Lord President of Munster
Encyclopedia
The post of Lord President of Munster was the most important office in the English government of the Irish province of Munster
from its introduction in the Elizabethan era for a century, to 1672, a period including the Desmond Rebellions
in Munster, the Nine Years' War
, and the Irish Rebellion of 1641
. The Lord President was subject to the chief governor, but had full authority within the province, extending to civil, criminal and church legal matters, the imposition of martial law, official appointments, and command of military forces. Some appointments to military governor of Munster were not accompanied by the status of President.
The post was suppressed in 1672.
failed to get royal approval. John Pollard turned down Sidney's offer, ultimately, for financial reasons. Later in 1569 Sir Edward Fitton accepted the position of Lord President of Connaught
. The first President to be appointed was Sir John Perrot (1568) but it took several years for him to arrive in Munster. There are sources saying that Humphrey Gilbert
had the title in 1569.
Carew asked to resign, and was replaced about the time James I came to the English throne. There are different, confused accounts of the transition and outcome, one from the perspective of officials in London, and another local to Munster and indeed Cork. Brouncker, President in title, overreached his position quickly.
(I) On one account, Carew was recommending as Vice-President Oliver St John
; but in fact held the post until the appointment of his successor Henry Brouncker. (II) On another account, Carew put his post in commission with Charles Wilmot
and George Thornton. The post was taken over from them (c.1605) by Henry Becher (d. 1610). Here sources conflict. (III) Whatever the nominal position from 1606, Wilmot and Thornton again held the reins of government.
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
from its introduction in the Elizabethan era for a century, to 1672, a period including the Desmond Rebellions
Desmond Rebellions
The Desmond Rebellions occurred in 1569-1573 and 1579-1583 in the Irish province of Munster.They were rebellions by the Earl of Desmond – head of the FitzGerald dynasty in Munster – and his followers, the Geraldines and their allies against the threat of the extension of Elizabethan English...
in Munster, the Nine Years' War
Nine Years' War (Ireland)
The Nine Years' War or Tyrone's Rebellion took place in Ireland from 1594 to 1603. It was fought between the forces of Gaelic Irish chieftains Hugh O'Neill of Tír Eoghain, Hugh Roe O'Donnell of Tír Chonaill and their allies, against English rule in Ireland. The war was fought in all parts of the...
, and the Irish Rebellion of 1641
Irish Rebellion of 1641
The Irish Rebellion of 1641 began as an attempted coup d'état by Irish Catholic gentry, who tried to seize control of the English administration in Ireland to force concessions for the Catholics living under English rule...
. The Lord President was subject to the chief governor, but had full authority within the province, extending to civil, criminal and church legal matters, the imposition of martial law, official appointments, and command of military forces. Some appointments to military governor of Munster were not accompanied by the status of President.
The post was suppressed in 1672.
Early history
The position was created at the suggestion of Sir Henry Sidney in the late 1560s. Filling it proved troublesome initially, since the nomination in 1566 of Warham St LegerWarham St Leger
-Life:He was second son of Sir Anthony St Leger by his wife Agnes, daughter of Sir Hugh Warham, brother of Archbishop William Warham, and was born probably about 1525. His eldest brother, William, was disinherited; the third brother, Sir Anthony St Leger, was made Master of the Rolls in Ireland in...
failed to get royal approval. John Pollard turned down Sidney's offer, ultimately, for financial reasons. Later in 1569 Sir Edward Fitton accepted the position of Lord President of Connaught
Lord President of Connaught
The Lord President of Connaught was a military leader with wide-ranging powers, reaching into the civil sphere, in the English government of Connaught in Ireland, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.*1569-1572 Sir Edward Fitton...
. The first President to be appointed was Sir John Perrot (1568) but it took several years for him to arrive in Munster. There are sources saying that Humphrey Gilbert
Humphrey Gilbert
Sir Humphrey Gilbert of Devon in England was a half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh. Adventurer, explorer, member of parliament, and soldier, he served during the reign of Queen Elizabeth and was a pioneer of English colonization in North America and the Plantations of Ireland.-Early life:Gilbert...
had the title in 1569.
Presidents of Munster
- 1568 John PerrotJohn PerrotSir John Perrot served as Lord Deputy of Ireland under Queen Elizabeth I of England during the Tudor conquest of Ireland...
, not in Ireland until 1571, absent after 1573 - 1576-1578 William DruryWilliam DrurySir William Drury, Knt., was an English statesman and soldier,He was a son of Sir Robert Drury of Hedgerley in Buckinghamshire, and grandson of another Sir Robert Drury , who was speaker of the House of Commons in 1495. He was a brother of Dru Drury.He was born at Hawstead in Suffolk, and was...
- 1584-1597 John NorreysJohn NorreysSir John Norreys , also frequently spelt John Norris, was an English soldier of a Berkshire family of court gentry, the son of Henry Norris, 1st Baron Norreys a lifelong friend of Queen Elizabeth....
- 1597-1599 Thomas Norreys
- 1600-1603 George Carew, 1st Earl of TotnesGeorge Carew, 1st Earl of TotnesGeorge Carew, 1st Earl of Totnes , known as Sir George Carew between 1586 and 1605 and as The Lord Carew between 1605 and 1626, served under Queen Elizabeth I during the Tudor conquest of Ireland and was appointed President of Munster. -Early career:Carew was the son of Dr...
.
Carew asked to resign, and was replaced about the time James I came to the English throne. There are different, confused accounts of the transition and outcome, one from the perspective of officials in London, and another local to Munster and indeed Cork. Brouncker, President in title, overreached his position quickly.
(I) On one account, Carew was recommending as Vice-President Oliver St John
Oliver St John, 1st Viscount Grandison
Sir Oliver St John, 1st Viscount Grandison was an English soldier who became Lord Deputy of Ireland.-Early years:He was the second son of Nicholas St John of Lydiard Park in Wiltshire and Purley Park in Berkshire, by his wife Elizabeth , daughter of Sir Richard Blount of Mapledurham House in...
; but in fact held the post until the appointment of his successor Henry Brouncker. (II) On another account, Carew put his post in commission with Charles Wilmot
Charles Wilmot, 1st Viscount Wilmot
Charles Wilmot, 1st Viscount Wilmot of Athlone was an English soldier active in Ireland.-Life:He was the son of Edward Wilmot of Culham and Elizabeth Stafford...
and George Thornton. The post was taken over from them (c.1605) by Henry Becher (d. 1610). Here sources conflict. (III) Whatever the nominal position from 1606, Wilmot and Thornton again held the reins of government.
- 1607-1615 Henry Danvers, 1st Earl of DanbyHenry Danvers, 1st Earl of DanbyHenry Danvers, 1st Earl of Danby, KG was an English soldier. Outlawed after a killing, he regained favour and became a Knight of the Garter.-Life:...
- 1615 Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of ThomondDonogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of ThomondDonogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond and Baron of Ibrickan was an Irish nobleman and soldier noted for his loyalty to the English Crown...
by purchase; died 1624. - 1625 Edward Villiers; died 1626
- 1627-1642 William St LegerWilliam St Leger-Life:He was a grandson of Anthony St Leger. He took part in the Flight of the Earls in 1607, when Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, and Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, together with more than ninety of their family and followers, the chief of the Gaelic and Catholic resistance in Ireland, fled...
. After his death the position is three-cornered and unclear and the territory of Munster was in Irish hands, effectively until Cromwell's campaign of reconquest. - March 1643 Jerome Weston, 2nd Earl of PortlandJerome Weston, 2nd Earl of PortlandJerome Weston, 2nd Earl of Portland was an English diplomat.-Life:He was the second but eldest surviving son of the 1st Earl of Portland, by his second wife Frances Walgrave. He was born at Neyland, Essex....
is nominated by the king; his title is empty, and the only effect is to offend Murrough O'Brien. - c.1645 Viscount Muskerry, though from 1642 with the Confederate Irish, is the royalist nominee.
- 1647 Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of InchiquinMurrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of InchiquinMurrough McDermod O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin and 6th Baron Inchiquin , was known as Murchadh na dTóiteán ....
, parliamentary appointee. In 1648 he turns royalist. - From about 1649 Henry IretonHenry IretonHenry Ireton was an English general in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War. He was the son-in-law of Oliver Cromwell.-Early life:...
, died 1651 - ? to 1668 Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of OrreryRoger Boyle, 1st Earl of OrreryRoger Boyle redirects here. For others of this name, see Roger Boyle Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery was a British soldier, statesman and dramatist. He was the third surviving son of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork and Richard's second wife, Catherine Fenton. He was created Baron of Broghill on...
, resigned 1668
Vice-Presidents and deputies
- 1579 Warham St LegerWarham St Leger-Life:He was second son of Sir Anthony St Leger by his wife Agnes, daughter of Sir Hugh Warham, brother of Archbishop William Warham, and was born probably about 1525. His eldest brother, William, was disinherited; the third brother, Sir Anthony St Leger, was made Master of the Rolls in Ireland in...
is provost-marshal of Munster. - 1583 William StanleyWilliam Stanley (Elizabethan)Sir William Stanley , son of Sir Rowland Stanley of Hooton , was a member of the Stanley family. He was an officer and a recusant, who served under Elizabeth I of England and is most noted for his surrender of Deventer to the Spanish in 1587.-Early career:Stanley was educated with Dr. Standish at...
acts as deputy. - 1585-1597 Thomas Norreys is vice-president to his brother John.
- c. 1589 William HerbertWilliam Herbert (planter)-Early life:He was son of William Herbert of St. Julians in Monmouthshire, then an estate lying between Caerleon and Newport. His mother was Jane, daughter of Edward Griffith. He was sole surviving legitimate heir-male of William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke, as the great-grandson of Sir George...
, acting vice-president. - Edward Legge, vice-president.
- 1607 After Brouncker's death and before Danvers's appointment, Richard Moryson and Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of ThomondDonogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of ThomondDonogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond and Baron of Ibrickan was an Irish nobleman and soldier noted for his loyalty to the English Crown...
are acting in the post of president. - 1609 Richard Moryson, vice-president. In 1613 Moryson tried to purchase the presidency, paying Danvers, but Thomond had the post in the end.
- 1660 Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of InchiquinMurrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of InchiquinMurrough McDermod O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin and 6th Baron Inchiquin , was known as Murchadh na dTóiteán ....
, vice-president. - ? Roger Boyle, 2nd Earl of OrreryRoger Boyle, 2nd Earl of OrreryRoger Boyle, 2nd Earl of Orrery , styled Lord Broghill between 1660 and 1679, was an Irish peer and politician....
as vice-president to his father.