William Burton Conyngham (1733 – 31 May 1796), politician and improver, was born William Burton, the second son of Francis Burton

Francis Burton

Francis Burton , from Buncraggy, County Clare, was an Irish politician.He was a Member of Parliament for Coleraine from 1721 until 1727 and sat subsequently in the Irish House of Commons for Clare from 1727 until his death in 17434.-Family:He married the sister of Henry Conyngham, 1st Earl Conyngham...

 and Mary Conyngham, sister of Henry Conyngham, 1st Earl Conyngham

Henry Conyngham, 1st Earl Conyngham

Henry Conyngham, 1st Earl Conyngham PC was a British nobleman and politician.An absentee landlord, he owned extensive properties in counties Meath and Donegal, while spending most of his time abroad...

. In 1781, his name was changed by Royal Licence to inherit the estates of his uncle.

Conyngham was a longtime 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,...

. From 1761 to 1777 he represented Newtown Limavady

Newtown Limavady (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

Newtown Limavady was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-1692–1801:...

, from 1776 to 1777 as well as from 1783 to 1790 Killybegs

Killybegs (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

Killybegs was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Killybegs was not represented.-1689–1801:...

. Between 1776 and 1783 and again between 1790 and 1796, he sat 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...

 for Ennis

Ennis (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

Ennis was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Ennis was represented with two members.-Members of Parliament, 1613–1801:**1613 John Thornton, Doonass....

.

Conyngham planned a settlement on the previously unpopulated island of Rutland, Ireland

Rutland, Ireland

Rutland Island or Inishmacadurn is an island in County Donegal, and an electoral and census reporting district covering it, surrounding islands and part of the mainland. The island itself has no permanent inhabitants, but the district, which includes Burtonport and its environs, had 1,428...

, having installed, from 1784, a street of residences and business premises, post office, school house and a fish landing and processing facility. The island remained inhabited into the 1960s.

From 1793 Conyngham was one of the Commissioners of the Treasury for Ireland.

Conyngham is most famous today for having presented the Trinity College Harp

Trinity College Harp

The Trinity College harp is a medieval musical instrument currently displayed in the long room at Trinity College Dublin. It is an early Irish harp or wire strung cláirseach...

 to Trinity College Dublin; from 1922 the harp was used as the model for the insignia of the Irish Free State

Irish Free State

The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...

 and the Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

. It was also registered as a Guinness

Guinness

Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...

trade mark from 1862.