William Caulfeild, 1st Viscount Charlemont

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William Caulfeild, 1st Viscount Charlemont PC (Ire) (1624 – April 1671)[1] was an Irish politician and peer.

Background[]

Born in Donamon Castle in County Roscommon, he was third son of and his wife Mary King, daughter of Sir John King and Catherine Drury.[2] His two older brothers Toby Caulfeild, 3rd Baron Caulfeild and died both without male issue and he succeeded to the barony on the latter's death in 1644.[3]

Career[]

Having been first a leading Parliamentarian under Oliver Cromwell, he captured Sir Phelim O'Neil in 1653 and executed him for rebellion and the murder of his brother Toby and his family.[4] In 1660, Caulfeild switched his allegiance and supported afterwards King Charles II of England, captaining a troop of horse.[5] After the English Restoration, he took his seat in the Irish House of Lords and was sworn of the Privy Council of Ireland.[4]

In 1661, Caulfeild was appointed Custos Rotulorum of County Armagh and Custos Rotulorum of Tyrone, holding both offices until his death in 1671.[5] He was rewarded the governorship of for life in July of the same year, however sold this office to The Crown three years later.[4] On 8 October 1665, he was created Viscount Charlemont, in the County of Armagh.[6]

Family[]

In 1653, he married Hon. Sarah Moore, second daughter of Charles Moore, 2nd Viscount Moore of Drogheda and Alice Loftus and had by her four sons and three daughters.[7] She was the sister-of-law to Caulfeild's younger brother Thomas.[5] Caulfeild died in April 1671 and was buried at St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh on 25 May.[5] His wife survived him until 1712.[5] He was succeeded in his titles by his second and oldest surviving son William.[3] A younger son Toby produced several notable descendants, including his grandson John, Archdeacon of Kilmore and John's son, General James Caulfeild. His daughter Mary was the second wife of and his daughter Alice[8] married firstly John, son of James Margetson and secondly George Carpenter, 1st Baron Carpenter.[5] Caulfeild's youngest son John sat in the Parliament of Ireland.[5]

Memorial[]

There is a memorial on the west wall of the north transept of St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh.[9]

References[]

  1. ^ "Leigh Rayment - Peerage". Archived from the original on 8 June 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ "ThePeerage - William Caulfeild, 1st Viscount Charlemont". Retrieved 27 February 2007.
  3. ^ a b Debrett, John (1828). Debrett's Peerage of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. vol. II (17th ed.). London: G. Woodfall. p. 673. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help)
  4. ^ a b c Thomas Finlayson Henderson (1887). "Caulfeild, William (d.1671)" . In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 9. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Lodge, John (1789). Mervyn Archdall (ed.). The Peerage of Ireland or A Genealogical History of the Present Nobility of that Kingdom. Vol. vol. I. Dublin: James Moore. pp. 142–146. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help)
  6. ^ Beatson, Robert (1788). A Political Index to The Histories of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. vol. II. London: Lonman, Hurst, Rees and Orme. p. 111. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help)
  7. ^ Burke, John (1832). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire. Vol. vol. I (4th ed.). London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley. p. 229. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help)
  8. ^ "Portrait of Alice Caulfeild by Joseph Highmore (1692–1780)". Christies.
  9. ^ "Funary Monuments & Memorials in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh" Curl, J.S. pp95-98: Whitstable; Historical Publications; 2013 ISBN 978-1-905286-48-5
Honorary titles
Preceded by
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1661–1671 		Succeeded by
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Preceded by
?
 Custos Rotulorum of Tyrone
1661–1671
Peerage of Ireland
New creation Viscount Charlemont
1665–1671 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
 Baron Caulfeild
1644–1671
Retrieved from ""