Jenico Preston, 14th Viscount Gormanston
Encyclopedia
Jenico William Joseph Preston, 14th Viscount Gormanston GCMG (1 June 1837 - 29 October 1907), was an Anglo-Irish colonial administrator.
Gormanston was born the son of Edward Anthony John Preston, 13th Viscount Gormanston, and his wife Lucretia, daughter of William Charles Jerningham, and was born at Gormanston Castle, County Meath
.
He joined the 60th King's Royal Rifle Corps
in 1855 and fought as a Lieutenant in the Indian Rebellion of 1857
. However, Gormanston retired from the Army in 1860.
He later held the ceremonial posts of High Sheriff of County Dublin
(1865), County Meath
(1871) and was Chamberlain to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
the Marquess of Abercorn
between 1866 and 1868. He succeeded his father in 1876 and was able to take his seat in the House of Lords
in his junior title of Baron Gormanston, which had been created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
for his father in 1868. In 1885 Gormanston was appointed Governor of the Leeward Islands, a post he held until 1887, and then served as Governor of British Guiana from 1887 to 1893 and as Governor of Tasmania from 1893 to 1900.
Lord Gormanston married firstly Hon. Ismay Louisa Ursula Bellew, daughter of Patrick Bellew, 1st Baron Bellew, in 1861. They had no children. After his first wife's death in 1875 he married secondly Georgina Jane Connellan, daughter of Peter Connellan, in 1878. They had three sons and one daughter. Lord Gormanston died in Dublin in October 1907, aged 70, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son Jenico Edward Joseph Preston, 15th Viscount Gormanston.
Gormanston was born the son of Edward Anthony John Preston, 13th Viscount Gormanston, and his wife Lucretia, daughter of William Charles Jerningham, and was born at Gormanston Castle, County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
He joined the 60th King's Royal Rifle Corps
King's Royal Rifle Corps
The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
in 1855 and fought as a Lieutenant in the Indian Rebellion of 1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
. However, Gormanston retired from the Army in 1860.
He later held the ceremonial posts of High Sheriff of County Dublin
High Sheriff of County Dublin
The High Sheriff of County Dublin was the Sovereign's judicial representative in County Dublin. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became an annual appointment following the Provisions of Oxford in 1258. Besides his judicial importance, the sheriff had...
(1865), County Meath
High Sheriff of Meath
The High Sheriff of Meath was the British Crown’s judicial representative in County Meath, Ireland from the conquest until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Free State and replaced by the office of Meath County Sheriff. The sheriff had judicial, electoral, ceremonial and administrative...
(1871) and was Chamberlain to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
the Marquess of Abercorn
James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn
James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn KG PC , styled Viscount Hamilton from 1814 to 1818 and the Marquess of Abercorn from 1818 to 1868, was a British Conservative politician and statesman who twice served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.In 1860, The Times noted that Hamilton was one of only three to...
between 1866 and 1868. He succeeded his father in 1876 and was able to take 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....
in his junior title of Baron Gormanston, which had been created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
for his father in 1868. In 1885 Gormanston was appointed Governor of the Leeward Islands, a post he held until 1887, and then served as Governor of British Guiana from 1887 to 1893 and as Governor of Tasmania from 1893 to 1900.
Lord Gormanston married firstly Hon. Ismay Louisa Ursula Bellew, daughter of Patrick Bellew, 1st Baron Bellew, in 1861. They had no children. After his first wife's death in 1875 he married secondly Georgina Jane Connellan, daughter of Peter Connellan, in 1878. They had three sons and one daughter. Lord Gormanston died in Dublin in October 1907, aged 70, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son Jenico Edward Joseph Preston, 15th Viscount Gormanston.