William Clements, 3rd Earl of Leitrim
Encyclopedia
William Sydney Clements, 3rd Earl of Leitrim (15 October 1806 – 2 April 1878) was an Anglo-Irish nobleman and landlord.
Born in Dublin, he was educated at Sandhurst
and was commissioned an Ensign
in the 43rd Foot in 1824. In 1831 he was promoted Captain
, having served in Portugal
between 1826 and 1827, and that same year he was appointed an aide-de-camp
to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
. In 1835 he transferred to the 51st Foot. In 1839, on the death of his elder brother, he became known as Viscount Clements, and also succeeded him as a Member of Parliament
for County Leitrim
, a seat he held until 1847.
On his father's death in 1854, Clements succeeded him as 3rd Earl. In 1855 he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and subsequently retired from the British Army
. Over the next two decades, his overbearing behaviour as a landlord brought him much hatred from his tenants, Catholic
and Protestant
alike, whom he evicted with equal enthusiasm. He was deeply opposed to Gladstone's
Irish Land Act of 1870, and was one of eight peers
to protest against the legislation when it reached the House of Lords
. Amongst those he also quarrelled with were the Presbyterian
minister of Milford, County Donegal
, and even the Lord Lieutenant himself, the Earl of Carlisle, who removed him from his position as a justice of the peace
for Counties
Leitrim, Donegal
and Galway
.
In April 1878, after surviving various attempts on his life, Lord Leitrim was murdered along with his clerk and driver while on his way to his residence in Milford. He was buried in Dublin during scenes of great agitation, and despite the offer of a large reward, his assassins (Thomas and Patrick McGranaghan) were never apprehended. Other historians name them as Michael McElwee and Neil Sheils from Fanad
.
A monument with a cross was set up at Kindrum in 1960 honoring McElwee, Shiels, and Michael Heraghty as the men whose actions,"Ended the tyranny of landlordism".
Born in Dublin, he was educated at Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
and was commissioned an Ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the 43rd Foot in 1824. In 1831 he was promoted Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
, having served in 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...
between 1826 and 1827, and that same year he was appointed an aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
. In 1835 he transferred to the 51st Foot. In 1839, on the death of his elder brother, he became known as Viscount Clements, and also succeeded him as a 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 County Leitrim
Leitrim (UK Parliament constituency)
Leitrim was a Parliamentary constituency in Ireland, represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It returned two Members of Parliament from 1801 to 1885 and one from 1918 to 1922.- 1801-1885 :...
, a seat he held until 1847.
On his father's death in 1854, Clements succeeded him as 3rd Earl. In 1855 he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and subsequently retired from the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. Over the next two decades, his overbearing behaviour as a landlord brought him much hatred from his tenants, Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
alike, whom he evicted with equal enthusiasm. He was deeply opposed to Gladstone's
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
Irish Land Act of 1870, and was one of eight peers
Peers
Peers is a surname, and may refer to:* Donald Peers* Edgar Allison Peers, an English academician* Gavin Peers* Kerry Peers* Michael Peers* Teddy Peers , Welsh international footballer...
to protest against the legislation when it reached the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. Amongst those he also quarrelled with were the Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
minister of Milford, County Donegal
Milford, County Donegal
Milford or Millford, historically called Ballynagalloglagh , is a small town and townland in County Donegal, Ireland. The population at the 2006 census was 829.-History and name:...
, and even the Lord Lieutenant himself, the Earl of Carlisle, who removed him from his position as a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Counties
Counties of Ireland
The counties of Ireland are sub-national divisions used for the purposes of geographic demarcation and local government. Closely related to the county is the County corporate which covered towns or cities which were deemed to be important enough to be independent from their counties. A county...
Leitrim, Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
and 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...
.
In April 1878, after surviving various attempts on his life, Lord Leitrim was murdered along with his clerk and driver while on his way to his residence in Milford. He was buried in Dublin during scenes of great agitation, and despite the offer of a large reward, his assassins (Thomas and Patrick McGranaghan) were never apprehended. Other historians name them as Michael McElwee and Neil Sheils from Fanad
Fanad
Fanad is a peninsula that lies between Lough Swilly and Mulroy Bay on the north coast of County Donegal in Ireland. It encompasses the parishes of Clondavaddog, Killygarvan and parts of Tullyfern and Aughinish. The peninsula includes the towns and villages of Milford, Kerrykeel , Tamney,...
.
A monument with a cross was set up at Kindrum in 1960 honoring McElwee, Shiels, and Michael Heraghty as the men whose actions,"Ended the tyranny of landlordism".