Richard Mansergh St George
Encyclopedia
Born Richard St George Mansergh in 1750, the name of 'St George' was assumed on inheriting his maternal uncle's property, Richard Mansergh St George. His grandfather was Sir Richard St George
. His father was Sir George St George of Carrickdrumrusk and was ancestor of the Barons St George. His two brothers were Oliver and George. Richard was ancestor of the St Georges of Woodsgift in County Kilkenny
. The St Georges were orinally from Cambridgeshire
who were granted lands in the Headford
area by the Cromwellian Commissioners in 1666, much of it formerly held by the Skerrett family. The family bore a coat of arms blazoned Argent a Chief Azure overall a Lion rampant Gules crowned Or. Gallowshill in Carrick-on-Shannon
, Hatley Manor and Holywell are the ancestral family manor houses.
and Trinity College
, Cambridge. He was friends with the painter Henry Fuseli
and the poet Anna Seward
.
. He fought during the Philadelphia campaign
of 1777, seeing action at the Battle of Brandywine
and the Battle of Germantown
where he was shot in the head. He was trepanned and fitted with a sliver plate to cover the hole. He was eventually promoted to captain in the 44th Regiment of Foot
in 1778. By the end of the war he was serving as an aid to Sir Henry Clinton.
(then Queen's County) in 1788, and within three years they had two sons, Richard James and Stepney St George.
Mansergh St George was an active, local magistrate appalled by the poverty that he found on his estates in County Cork
and County Galway
. His response to this was an Account of the State of Affairs in and About Headford, County Galway, which laments the condition of the Irish peasantry, and whilst considering establishing a linen industry to improve matters, doubts the willingness or the ability of his tenants to make the enterprise work. Mansergh St George's wife had died in 1791, leaving her husband a widower with two infant children, and he wished to have a portrait painted of himself (see illustration at right below) as a monument to his grief for her. The -eventual- result of the commission is the full-length portrait by Hugh Douglas Hamilton now in the National Gallery of Ireland
, in which Mansergh St George, dressed in his uniform from the American War, leans in an attitude of grief against a classical tomb inscribed Non Immemor.
he was murdered along with his servant with a rusty scythe by a party of marauders from North Cork and South Tipperary
.
Richard St George
Sir Richard St George was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms on London during the seventeenth century.The date of birth of Richard St George is unknown. In 1575 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Nicholas St John of Lydiard Tregoze, Wiltshire. He joined the College of Arms in 1602...
. His father was Sir George St George of Carrickdrumrusk and was ancestor of the Barons St George. His two brothers were Oliver and George. Richard was ancestor of the St Georges of Woodsgift in County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
. The St Georges were orinally from Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
who were granted lands in the Headford
Headford
Headford is a town in County Galway, located 26 km north of Galway city in the west of Ireland. The N84 national secondary route from Galway to Castlebar passes through the town. The R333 road travels from Headford to Tuam. There are many other 'boreens' and third-class roads on the...
area by the Cromwellian Commissioners in 1666, much of it formerly held by the Skerrett family. The family bore a coat of arms blazoned Argent a Chief Azure overall a Lion rampant Gules crowned Or. Gallowshill in Carrick-on-Shannon
Carrick-on-Shannon
Carrick-on-Shannon is the county town of County Leitrim in Ireland. It is also the smallest main county town in the country . It is situated on a strategic crossing point of the River Shannon and is the largest town in the county. The population of the town was 3,163 in 2006. It is in the barony...
, Hatley Manor and Holywell are the ancestral family manor houses.
Education
Temple BarTemple Bar
Temple Bar may refer to:* The Temple Bar, a spot in London* Temple Bar, Dublin, a cultural quarter in Dublin city* Temple Bar, Ceredigion, a village in Wales* Temple Bar Magazine, British literary magazine published 1860 to 1906...
and Trinity College
Trinity College
-Australia:* Trinity Catholic College Lismore, a Catholic secondary school in New South Wales* Trinity College , part of the University of Melbourne, in Melbourne, Victoria* Trinity College, Gawler, Adelaide, South Australia...
, Cambridge. He was friends with the painter Henry Fuseli
Henry Fuseli
Henry Fuseli was a British painter, draughtsman, and writer on art, of Swiss origin.-Biography:...
and the poet Anna Seward
Anna Seward
Anna Seward was an English Romantic poet, often called the Swan of Lichfield.-Life:Seward was the elder daughter of Thomas Seward , prebendary of Lichfield and Salisbury, and author...
.
Early military career
He began his military career as an Ensign in the 4th Regiment of Foot at the outbreak of the American War for Independence. He eventually purchased a lieutenancy in the 52nd Regiment of Foot52nd Regiment of Foot
52nd Regiment of Foot may refer to:*50th Regiment of Foot, raised in 1755 and renumbered as the 50th in 1756*52nd Regiment of Foot, raised as the 54th and renumbered in 1756See also:...
. He fought during the Philadelphia campaign
Philadelphia campaign
The Philadelphia campaign was a British initiative in the American Revolutionary War to gain control of Philadelphia, which was then the seat of the Second Continental Congress...
of 1777, seeing action at the Battle of Brandywine
Battle of Brandywine
The Battle of Brandywine, also known as the Battle of the Brandywine or the Battle of Brandywine Creek, was fought between the American army of Major General George Washington and the British-Hessian army of General Sir William Howe on September 11, 1777. The British defeated the Americans and...
and the Battle of Germantown
Battle of Germantown
The Battle of Germantown, a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War, was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania between the British army led by Sir William Howe and the American army under George Washington...
where he was shot in the head. He was trepanned and fitted with a sliver plate to cover the hole. He was eventually promoted to captain in the 44th Regiment of Foot
44th Regiment of Foot
The 44th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment in the British Army. After 1782 the regiment became known as the 44th Regiment of Foot. The lineage of the 44th transferred to the Essex Regiment in 1881...
in 1778. By the end of the war he was serving as an aid to Sir Henry Clinton.
Return to Ireland after American war
On his return from America he married Anne Stepney of Durrow, County LaoisDurrow, County Laois
Durrow is a small town located in south County Laois, Ireland. Bypassed by the M8 motorway on 28 May 2010, the town is located on the R639 road at its junction with the N77. The river Erkina flows through Durrow and joins the River Nore about 1.5 km east of the town...
(then Queen's County) in 1788, and within three years they had two sons, Richard James and Stepney St George.
Mansergh St George was an active, local magistrate appalled by the poverty that he found on his estates in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
and County Galway
County Galway
County Galway 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 city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
. His response to this was an Account of the State of Affairs in and About Headford, County Galway, which laments the condition of the Irish peasantry, and whilst considering establishing a linen industry to improve matters, doubts the willingness or the ability of his tenants to make the enterprise work. Mansergh St George's wife had died in 1791, leaving her husband a widower with two infant children, and he wished to have a portrait painted of himself (see illustration at right below) as a monument to his grief for her. The -eventual- result of the commission is the full-length portrait by Hugh Douglas Hamilton now in the National Gallery of Ireland
National Gallery of Ireland
The National Gallery of Ireland houses the Irish national collection of Irish and European art. It is located in the centre of Dublin with one entrance on Merrion Square, beside Leinster House, and another on Clare Street. It was founded in 1854 and opened its doors ten years later...
, in which Mansergh St George, dressed in his uniform from the American War, leans in an attitude of grief against a classical tomb inscribed Non Immemor.
Irish rebellion of 1798
During the Irish Rebellion of 1798Irish Rebellion of 1798
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , also known as the United Irishmen Rebellion , was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against British rule in Ireland...
he was murdered along with his servant with a rusty scythe by a party of marauders from North Cork and South Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
.