Nathaniel Clements
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Clements was an Irish
politician and financial figure, important in the political and financial administration of Ireland in the mid-18th century.
(MP) for Duleek in 1727 under the patronage of Luke Gardiner
, a powerful political and business figure in Dublin. He commenced as a junior at the Irish Treasury in 1720 and held extensive offices there. He became the main financial manager of the British and Irish Government in Ireland during the period, and was de facto Minister for Finance from 1740 to 1777. He assumed the offices of Deputy Vice-Treasurer and Deputy Paymaster General on Gardiner's retirement in 1755. In 1761, Clements was returned for Cavan Borough
in, holding this seat until 1768. In this year, he was elected for Roscommon Borough
as well as Leitrim
, and chose to sit for the latter. In 1776, Clements stood for again for Cavan Borough as well as Carrick
and represented the latter constituency until his death in 1777.
and Master of Game and built the Ranger's lodge (now Aras an Uachtarain
in 1754. He had an extensive property portfolio, including Abbotstown, County Dublin
, estates in County Leitrim
and County Cavan
. He was a developer of property in Georgian Dublin, including part of Henrietta Street
where he lived at No. 7 from 1734 to 1757. He was one of the richest commoners in Ireland
, notwithstanding his involvement in a failed banking venture in 1759.
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...
politician and financial figure, important in the political and financial administration of Ireland in the mid-18th century.
Early history
Clements was the fifth son of Robert Clements (1664-1722). He married Hannah Gore, daughter of William Gore, D.D., Dean of Down, on 31 January 1730.Career
Clements became Member of ParliamentMember 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 Duleek in 1727 under the patronage of Luke Gardiner
Luke Gardiner
Luke Gardiner was an Irish property developer and politician.In the Irish House of Commons he represented Tralee from 1725 until 1727 and Thomastown from 1727 until his death in 1755 . He was appointed to the Irish Privy Council on 2 August 1737.In 1711 he married Anne Stewart, daughter of the Hon...
, a powerful political and business figure in Dublin. He commenced as a junior at the Irish Treasury in 1720 and held extensive offices there. He became the main financial manager of the British and Irish Government in Ireland during the period, and was de facto Minister for Finance from 1740 to 1777. He assumed the offices of Deputy Vice-Treasurer and Deputy Paymaster General on Gardiner's retirement in 1755. In 1761, Clements was returned for Cavan Borough
Cavan Borough (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Cavan Borough was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons from 1611 to 1800.Between 1725 and 1793 Catholics and those married to Catholics could not vote.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:...
in, holding this seat until 1768. In this year, he was elected for Roscommon Borough
Roscommon Borough (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Roscommon Borough was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons from 1611 to 1800. Between 1725 and 1793 Catholics and those married to Catholics could not vote.-Members of Parliament:*1613–1615*1689 Patriot Parliament** John Dillon...
as well as Leitrim
Leitrim (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Leitrim was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1800-1692–1801:...
, and chose to sit for the latter. In 1776, Clements stood for again for Cavan Borough as well as Carrick
Carrick (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Carrick was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons from 1614 to 1800. It returned two members.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:...
and represented the latter constituency until his death in 1777.
Property development
Clements was appointed to the office of Chief Ranger of the Phoenix ParkPhoenix Park
Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth...
and Master of Game and built the Ranger's lodge (now Aras an Uachtarain
Áras an Uachtaráin
Áras an Uachtaráin , formerly the Viceregal Lodge, is the official residence of the President of Ireland. It is located in the Phoenix Park on the northside of Dublin.-Origins:...
in 1754. He had an extensive property portfolio, including Abbotstown, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, estates in County Leitrim
County Leitrim
County Leitrim is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority for the county...
and County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He was a developer of property in Georgian Dublin, including part of Henrietta Street
Henrietta Street
Henrietta Street is a Dublin street, to the north of Bolton Street on the north side of the city, first laid out and developed by Luke Gardiner during the 1720s. A very wide street relative to streets in other 18th-century cities, it includes a number of very large red-brick city palaces of...
where he lived at No. 7 from 1734 to 1757. He was one of the richest commoners in Ireland
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...
, notwithstanding his involvement in a failed banking venture in 1759.
Charitable activities
Clements was involved in many charitable activities including Dr Steven's Hospital, the Erasmus Smith Educational Foundation, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, for retired soldiers and others.Family
Nathaniel Clements and Hannah Gore had six children:- Robert ClementsRobert Clements, 1st Earl of LeitrimRobert Clements, 1st Earl of Leitrim was an Irish nobleman and politician.Son of Cavan Borough MP Nathaniel Clements, Deputy Vice Treasurer and Teller of the Irish Exchequer, Clements served as High Sheriff of Leitrim in 1759, having been the previous year appointed as Controller of the Great and...
(1732-1804), created Earl of LeitrimEarl of LeitrimEarl of Leitrim was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1795 for Robert Clements, 1st Viscount Leitrim. He had already been created Baron Leitrim, of Manor Hamilton in the County of Leitrim, in 1783, and Viscount Leitrim in 1793, also in the Peerage of Ireland. In 1800 he was...
in 1795, elected a representative peerRepresentative peerIn the United Kingdom, representative peers were those peers elected by the members of the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of Ireland to sit in the British House of Lords...
in 1800 - Rt. Hon. Henry Theophilus Clements, MP
- Elizabeth, m. 1750, Francis Burton, second Baron Conyngham
- Hannah, m. 1752, George MontgomeryGeorge Montgomery (MP)George Leslie Montgomery was an Irish politician.Montgomery sat as Member of Parliament for Strabane from 1765 to 1768. He purchased the seat from John McCausland of Strabane for £2,000 after the death of the incumbent Robert Lowry when a new writ was issued for the borough on 22 October 1765...
, BallyconnellBallyconnellBallyconnell is a town in County Cavan, Ireland. It is situated on the N87 national secondary road at the junction of four townlands Annagh, Cullyleenan, Doon and Derryginny in the parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw. The town has an altitude of 55 metres above sea level...
, MP - Catherine, m. Eyre MasseyEyre MasseyEyre Massey, 1st Baron Clarina , was an Irish army officer. In 1800, he was made Baron Clarina in the Peerage of Ireland.-Life:...
, 1st Baron ClarinaBaron ClarinaBaron Clarina, of Elm in the County of Limerick, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 27 December 1800 for General Eyre Massey... - Alice, m. 1773, Gen. Sir Ralph GoreRalph Gore, 1st Earl of RossGeneral Ralph Gore, 1st Earl of Ross , known as Sir Ralph Gore, 6th Baronet from 1746 until 1764, subsequently as The Lord Gore until 1768 and then as The Viscount Belleisle until 1772, was an Irish soldier, politician and peer.-Background:Born at Belle Isle Castle, he was the second son of Sir...
, sixth Baronet, created Earl of RossEarl of RossThe Mormaer or Earl of Ross was the leader of a medieval Gaelic lordship in northern Scotland, roughly between the River Oykel and the River Beauly.-Origins and transfers:...
.
See also
- Irish House of CommonsIrish House of CommonsThe 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...
- Aras an UachtarainÁras an UachtaráinÁras an Uachtaráin , formerly the Viceregal Lodge, is the official residence of the President of Ireland. It is located in the Phoenix Park on the northside of Dublin.-Origins:...