William Caulfeild, 1st Viscount Charlemont
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William Caulfeild, 1st Viscount Charlemont PC (Ire)
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...

 (1624 – April 1671) was an Irish
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...

 politician and peer.

Background

Born in Donamon Castle
Donamon Castle
Donamon Castle is one of the oldest inhabited buildings in Ireland and stands on raised ground overlooking the River Suck in County Roscommon. In late 1932, an IRA unit, under the command of Seán McCool and Mick Price, took over Donamon Castle to set up an IRA training camp....

 in County Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon 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 town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...

, he was third son of William Caulfeild, 2nd Baron Caulfeild and his wife Mary King, daughter of Sir John King. His two older brothers Toby Caulfeild, 3rd Baron Caulfeild and Robert Caulfeild, 4th Baron Caulfeild died both without male issue and he succeeded to the barony on the latter's death in 1644.

Career

Having been first a leading Parliamentarian
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...

 under Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....

, he captured Sir Phelim O'Neil
Felim O'Neill of Kinard
Sir Felim O'Neill of Kinard , also called Phelim MacShane O'Neill or Féilim Ó Néill , was an Irish nobleman who led the Irish Rebellion of 1641 in Ulster which began on 22 October 1641. He was a member of the Irish Catholic Confederation during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, where he fought under...

 in 1653 and executed him for rebellion and the murder of his brother Toby and whose family. In 1660, Caulfeild switched his allegiance and supported afterwards King Charles II of England, captaining a troop of horse. After the English Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...

, he took his seat in the Irish House of Lords
Irish 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:...

 and was sworn of the Privy Council of Ireland
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...

.

In 1661, Caulfeild was appointed Custos Rotulorum of Armagh and Custos Rotulorum of Tyrone, holding both offices until his death in 1671. He was rewarded the governorship of Fort Charlemont for life in July of the same year, however sold this office to The Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...

 three years later. On 8 October 1665, he was created Viscount Charlemont, in the County of Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...

.

Family

In 1653, he married Hon. Sarah Moore, second daughter of Charles Moore, 2nd Viscount Moore and had by her four sons and three daughters. She was the sister-of-law to Caulfeild's younger brother Thomas
Thomas Caulfeild
Thomas Caulfeild was the British Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia from 1715 to 1717....

. Caulfeild died in April 1671 and was buried at St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh on 25 May. His wife survived him until 1712. He was succeeded in his titles by his second and oldest surviving son William. His daughter Mary was the second wife of William Blayney, 6th Baron Blayney and his daughter Alice married firstly John, son of James Margetson
James Margetson
James Margetson was an English churchman, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh from 1663.-Life:He was a native of Drighlington in Yorkshire. He was educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge, and returned after ordination to Yorkshire, where he attracted the notice of Thomas Wentworth, then Lord...

 and secondly George Carpenter, 1st Baron Carpenter
George Carpenter, 1st Baron Carpenter
Lieutenant-General George Carpenter, 1st Baron Carpenter was a British soldier who served as Governor of Minorca and as Commander-in-chief of all the forces in Scotland...

. Caulfeild's youngest son John
John Caulfeild
Colonel John Caulfeild , styled The Honourable from birth, was an Irish soldier and politician.He was the fourth son of the 1st Viscount Charlemont and his wife Hon. Sarah Moore, second daughter of the 2nd Viscount Moore. Caulfield was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and was appointed Burgess...

 sat in the Parliament of Ireland
Parliament of Ireland
The Parliament of Ireland was a legislature that existed in Dublin from 1297 until 1800. In its early mediaeval period during the Lordship of Ireland it consisted of either two or three chambers: the House of Commons, elected by a very restricted suffrage, the House of Lords in which the lords...

.
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