Thomas St Lawrence, 13th Baron Howth
Encyclopedia
Thomas St Lawrence, 13th Baron Howth (1659-1727 ) was an Irish nobleman of the later Stuart
and early Georgian
era.
He was born in 1659, eldest son of William St Lawrence, 12th Baron Howth
, and Elizabeth Fitzwilliam. He was only twelve when his father died, and was under the guardianship of the Earl of Ossory
. his father's closest friend.
After the Revolution of 1688
, Lord Howth seems to have been determined to back the winning side. Originally he supported James II
and sat in the Irish Parliament of 1689; yet after the failure of the Jacobite cause he quickly transferred his loyalty to William III
, sitting in the Parliament of 1692, and signing the Declaration of Loyalty to the person and government of the King in 1697. A family tradition that he entertained William in Howth Castle
is probably unfounded.
Despite his political adaptability, he seems to have been highly esteemed by those who knew him. His closest friends, the Grattan family, were also close friends of Jonathan Swift
. He built a quay to carry coal to Howth lighthouse, at considerable cost to himself, and was noted for charity, leaving a large sum in his will for the relief of the poor of the parish. Elrington Ball quotes an elegy on his death in 1727 which pays tribute to his virtues:
"Behold this stone whose vault contains
More precious dust than India's veins,
For honour's sake then shed a tear,
Since honour's self lies buried here."
He married Mary Barnewall, daughter of the 2nd Viscount Barnewall
of Kingsland. They had nine children, of whom six reached adult life:
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
and early Georgian
Georgian era
The Georgian era is a period of British history which takes its name from, and is normally defined as spanning the reigns of, the first four Hanoverian kings of Great Britain : George I, George II, George III and George IV...
era.
He was born in 1659, eldest son of William St Lawrence, 12th Baron Howth
William St Lawrence, 12th Baron Howth
William St Lawrence, 12th Baron Howth was an Irish nobleman of the Restoration period. He was an intelligent and popular man who would no doubt have played an influential role in Irish politics but for his premature death....
, and Elizabeth Fitzwilliam. He was only twelve when his father died, and was under the guardianship of the Earl of Ossory
Earl of Ossory
Earl of Ossory is a subsidiary title held by the Earl of Ormond that was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1528.In 1525, King Henry VIII of England became enamoured of Anne Boleyn and began pursuing her. As Henry's infatuation for Anne intensified, so did her father's titles...
. his father's closest friend.
After the Revolution of 1688
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
, Lord Howth seems to have been determined to back the winning side. Originally he supported James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
and sat in the Irish Parliament of 1689; yet after the failure of the Jacobite cause he quickly transferred his loyalty to William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, sitting in the Parliament of 1692, and signing the Declaration of Loyalty to the person and government of the King in 1697. A family tradition that he entertained William in Howth Castle
Howth Castle
Howth Castle lies close to the village of Howth, Fingal County in Ireland. It is the ancestral home of the line of the St Lawrence family that died out in 1909. From 1425 to 1767 the title had been Lord Howth, holding the area since the Norman invasion of 1180. It is now held by their heirs, the...
is probably unfounded.
Despite his political adaptability, he seems to have been highly esteemed by those who knew him. His closest friends, the Grattan family, were also close friends of Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
. He built a quay to carry coal to Howth lighthouse, at considerable cost to himself, and was noted for charity, leaving a large sum in his will for the relief of the poor of the parish. Elrington Ball quotes an elegy on his death in 1727 which pays tribute to his virtues:
"Behold this stone whose vault contains
More precious dust than India's veins,
For honour's sake then shed a tear,
Since honour's self lies buried here."
He married Mary Barnewall, daughter of the 2nd Viscount Barnewall
Viscount Barnewall
Viscount Barnewall, of Kingsland in the Parish of Donabate in the County of Dublin, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 29 June 1646 for Nicholas Barnewall, who had earlier represented County Dublin in the Irish House of Commons...
of Kingsland. They had nine children, of whom six reached adult life:
- William St Lawrence, 14th Baron Howth
- Henry
- Oliver
- Mark
- Nicholas
- Elizabeth, who married firstly Edward Rice and secondly Dominick Quin.