Murrough O'Brien, 1st Marquess of Thomond
Encyclopedia
Murrough O'Brien, 1st Marquess of Thomond KP, PC (Ire)
(1726 – 10 February 1808), known from 1777 to 1800 as the 5th Earl of Inchiquin, was an Irish
peer, soldier and politician.
and Mary Jephson in Drogheda
.
He joined the Grenadier Guards
and was an officer in Germany, where he carried colours at the Battle of Lauffeld
in 1747. He retired in 1756 and entered the Irish House of Commons
for Clare
in the following year. He represented the constituency until 1761 and sat then as Member of Parliament
(MP) for Harristown
until 1768.
Because of his support for the Act of Union
of Great Britain and Ireland, on 29 December 1800 he was created Marquess of Thomond in the Peerage of Ireland
, with a special remainder to his younger brother, and Baron Thomond, of Taplow in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
on 2 October 1801 (which title allowed him to sit in the United Kingdom House of Lords), but this time with no special remainder. He had a close relationship with King George III. In 1783 he was one of the Founding Knights of the Order of St Patrick. His Irish seat was Rostellan, near Cork.
He was a drinker, called a "'six bottle man", and a gambler. He had a zest for life.
He was a keen farmer and oversaw enclosure of lands around Taplow and mechanisation.
(died 1790) in 1753, with whom he had a daughter, Mary O'Brien, 4th Countess of Orkney (1755–1831). He also is reputed to have had an illegitimate son, Thomas Carter (1767–1800), who was a popular singer in London during the 1790s. Thomas lived with Inchiquin at Taplow Court after his return from India in July of 1789, and lent the earl all the money he earned in a benefit concert in Calcutta. In return, Inchiquin recommended Thomas to all his friends as a coal merchant; he had gone into that field after his marriage to Mary Wells in 1793 in order to support his growing family).
Then in 1792, he married Mary Palmer, the niece and a beneficiary of Joshua Reynolds
. She paid his debts.
He died after a fall from his horse in Grosvenor Square, London on 10 February 1808. The title of Marquess of Thomond passed to his nephew William O'Brien, 2nd Marquess of Thomond
, The barony of Thomond became extinct.
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
(1726 – 10 February 1808), known from 1777 to 1800 as the 5th Earl of Inchiquin, was an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
peer, soldier and politician.
Life
Murrough O'Brien was born in 1726 to Hon. James O' BrienJames O'Brien (1695–1771)
Hon. James O'Brien was an Irish nobleman and politician.-Life:James O'Brien was the son of William O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Inchiquin, and his wife, Mary Villiers. He was born in 1695 at Inchiquin, County Clare. Not long after his birth, his family relocated to Charleville, County Cork...
and Mary Jephson in Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
.
He joined 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...
and was an officer in Germany, where he carried colours at the Battle of Lauffeld
Battle of Lauffeld
The Battle of Lauffeld, also known as the Battle of Lafelt or Battle of Maastricht, also Battle of Val, took place on 2 July 1747, during the French invasion of the Netherlands. It was part of the War of the Austrian Succession...
in 1747. He retired in 1756 and entered the Irish House of Commons
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
for Clare
Clare (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Clare was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Clare was represented with two members.-Members of Parliament:* 1583 Sir Turlogh O’Brien, Ennistymon....
in the following year. He represented the constituency until 1761 and sat then as 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,...
(MP) for Harristown
Harristown (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Harristown was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Harristown was represented with two members.-1689–1801:...
until 1768.
Because of his support for the Act of Union
Act of Union 1800
The Acts of Union 1800 describe two complementary Acts, namely:* the Union with Ireland Act 1800 , an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain, and...
of Great Britain and Ireland, on 29 December 1800 he was created Marquess of Thomond in the Peerage of Ireland
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
, with a special remainder to his younger brother, and Baron Thomond, of Taplow 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...
on 2 October 1801 (which title allowed him to sit in the United Kingdom House of Lords), but this time with no special remainder. He had a close relationship with King George III. In 1783 he was one of the Founding Knights of the Order of St Patrick. His Irish seat was Rostellan, near Cork.
He was a drinker, called a "'six bottle man", and a gambler. He had a zest for life.
He was a keen farmer and oversaw enclosure of lands around Taplow and mechanisation.
Family
He married Mary O'Brien, 3rd Countess of OrkneyMary O'Brien, 3rd Countess of Orkney
Mary O'Brien, 3rd Countess of Orkney was the eldest daughter of Anne O'Brien, 2nd Countess of Orkney and William O'Brien, 4th Earl of Inchiquin, and Countess of Orkney in her own right....
(died 1790) in 1753, with whom he had a daughter, Mary O'Brien, 4th Countess of Orkney (1755–1831). He also is reputed to have had an illegitimate son, Thomas Carter (1767–1800), who was a popular singer in London during the 1790s. Thomas lived with Inchiquin at Taplow Court after his return from India in July of 1789, and lent the earl all the money he earned in a benefit concert in Calcutta. In return, Inchiquin recommended Thomas to all his friends as a coal merchant; he had gone into that field after his marriage to Mary Wells in 1793 in order to support his growing family).
Then in 1792, he married Mary Palmer, the niece and a beneficiary of Joshua Reynolds
Joshua Reynolds
Sir Joshua Reynolds RA FRS FRSA was an influential 18th-century English painter, specialising in portraits and promoting the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on idealization of the imperfect. He was one of the founders and first President of the Royal Academy...
. She paid his debts.
He died after a fall from his horse in Grosvenor Square, London on 10 February 1808. The title of Marquess of Thomond passed to his nephew 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...
, The barony of Thomond became extinct.