James O'Brien, 3rd Marquess of Thomond
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Admiral James McEdward O'Brien, 3rd Marquess of Thomond, GCH
(1769–1855), styled Lord James O'Brien from 1809 to 1846, was a British naval officer.
O'Brien, born in 1769, was third son of Edward Dominic O'Brien
, captain in the army (d. 1801). His mother was Mary Carrick, and his uncle, Murrough O'Brien
, was first Marquess of Thomond. He inherited his title on the death of his brother William O'Brien, 2nd Marquess of Thomond
. From 1786 to 1789 he was a midshipman
in the 74-gun Pegasus
and the 32-gun frigate, both commanded by the Duke of Clarence
, under whom he also served with the Channel fleet in the in 1790. As a lieutenant
he joined, in succession, on the home station, second-rate
, the 38-gun fifth-rate
, and the 74-gun . In the latter ship he was present in William Cornwallis
' celebrated retreat
, 16 and 17 June 1795. On 5 December 1796 he was promoted to the command of the 14-gun sloop
. From 1800 to 1804 he commanded the on the West Indies station, where, on 24 June 1803, he made a prize of the L'Enfant Prodigue, a French national schooner
of sixteen guns, and in the spring of 1804 distinguished himself in forwarding the supplies at the capture of Surinam, as well as by defeating a projected expedition by the enemy against Antigua
.
On 29 November 1809 he was granted a Royal Warrant of Precedence
as if his father had succeeded to the marquisate of Thomond
, and was henceforth known as Lord James O'Brien. From September 1813 until November 1815, he served in the English Channel
in . He became a rear-admiral in 1825, a vice-admiral 1837, a full admiral 13 May 1847, and an Admiral of the Red in 1853. On the accession of William IV
, he was made a lord of the bedchamber
, and nominated G.C.H.
on 13 May 1831. He succeeded his brother, William O'Brien
, on 21 August 1846 as the third Marquess of Thomond.
He died at his residence, near Bath, England, on 3 July 1855, and was buried in the catacombs of St. Saviour's Church, Walcot, Bath
, on 10 July.
(she died on 14 February 1802); secondly, in 1806, while in the West Indies, Jane, daughter of Thomas Ottley, and widow of Valentine Horne Horsford of Antigua (she died on 8 September 1843); and, thirdly, on 5 January 1847, at Bath, Anne, sister of Sir C. W. Flint, and widow of Rear-Admiral Francis William Fane
.
O'Brien left no issue, and the marquessate of Thomond and the earldom of Inchiquin became extinct, but the barony of Inchiquin devolved to the heir male, Sir Lucius O'Brien, Bt
, who became thirteenth Baron Inchiquin on 3 July 1855.
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
(1769–1855), styled Lord James O'Brien from 1809 to 1846, was a British naval officer.
O'Brien, born in 1769, was third son of Edward Dominic O'Brien
Edward Dominic O'Brien
Captain Edward Dominic O'Brien was an Irish law enforcement official and British Army officer.-Life:Edward Dominic O'Brien was the son of Capt. James O'Brien, M.P. for Youghal, and Mary Jephson. He was born in 1735 at Drogheda, while his father was serving in Parliament...
, captain in the army (d. 1801). His mother was Mary Carrick, and his uncle, Murrough O'Brien
Murrough O'Brien, 1st Marquess of Thomond
Murrough O'Brien, 1st Marquess of Thomond KP, PC , known from 1777 to 1800 as the 5th Earl of Inchiquin, was an Irish peer, soldier and politician.-Life:Murrough O'Brien was born in 1726 to Hon...
, was first Marquess of Thomond. He inherited his title on the death of his brother William O'Brien, 2nd Marquess of Thomond
William O'Brien, 2nd Marquess of Thomond
William O'Brien, 2nd Marquess of Thomond, 6th Earl of Inchiquin KP PC was an Irish peer. He was born in Ennistymon, County Clare, to Capt. Edward Dominic O'Brien and Mary Carrick...
Naval career
As a captain's servant, he entered the navy on 17 April 1783 on board the , stationed in the ChannelEnglish Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
. From 1786 to 1789 he was a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in the 74-gun Pegasus
French ship Pegase (1781)
The Pégase was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class, launched in 1781.She was captured by the Captain John Jervis on 21 April 1782 in HMS Foudroyant, Jervis was invested as a Knight of the Bath for the capture....
and the 32-gun frigate, both commanded by the Duke of Clarence
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
, under whom he also served with the Channel fleet in the in 1790. As a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
he joined, in succession, on the home station, second-rate
Second-rate
In the British Royal Navy, a second rate was a ship of the line which by the start of the 18th century mounted 90 to 98 guns on three gun decks; earlier 17th century second rates had fewer guns and were originally two-deckers or had only partially armed third gun decks. The term in no way implied...
, the 38-gun fifth-rate
Fifth-rate
In Britain's Royal Navy during the classic age of fighting sail, a fifth rate was the penultimate class of warships in a hierarchal system of six "ratings" based on size and firepower.-Rating:...
, and the 74-gun . In the latter ship he was present in William Cornwallis
William Cornwallis
Admiral the Honourable Sir William Cornwallis GCB was a Royal Navy officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. He was the brother of Charles Cornwallis, the 1st Marquess Cornwallis, governor-general of India...
' celebrated retreat
First Battle of Groix
The First Battle of Groix was a naval engagement that took place on 16 and 17 June 1795 during the French Revolutionary War off the west coast of France...
, 16 and 17 June 1795. On 5 December 1796 he was promoted to the command of the 14-gun sloop
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
. From 1800 to 1804 he commanded the on the West Indies station, where, on 24 June 1803, he made a prize of the L'Enfant Prodigue, a French national schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
of sixteen guns, and in the spring of 1804 distinguished himself in forwarding the supplies at the capture of Surinam, as well as by defeating a projected expedition by the enemy against Antigua
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
.
On 29 November 1809 he was granted a Royal Warrant of Precedence
Royal Warrant of Precedence
A Royal Warrant of Precedence is a warrant issued by the Monarch of the United Kingdom to determine precedence amongst individuals or organisations....
as if his father had succeeded to the marquisate of Thomond
Thomond
Thomond The region of Ireland associated with the name Thomond is County Clare, County Limerick and north County Tipperary; effectively most of north Munster. The name is used by a variety of establishments and organisations located in , or associated with the region...
, and was henceforth known as Lord James O'Brien. From September 1813 until November 1815, he served in the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
in . He became a rear-admiral in 1825, a vice-admiral 1837, a full admiral 13 May 1847, and an Admiral of the Red in 1853. On the accession of William IV
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
, he was made a lord of the bedchamber
Lord of the Bedchamber
A Lord of the Bedchamber, previously known as a Gentleman of the Bedchamber was a courtier in the Royal Household of the King of the United Kingdom and the Prince of Wales. A Lord of the Bedchamber's duties consisted of assisting the King with his dressing, waiting on him when he ate in private,...
, and nominated G.C.H.
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
on 13 May 1831. He succeeded his brother, William O'Brien
William O'Brien, 2nd Marquess of Thomond
William O'Brien, 2nd Marquess of Thomond, 6th Earl of Inchiquin KP PC was an Irish peer. He was born in Ennistymon, County Clare, to Capt. Edward Dominic O'Brien and Mary Carrick...
, on 21 August 1846 as the third Marquess of Thomond.
He died at his residence, near Bath, England, on 3 July 1855, and was buried in the catacombs of St. Saviour's Church, Walcot, Bath
Walcot, Bath
Walcot is a suburb of the city of Bath, England. It lies to the north-north-east of the city centre, and is an electoral ward of the city.The parish church, on The Paragon is dedicated to St Swithin and was built in 1779-90 by John Palmer....
, on 10 July.
Family
He married, first, on 25 November 1800, Eliza Bridgman, second daughter of James Willyams of Carnanton, CornwallCornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
(she died on 14 February 1802); secondly, in 1806, while in the West Indies, Jane, daughter of Thomas Ottley, and widow of Valentine Horne Horsford of Antigua (she died on 8 September 1843); and, thirdly, on 5 January 1847, at Bath, Anne, sister of Sir C. W. Flint, and widow of Rear-Admiral Francis William Fane
Francis William Fane
Rear-Admiral Francis William Fane son of John Fane was a British Royal Navy officer of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars who served in several engagements while commissioned on the frigate HMS Terpsichore, including the blockade of Alexandria...
.
O'Brien left no issue, and the marquessate of Thomond and the earldom of Inchiquin became extinct, but the barony of Inchiquin devolved to the heir male, Sir Lucius O'Brien, Bt
Lucius O'Brien, 13th Baron Inchiquin
Lucius O'Brien, 13th Baron Inchiquin , known as Sir Lucius O'Brien, 5th Baronet from 1837 to 1855, was an Irish politician and nobleman.-Biography:...
, who became thirteenth Baron Inchiquin on 3 July 1855.