Robert King, 1st Viscount Lorton
Encyclopedia
General Robert Edward King, 1st Viscount Lorton (12 August 1773 - 20 November 1854), styled The Honourable from 1797 to 1800, was an Irish peer and politician.
Born in London at his parents' town house, he was the third child and second son of Robert King, 2nd Earl of Kingston by his wife, the heiress Caroline Fitzgerald. His mother's fortune (via her own mother) had made the Kings perhaps the richest family in Ireland for some time. His sister was Margaret King
and one of the family governesses was Mary Wollstonecraft
.
On 9 December 1799, he married his first cousin
Lady Frances Parsons, daughter of Laurence Harman Parsons, 1st Earl of Rosse and Lady Jane King (herself a daughter of the first Earl of Kingston
). They had several children together, including two sons and five daughters. The elder son succeeded to the earldom, after three cousins died childless or unmarried. The younger son founded the line of King-Harman, producing a family historian of the King family and their estates.
). There was considerable sympathy for the King family, because Fitzgerald was raised by the Kings; his actions were thus severally discreditable, being viewed as gross ingratitude, a breach of family trust, incest, as well as simply dishonourable behavior. For details of the story, Claire Tomalin's account in her biography of Mary Wollstonecraft is as good as any. Other accounts can be found online.http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20030629/ai_n12741688http://www.gla.ac.uk:443/publications/newsletter/details.cfm?category=catwork&id=1592&issue=250 Tomalin believes Henry FitzGerald to have been an illegitimate son of Richard Fitzgerald
MP (father of Caroline, and grandfather of Viscount Lorton); other accounts claim that he was in fact the illegitimate son of Caroline's half-brother Gerald Fitzgerald).http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20030629/ai_n12741688
This scandal did not affect Robert King's career; he represented Jamestown
in the Irish House of Commons
from 1796 to 1798, and was subsequently an Member of Parliament
for Boyle
until the Act of Union
in 1801. His family's political influence probably bought him not only his seat but also his Irish peerage. In military life, he had distinguished himself in battle, and he was promoted to Major-General in 1808, Lieutenant-General in 1813, and finally General
in 1830. Although successful in his chosen career, he appears to have made little mark in military history, compared to other Anglo-Irish noblemen such as Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
or Eyre Coote
, or the earlier Lord Cornwallis.
was made Lord Lieutenant of Roscommon
between 1831 and 1854, a purely ceremonial honour but an important one. He died on 20 November 1854 at Rockingham Castle. His elder son, the second Viscount, succeeded to the Earldom of Kingston on the death of his cousin in 1869. The titles have remained united ever since.
His younger son, Lawrence (later King-Harman), inherited the Rockingham and Newcastle estates. The Rockingham estate was inherited by Edward Robert King-Harman
, an MP and, earlier in his life, adventurer. His daughter, Frances, married Rt Hon Sir Thomas Stafford, 1st Baronet, a physician and member of the Irish Privy Council. Their granddaughter, Joan, Lady Dunn is the representative of the Rockingham branch of the family.
The Newcastle estates were inherited by Lawrence's younger son, the ancestor of Tony King-Harman, the historian of the King family referred to above.
Born in London at his parents' town house, he was the third child and second son of Robert King, 2nd Earl of Kingston by his wife, the heiress Caroline Fitzgerald. His mother's fortune (via her own mother) had made the Kings perhaps the richest family in Ireland for some time. His sister was Margaret King
Margaret King
Margaret King was an Irish hostess, writer, traveller, and medical adviser. Despite her wealthy aristocratic background, she had republican sympathies, shaped in part by having been a favoured pupil of Mary Wollstonecraft...
and one of the family governesses was Mary Wollstonecraft
Mary Wollstonecraft
Mary Wollstonecraft was an eighteenth-century British writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights. During her brief career, she wrote novels, treatises, a travel narrative, a history of the French Revolution, a conduct book, and a children's book...
.
On 9 December 1799, he married his first cousin
Cousin marriage
Cousin marriage is marriage between two cousins. In various jurisdictions and cultures, such marriages range from being considered ideal and actively encouraged, to being uncommon but still legal, to being seen as incest and legally prohibited....
Lady Frances Parsons, daughter of Laurence Harman Parsons, 1st Earl of Rosse and Lady Jane King (herself a daughter of the first Earl of Kingston
Earl of Kingston
Earl of Kingston is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1768 for Edward King, 1st Viscount Kingston. He had already succeeded his father as fifth Baronet of Boyle Abbey and been created Baron Kingston, of Rockingham in the County of Roscommon in 1764 and Viscount Kingston in 1766,...
). They had several children together, including two sons and five daughters. The elder son succeeded to the earldom, after three cousins died childless or unmarried. The younger son founded the line of King-Harman, producing a family historian of the King family and their estates.
Scandal 1798
After a period of service in the army beginning 1792, Robert King achieved some notoriety when he was tried in April 1798 at the Cork Assizes for the murder of his illegitimate cousin (or maternal half-uncle) Colonel Henry Gerald FitzGerald, for seducing his sister. He was acquitted as no witnesses came forward. (His father was likewise acquitted by the Irish House of LordsIrish House of Lords
The Irish House of Lords was the upper house of the Parliament of Ireland that existed from mediaeval times until 1800. It was abolished along with the Irish House of Commons by the Act of Union.-Function:...
). There was considerable sympathy for the King family, because Fitzgerald was raised by the Kings; his actions were thus severally discreditable, being viewed as gross ingratitude, a breach of family trust, incest, as well as simply dishonourable behavior. For details of the story, Claire Tomalin's account in her biography of Mary Wollstonecraft is as good as any. Other accounts can be found online.http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20030629/ai_n12741688http://www.gla.ac.uk:443/publications/newsletter/details.cfm?category=catwork&id=1592&issue=250 Tomalin believes Henry FitzGerald to have been an illegitimate son of Richard Fitzgerald
Richard Fitzgerald (died 1776)
Colonel Richard Fitzgerald was an Irish Member of Parliament.He was the fifth son of Gerald Fitzgerald of Coolanawle, Queen's County, by his wife Mary, daughter of Sir Robert Hartpole, of Shrule Castle in Queen's County...
MP (father of Caroline, and grandfather of Viscount Lorton); other accounts claim that he was in fact the illegitimate son of Caroline's half-brother Gerald Fitzgerald).http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20030629/ai_n12741688
This scandal did not affect Robert King's career; he represented Jamestown
Jamestown (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Jamestown was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Jamestown was represented with two members.-1689–1801:...
in 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...
from 1796 to 1798, and was subsequently an 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,...
for Boyle
Boyle (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Boyle was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons from 1611 to 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Boyle was represented with two members.-1689–1801:...
until 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...
in 1801. His family's political influence probably bought him not only his seat but also his Irish peerage. In military life, he had distinguished himself in battle, and he was promoted to Major-General in 1808, Lieutenant-General in 1813, and finally General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
in 1830. Although successful in his chosen career, he appears to have made little mark in military history, compared to other Anglo-Irish noblemen such as Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
or Eyre Coote
Eyre Coote
Lieutenant-General Sir Eyre Coote, KB was an Irish soldier. He is best known for his many years of service with the British Army in India. His victory at the Battle of Wandiwash is considered a decisive turning point in the struggle for control in India between British and France...
, or the earlier Lord Cornwallis.
Honours
Robert King had already been created Baron Erris of Boyle, in the County of Roscommon [Ireland] on 29 December 1800 in the Peerage of Ireland, and was raised to become 1st Viscount Lorton, of Boyle, in the County of Roscommon [Ireland] on 28 May 1806. He was elected a representative peer in 1823 andwas made Lord Lieutenant of Roscommon
Lord Lieutenant of Roscommon
This is a list of people who served as Lord Lieutenant of County Roscommon.The office was created on 23 August 1831.* Robert King, 1st Viscount Lorton 7 October 1831 – 20 November 1854* Arthur French, 1st Baron de Freyne 18 December 1854 – 29 September 1856...
between 1831 and 1854, a purely ceremonial honour but an important one. He died on 20 November 1854 at Rockingham Castle. His elder son, the second Viscount, succeeded to the Earldom of Kingston on the death of his cousin in 1869. The titles have remained united ever since.
His younger son, Lawrence (later King-Harman), inherited the Rockingham and Newcastle estates. The Rockingham estate was inherited by Edward Robert King-Harman
Edward Robert King-Harman
Edward Robert King-Harman was an Irish landlord and Irish Nationalist and later Unionist politician who sat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1877 to 1888.-Early life:...
, an MP and, earlier in his life, adventurer. His daughter, Frances, married Rt Hon Sir Thomas Stafford, 1st Baronet, a physician and member of the Irish Privy Council. Their granddaughter, Joan, Lady Dunn is the representative of the Rockingham branch of the family.
The Newcastle estates were inherited by Lawrence's younger son, the ancestor of Tony King-Harman, the historian of the King family referred to above.
External links
- General Robert Edward King, 1st Viscount Lorton, in Darryl Lundy's thepeerage.com (peerage database). Retrieved 6 July 2007.
Further reading
Rebel Daughters: Ireland in conflict 1798 (2003) by Janet ToddJanet Todd
Janet Margaret Todd is a Welsh-born academic and a well-respected author of many books on women in literature. Todd was educated at Cambridge University and the University of Florida, where she undertook a doctorate on the poet John Clare...