
Sir Gilbert Ireland was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons
at various times between 1654 and 1675.
Ireland was the son of John Ireland of Hutt and Hale
and his wife Elizabeth Hays, daughter of Sir Thomas Hays, alderman of London. He was a grandson of Sir Gilbert Ireland who brought the giant John Middleton
to court. He inherited the house at Hutte and Hale Hall on the death of his father in 1633. In 1645, he was one of committee appointed by parliament to assess taxes in Lancashire. He was High Sheriff of Lancashire
in 1654 and 1656.
In 1654, Ireland was elected Member of Parliament
for Lancashire
in the First Protectorate Parliament
, and was re-elected in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament
. In 1659, he was elected MP for Liverpool
in the Third Protectorate Parliament
. Ireland was re-elected MP for Liverpool in April 1660 for the Convention Parliament. He was knighted at the Restoration on 16 June 1660. In 1661 he was re-elected MP for Liverpool for the Cavalier Parliament
and sat until his death in 1675.
Ireland was Mayor of Liverpool in 1674. In 1674 he moved into Hale Hall after completing alterations to the house. He hid the gables on the north front of the Jacobean building behind a brick parapet which was ornamented with stone medallions and other features and arched over the recesses between the bays. On the tower he placed a stone tablet inscribed "Built by Sir Gilbert Ireland, Knt, and Dame Margt, Ao dI 1674".
Ireland married Margaret Ireland, daughter of Thomas Ireland of Beausey, Lancashire, but died without issue.
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
at various times between 1654 and 1675.
Ireland was the son of John Ireland of Hutt and Hale
Hale, Halton
Hale is a village and civil parish in the Halton unitary authority of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 Census it had a population of 1,898....
and his wife Elizabeth Hays, daughter of Sir Thomas Hays, alderman of London. He was a grandson of Sir Gilbert Ireland who brought the giant John Middleton
John Middleton (giant)
John Middleton was an English giant commonly known as the Childe of Hale. Most of what is known about him is based on oral tradition and legends. Legend tells that he slept with his feet out of the window of his small house. Tales also credit him with great strength.-Biography:John Middleton was...
to court. He inherited the house at Hutte and Hale Hall on the death of his father in 1633. In 1645, he was one of committee appointed by parliament to assess taxes in Lancashire. He was High Sheriff of Lancashire
High Sheriff of Lancashire
The High Sheriff of Lancashire is an ancient officer, now largely ceremonial, granted to Lancashire, a county in North West England. High Shrievalties are the oldest secular titles under the Crown, in England and Wales...
in 1654 and 1656.
In 1654, Ireland was elected 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 Lancashire
Lancashire (UK Parliament constituency)
Lancashire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from 1290, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
in the First Protectorate Parliament
First Protectorate Parliament
The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with William Lenthall as the Speaker of the House....
, and was re-elected in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament
Second Protectorate Parliament
The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons...
. In 1659, he was elected MP for Liverpool
Liverpool (UK Parliament constituency)
Liverpool was a Borough constituency in the county of Lancashire of the House of Commons for the Parliament of England to 1706 then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. It was represented by two Members of Parliament...
in the Third Protectorate Parliament
Third Protectorate Parliament
The Third Protectorate Parliament sat for one session, from 27 January 1659 until 22 April 1659, with Chaloner Chute and Thomas Bampfylde as the Speakers of the House of Commons...
. Ireland was re-elected MP for Liverpool in April 1660 for the Convention Parliament. He was knighted at the Restoration on 16 June 1660. In 1661 he was re-elected MP for Liverpool for the Cavalier Parliament
Cavalier Parliament
The Cavalier Parliament of England lasted from 8 May 1661 until 24 January 1679. It was the longest English Parliament, enduring for nearly 18 years of the quarter century reign of Charles II of England...
and sat until his death in 1675.
Ireland was Mayor of Liverpool in 1674. In 1674 he moved into Hale Hall after completing alterations to the house. He hid the gables on the north front of the Jacobean building behind a brick parapet which was ornamented with stone medallions and other features and arched over the recesses between the bays. On the tower he placed a stone tablet inscribed "Built by Sir Gilbert Ireland, Knt, and Dame Margt, Ao dI 1674".
Ireland married Margaret Ireland, daughter of Thomas Ireland of Beausey, Lancashire, but died without issue.