Earl of Belvedere
Encyclopedia
The title Earl of Belvedere (alternative spelling: Earl of Belvidere) was created in 1756 in the Peerage of Ireland
. The associated titles were Baron Bellfield (1737) and Viscount Bellfield (1751). All the titles became extinct in 1814.
The 1st Earl
of Belvedere was Colonel Robert Rochfort (1708–1774) who came from a distinguished English family settled in Ireland. In 1738 Rochfort had been created Baron Belfield and in 1751 was elevated to Viscount Belfield before he finally received the new earldom. He went on to become Muster-Master-General of the Irish Army
in 1764.
Despite the apparent talents, or popularity at court, which led to his fairly rapid rise, Rochfort is probably best known (even notorious) for the treatment of his young wife Mary whom he married in 1736 when he was 28 and she was 16. Fairly early in his marriage (around 1743) he heard rumours that Mary had been unfaithful to him with his brother Arthur. As punishment, Robert had Mary locked up in the family house in Gaulstown, alone apart from her servants, for the rest of his life - thirty-one years . After twelve years of this captivity she had attempted to escape but was caught and subjected to even harsher treatment. When she was finally released by order of her son after his father's death she apparently took to wandering the house and talking to portraits as if they were real people. Her voice had assumed a peculiar quality (like a shrill whisper) and she was obviously profoundly damaged by her experience. She did not survive long after her release.
She was not the only one to suffer though. The enraged Robert took his brother Arthur to court and was awarded the then huge sum of 2,000 pounds in damages. Arthur, unable to pay, fled the country. When Arthur saw fit to return to Ireland
he was thrown into the Marshalsea debtors prison Dublin, where he died.
During his life the 1st Earl commissioned Belvedere House
, thought to be designed by Richard Castles but James Gibbs is most likely to have been the architect. It is still a well admired piece of Georgian architecture
and is now run by the Westmeath County Council. Roberts achievement with Belvedere House could be considered marred by his spitefulness though as he had a 'folly', some 180 feet tall, built simply to obscure the view to the house of his brother George Tudenham House
(his godfather by proxy) became the Second Earl of Belvedere in 1774 and despite the family holding vast estates in Westmeath chose to reside in Dublin; probably not surprising given the unhappy associations of his other holdings. He bought the land for his town house the year he succeeded to the Earldom, and also married Dorothea Bloomfield.
Politically active, George was a violent opponent of the Act of Union
but was eventually wooed by money to vote in favour. He did nevertheless continue to reside in Dublin after the Act was passed. Following the death of his first wife he married Jane McKay and died in 1814.
His greatest legacy though is probably the town house he had built. He hired the well known architect Michael Stapleton
to build it and it is one of the best surviving examples of Georgian architecture
in Ireland.
, school to the writers James Joyce
and Austin Clarke
, the stained glass artist Harry Clarke
, the patriot and poet Joseph Plunkett who was executed in 1916, the poet Donagh MacDonagh
, Volunteer Kevin Barry
, and latter-day press and bean baron, Tony O'Reilly
.
Upon George Augustus' death in 1814 the title became extinct and has yet to be revived. Although the title does not survive the military tradition which saw the first Earl honoured for his services does seem to have lived on as, in 1915, one George Arthur Boyd-Rochfort, by then a true Irishman, was awarded the Victoria Cross (the UK's highest award for bravery) for service in France (Cambrin).
in Westmeath was named after the grandfather of the 1st Earl of Belvedere - also Robert Rochfort
- (1651–1727).
Also related to Rochfort's who were landed Gentry in County Carlow, who left to start a new life in Broad Marston, near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warks,England in 1922.
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
. The associated titles were Baron Bellfield (1737) and Viscount Bellfield (1751). All the titles became extinct in 1814.
Detailed history of the title and holders
The earldom of Belvedere, created in 1756, was held by the Rochfort familyRochfort family
The Rochfort family came to Ireland in the thirteenth century and acquired substantial lands in counties Kildare, Meath and Westmeath. Several members of the family were prominent in law and politics. They gained the title Earl of Belvedere, and gave their name to the village of Rochfortbridge...
The 1st Earl
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
of Belvedere was Colonel Robert Rochfort (1708–1774) who came from a distinguished English family settled in Ireland. In 1738 Rochfort had been created Baron Belfield and in 1751 was elevated to Viscount Belfield before he finally received the new earldom. He went on to become Muster-Master-General of the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
in 1764.
The 1st Earl and his unfortunate marriage
She was not the only one to suffer though. The enraged Robert took his brother Arthur to court and was awarded the then huge sum of 2,000 pounds in damages. Arthur, unable to pay, fled the country. When Arthur saw fit to return to Ireland
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...
he was thrown into the Marshalsea debtors prison Dublin, where he died.
During his life the 1st Earl commissioned Belvedere House
Belvedere House and Gardens
Belvedere House and Gardens is a famous country house located near Mullingar, in county Westmeath, Ireland. Its gardens which include The Jealous Wall and many hectares of forest, attract thousands of visitors annually for their beauty...
, thought to be designed by Richard Castles but James Gibbs is most likely to have been the architect. It is still a well admired piece of Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
and is now run by the Westmeath County Council. Roberts achievement with Belvedere House could be considered marred by his spitefulness though as he had a 'folly', some 180 feet tall, built simply to obscure the view to the house of his brother George Tudenham House
The 2nd and last Earl
George Augustus Rochfort, Robert's second son, who had been named after King George IIIGeorge III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
(his godfather by proxy) became the Second Earl of Belvedere in 1774 and despite the family holding vast estates in Westmeath chose to reside in Dublin; probably not surprising given the unhappy associations of his other holdings. He bought the land for his town house the year he succeeded to the Earldom, and also married Dorothea Bloomfield.
Politically active, George was a violent opponent of the Act of Union
Act of Union 1800
The Acts of Union 1800 describe two complementary Acts, namely:* the Union with Ireland Act 1800 , an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain, and...
but was eventually wooed by money to vote in favour. He did nevertheless continue to reside in Dublin after the Act was passed. Following the death of his first wife he married Jane McKay and died in 1814.
His greatest legacy though is probably the town house he had built. He hired the well known architect Michael Stapleton
Michael Stapleton
Michael Stapleton is regarded as having been the most skilled stuccodore working in the neoclassical or "Adam" style that dominated Dublin interior decoration in the final decades of the 18th century.-Life:Stapleton was born in Dublin, the son of George Stapleton, who may have been a plasterer by...
to build it and it is one of the best surviving examples of Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
in Ireland.
The Rochfort family without Earldom
After the Earl's death his wife remarried and bore a son whom she christened George Augustus Rochfort Boyd. He chose to live on the estate in Westmeath, which had no unhappy associations for him, and the townhouse fell into disrepair. Boyd sold it to a man who then passed it on to his brother's religious order the Jesuits. The former Belvedere House, Dublin is now part of the renowned teaching establishment Belvedere CollegeBelvedere College
Belvedere College SJ is a private secondary school for boys located on Great Denmark Street, Dublin, Ireland. It is also known as St. Francis Xavier's College....
, school to the writers James Joyce
James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
and Austin Clarke
Austin Clarke
Austin Ardinel Chesterfield Clarke, is a Canadian novelist, essayist and short story writer who lives in Toronto, Ontario. Born in St...
, the stained glass artist Harry Clarke
Harry Clarke
Harry Clarke was an Irish stained glass artist and book illustrator. Born in Dublin, he was a leading figure in the Irish Arts and Crafts Movement.- History :...
, the patriot and poet Joseph Plunkett who was executed in 1916, the poet Donagh MacDonagh
Donagh MacDonagh
Donagh MacDonagh was an Irish writer, judge, presenter, broadcaster, and playwright.-His private life:He was born in Dublin and was still a young child when his father Thomas MacDonagh, an Irish nationalist and poet, was executed in 1916.Tragedy struck again when his mother died of a heart attack...
, Volunteer Kevin Barry
Kevin Barry
Kevin Gerard Barry was the first Irish republican to be executed by the British since the leaders of the Easter Rising. Barry was sentenced to death for his part in an IRA operation which resulted in the deaths of three British soldiers.Barry's death is considered a watershed moment in the Irish...
, and latter-day press and bean baron, Tony O'Reilly
Tony O'Reilly
Sir Anthony Joseph Francis O'Reilly is an Irish businessman and former international rugby union player. He is known for his involvement the Independent News & Media Group, which he led from 1973 to 2009, and as former CEO and Chairman of the H.J. Heinz Company. He was the leading shareholder of...
.
Upon George Augustus' death in 1814 the title became extinct and has yet to be revived. Although the title does not survive the military tradition which saw the first Earl honoured for his services does seem to have lived on as, in 1915, one George Arthur Boyd-Rochfort, by then a true Irishman, was awarded the Victoria Cross (the UK's highest award for bravery) for service in France (Cambrin).
Earls of Belvedere (1756–1814)
- Robert Rochfort, 1st Earl of Belvedere (1708–1774)
- George Rochfort, 2nd Earl of Belvedere (1738–1814)
Additional Information
The village of RochfortbridgeRochfortbridge
Rochfortbridge is a village in County Westmeath, Ireland, with a population of 1,473 persons. It is located at the intersection of the R400 and the N6 national primary route, which recently bypassed the village....
in Westmeath was named after the grandfather of the 1st Earl of Belvedere - also Robert Rochfort
Robert Rochfort
Robert Rochfort was attorney-general, judge and speaker of the Irish House of Commons.Rochfort was probably born on 9 December 1652. He was the second son of Lieutenant-Colonel James "Prime-Iron " Rochfort , a Cromwellian soldier, and Thomasina Pigot...
- (1651–1727).
Also related to Rochfort's who were landed Gentry in County Carlow, who left to start a new life in Broad Marston, near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warks,England in 1922.
External links
- The Howard Bury Papers (T/3069) (Public Record Office of Northern Ireland)
- Some history of Belvedere, County Westmeath
- History and Poetry of the Earl of Belvedere