Richard Boyle, 4th Earl of Shannon
Encyclopedia
Richard Boyle, 4th Earl of Shannon (12 May 1809 – 1 August 1868) was a British politician of the Whig party. He served as Member of Parliament for Cork County
from 1830 to 1832.
and his wife, Sarah, daughter of John Hyde of Castle Hyde and his wife, Sarah Burton. John Hyde was a decsendant of the Hyde family of Denchworth
in Berkshire
(now Oxfordshire
).
Richard was elected a Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom general election, 1830
and re-elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1831
. The Reform Act 1832
increased the number of individuals entitled to vote
, increasing the size of electorate by 50–80%, and allowing a total of 653,000 adult males (around one in five) to vote, in a population of some 14 million. In the United Kingdom general election, 1832
which followed, Cork County was allowed to elect two Members of Parliament instead of one. Richard failed to be re-elected, his seat taken by Feargus O'Connor
, a leader of the Chartist movement
, and Garrett Standish Barry. Barry was a Roman Catholic
, the first one elected to Parliament following the Catholic Relief Act 1829
.
On 22 April 1842, his father died and Richard succeeded him. He held no other political office until his death.
issue of July, 1842. The issue featured an obituary
of his father which included the list of his children by order of birth. Older siblings listed were Lady Catharine Boyle, the Honourable
Richard Boyle ("died an infant in 1803"), Lady Sarah Boyle, Lady Harriet Boyle ("deceased") and Lady Louisa Grace-Boyle. The new Earl of Shannon is listed sixth. His younger siblings listed were Lady Jane Boyle, Lady Elizabeth Boyle, the Honourable Henry Charles Boyle ("Lieut. Royal Fusiliers"), Lady Charlotte-Anne Boyle, the Honourable Robert Francis Boyle ("born in 1818") and Lady Frances Boyle ("died in 1824, aged four years").
. She was a daughter of Lord George Seymour-Conway and Isabella Hamilton. His father-in-law was a son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford
and his wife Lady Isabella Fitzroy. His mother-in-law was a daughter of the Reverend George Hamilton, Canon of Windsor
(1718–1787) and his wife Elizabeth Onslow.
They had two sons:
Cork County (UK Parliament constituency)
Cork County was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, represented in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From 1801 to 1885 it returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland....
from 1830 to 1832.
Career
Richard was the son of Henry Boyle, 3rd Earl of ShannonHenry Boyle, 3rd Earl of Shannon
Henry Boyle, 3rd Earl of Shannon KP, PC , styled Viscount Boyle from 1764 until 1807, was among the last surviving Members of the Parliament of Ireland. He represented Cork County in the new Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1807...
and his wife, Sarah, daughter of John Hyde of Castle Hyde and his wife, Sarah Burton. John Hyde was a decsendant of the Hyde family of Denchworth
Hyde Family of Denchworth
The Hyde family of Denchworth in the English county of Berkshire were a landed family from at least the Norman period to the late modern era. They were chiefly seated at various places in Berkshire, but there were major branches in County Cork in Ireland and Fairfield, Connecticut in the United...
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
(now Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
).
Richard was elected a Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom general election, 1830
United Kingdom general election, 1830
The 1830 United Kingdom general election, was triggered by the death of King George IV and produced the first parliament of the reign of his successor, William IV. Fought in the aftermath of the Swing Riots, it saw electoral reform become a major election issue...
and re-elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1831
United Kingdom general election, 1831
The 1831 general election in the United Kingdom saw a landslide win by supporters of electoral reform, which was the major election issue. As a result it was the last unreformed election, as the Parliament which resulted ensured the passage of the Reform Act 1832. Polling was held from 28 April to...
. The Reform Act 1832
Reform Act 1832
The Representation of the People Act 1832 was an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales...
increased the number of individuals entitled to vote
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
, increasing the size of electorate by 50–80%, and allowing a total of 653,000 adult males (around one in five) to vote, in a population of some 14 million. In the United Kingdom general election, 1832
United Kingdom general election, 1832
-Seats summary:-Parties and leaders at the general election:The Earl Grey had been Prime Minister since 22 November 1830. His was the first predominantly Whig administration since the Ministry of all the Talents in 1806-1807....
which followed, Cork County was allowed to elect two Members of Parliament instead of one. Richard failed to be re-elected, his seat taken by Feargus O'Connor
Feargus O'Connor
Feargus Edward O'Connor was an Irish Chartist leader and advocate of the Land Plan.- Background :Feargus O'Connor was born into a prominent Irish Protestant family, the son of Irish Nationalist politician Roger O'Connor...
, a leader of the Chartist movement
Chartism
Chartism was a movement for political and social reform in the United Kingdom during the mid-19th century, between 1838 and 1859. It takes its name from the People's Charter of 1838. Chartism was possibly the first mass working class labour movement in the world...
, and Garrett Standish Barry. Barry was a Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, the first one elected to Parliament following the Catholic Relief Act 1829
Catholic Relief Act 1829
The Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom on 24 March 1829, and received Royal Assent on 13 April. It was the culmination of the process of Catholic Emancipation throughout the nation...
.
On 22 April 1842, his father died and Richard succeeded him. He held no other political office until his death.
Siblings
Richard had three brothers and eight sisters. His siblings are listed in The Gentleman's MagazineThe Gentleman's Magazine
The Gentleman's Magazine was founded in London, England, by Edward Cave in January 1731. It ran uninterrupted for almost 200 years, until 1922. It was the first to use the term "magazine" for a periodical...
issue of July, 1842. The issue featured an obituary
Obituary
An obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
of his father which included the list of his children by order of birth. Older siblings listed were Lady Catharine Boyle, the Honourable
The Honourable
The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons. It is considered an honorific styling.-International diplomacy:...
Richard Boyle ("died an infant in 1803"), Lady Sarah Boyle, Lady Harriet Boyle ("deceased") and Lady Louisa Grace-Boyle. The new Earl of Shannon is listed sixth. His younger siblings listed were Lady Jane Boyle, Lady Elizabeth Boyle, the Honourable Henry Charles Boyle ("Lieut. Royal Fusiliers"), Lady Charlotte-Anne Boyle, the Honourable Robert Francis Boyle ("born in 1818") and Lady Frances Boyle ("died in 1824, aged four years").
Marriage and children
On [28 May 1832, Richard married Emily Henrietta Seymour in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She was a daughter of Lord George Seymour-Conway and Isabella Hamilton. His father-in-law was a son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford
Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford
Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford KG, PC, PC was a British courtier and politician.He was born in Chelsea, London the son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Lord Conway and Charlotte Shorter and died in Surrey, England...
and his wife Lady Isabella Fitzroy. His mother-in-law was a daughter of the Reverend George Hamilton, Canon of Windsor
Dean and Canons of Windsor
The Dean and Canons of Windsor are the ecclesiastical body of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.-Foundation:The college of Canons was established in 1348 by Letters Patent of King Edward III. The college was formally constituted on the Feast of St...
(1718–1787) and his wife Elizabeth Onslow.
They had two sons:
- Henry Bentinck Boyle, 5th Earl of Shannon (22 November 1833 - 8 February 1890).
- Frederick James Boyle (16 September 1835 - 10 October 1861).