Richard Wingfield, 1st Viscount Powerscourt
Encyclopedia
Richard Wingfield, 1st Viscount Powerscourt (1550 – 9 September 1634) was an English
nobleman.
The son of Sir Richard Wingfield, who was descended from an old Suffolk
family, Wingfield was the step-son of Sir George Delves
, thanks to his mother's remarriage. He came to Ireland
as a military adventurer in the latter part of the 16th century and afterwards fought in Flanders
, France
and Portugal
, gaining the military rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Returning to Ireland, Wingfield distinguished himself and was wounded in an expedition against Tyrone
, and was knighted in Christ Church Cathedral
on 9 November 1595. He served as a Colonel in the expedition against Calais
, and in 1600 was advanced to the office of Marshal of Ireland, with a retinue of fifty horse and a company of foot. In 1601 he led a force at the reduction of Kinsale
, and was one of those who signed the articles of capitulation made between the Lord Deputy of Ireland
and Don Juan d'Aguila, Commander of the Spanish troops made prisoners on that occasion.
In May 1608 he marched into Ulster
against Sir Cahir O'Doherty
, who had burnt Derry
, killing him and dispersing his followers. For this success Sir Richard was on 29 June 1609 rewarded by a grant of the Powerscourt
estate in County Wicklow
.
On 19 February 1618 he was created Viscount Powerscourt, and he subsequently enjoyed several important offices under the Crown. Dying without issue from his wife Frances Rugge, also known as Repps (d. bef. 30 November 1631), daughter of William Rugge, also known as Repps, of Felmingham
, Norfolk
, and Thomasine Townshend, and widow of Edward Cromwell, 3rd Baron Cromwell
, on 9 September 1634, the title became extinct, and the estates passed to a cousin.
The title was revived in 1665 in the person of Folliott Wingfield, who died without issue in 1717; and again in 1743 in the person of Richard Wingfield.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
nobleman.
The son of Sir Richard Wingfield, who was descended from an old Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
family, Wingfield was the step-son of Sir George Delves
George Delves
Sir George Delves was a knight, military commander, and member of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I....
, thanks to his mother's remarriage. He came to 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...
as a military adventurer in the latter part of the 16th century and afterwards fought in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, gaining the military rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Returning to Ireland, Wingfield distinguished himself and was wounded in an expedition against Tyrone
Tyrone
The name Tyrone can refer to:*County Tyrone, a county in Northern Ireland, roughly corresponding to the ancient kingdom of Tír Eogain*An Earl of Tyrone*A small steam train which runs between Bushmills and the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland-Places:...
, and was knighted in Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral is the name of many Anglican cathedrals around the world, and may refer to:-Canada:*Christ Church Cathedral , New Brunswick*Christ Church Cathedral , Quebec*Christ Church Cathedral , Ontario...
on 9 November 1595. He served as a Colonel in the expedition against Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
, and in 1600 was advanced to the office of Marshal of Ireland, with a retinue of fifty horse and a company of foot. In 1601 he led a force at the reduction of Kinsale
Kinsale
Kinsale is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Located some 25 km south of Cork City on the coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon and has a population of 2,257 which increases substantially during the summer months when the tourist season is at its peak and...
, and was one of those who signed the articles of capitulation made between the Lord Deputy of Ireland
Lord Deputy of Ireland
The Lord Deputy was the King's representative and head of the Irish executive under English rule, during the Lordship of Ireland and later the Kingdom of Ireland...
and Don Juan d'Aguila, Commander of the Spanish troops made prisoners on that occasion.
In May 1608 he marched into Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. 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...
against Sir Cahir O'Doherty
Cahir O'Doherty
Cahir O'Doherty was the last Gaelic Lord of Inishowen in north-west Ireland.The son of Shane Og O'Doherty, he was 14 when his father died and had to spend the next few years gaining control of his lordship. He was knighted by Lord Mountjoy...
, who had burnt Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, killing him and dispersing his followers. For this success Sir Richard was on 29 June 1609 rewarded by a grant of the Powerscourt
Powerscourt
Powerscourt may refer to:*Viscount Powerscourt, title in the Irish peerage*Powerscourt Estate, County Wicklow, Ireland**Powerscourt Golf Club, on the estate*Powerscourt Waterfall, the highest waterfall in Ireland, near the estate...
estate in County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
On 19 February 1618 he was created Viscount Powerscourt, and he subsequently enjoyed several important offices under the Crown. Dying without issue from his wife Frances Rugge, also known as Repps (d. bef. 30 November 1631), daughter of William Rugge, also known as Repps, of Felmingham
Felmingham
Felmingham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 564 in 218 households as of the 2001 census.For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of North Norfolk....
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, and Thomasine Townshend, and widow of Edward Cromwell, 3rd Baron Cromwell
Edward Cromwell, 3rd Baron Cromwell
Edward Cromwell, 3rd Baron Cromwell of Oakham was an English peer.-Life:Cromwell was the son of Henry Cromwell, 2nd Baron Cromwell of Oakham and Lady Mary Paulet....
, on 9 September 1634, the title became extinct, and the estates passed to a cousin.
The title was revived in 1665 in the person of Folliott Wingfield, who died without issue in 1717; and again in 1743 in the person of Richard Wingfield.