Esmonde Baronets
Encyclopedia
The Esmonde Baronetcy, of Ballynastragh in the County of Wexford, is a title in the Baronetage of Ireland. It was created on 28 January 1629 for Thomas Esmonde. He raised a cavalry regiment for Charles I
and commanded a regiment during the Siege of La Rochelle
. Esmonde was the son of Sir Lawrence Esmonde, who had abandoned the Roman Catholic faith during the reign of Queen Elizabeth
and was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Esmonde
in 1632. Lord Esmonde married a Roman Catholic woman and they had a son, Thomas, the first Baronet. She feared that the boy would be raised a Protestant and ran away with him, raising him as a strict Roman Catholic. As Thomas was the child of a mixed marriage, he was not allowed to succeeded in the barony, which became extinct on his father's death in 1646. He did however gain possession of the family estates in County Wexford
.
Several of the later Baronets gained distinguished political careers. The ninth and tenth Baronets represented Wexford
and County Waterford respectively in the House of Commons
, the ninth additionally serving as High Sheriff of Wexford
in 1840. The eleventh Baronet was also a Member of Parliament as well as a Senator of the Irish Free State
. The twelfth Baronet was Cumann na nGaedheal TD
for Wexford
from 1923 to 1936. The fourteenth Baronet was Member of Parliament for Tipperary North from 1915 to 1918 and Fine Gael
TD for Wexford from 1937 to 1944 and from 1948 to 1951. The fifteenth Baronet was Fine Gael TD for Wexford from 1951 to 1973. The sixteenth Baronet was a Judge and Fine Gael TD for Wexford from 1973 to 1977. John Joseph Esmonde
, father of the fourteenth and fifteenth Baronets, was also a politician. Two of his sons from his second marriage also gained prominence. John Witham Esmonde (1907-1983) was a Captain
in the Royal Navy
while Eugene Esmonde
was a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm
and recipient of the Victoria Cross
.
The family seat is Ballynastragh, Gorey
, County Wexford
.
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
and commanded a regiment during the Siege of La Rochelle
Siege of La Rochelle
The Siege of La Rochelle was a result of a war between the French royal forces of Louis XIII of France and the Huguenots of La Rochelle in 1627-1628...
. Esmonde was the son of Sir Lawrence Esmonde, who had abandoned the Roman Catholic faith during the reign of Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
and was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Esmonde
Baron Esmonde
Baron Esmonde was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 20 May 1632 for Sir Laurence Esmonde. He had earlier renounced the Roman Catholic faith. However, he married a Roman Catholic woman, by whom he had a son, Thomas. Fearing that her son would be raised a Protestant, Esmonde's wife...
in 1632. Lord Esmonde married a Roman Catholic woman and they had a son, Thomas, the first Baronet. She feared that the boy would be raised a Protestant and ran away with him, raising him as a strict Roman Catholic. As Thomas was the child of a mixed marriage, he was not allowed to succeeded in the barony, which became extinct on his father's death in 1646. He did however gain possession of the family estates in County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
.
Several of the later Baronets gained distinguished political careers. The ninth and tenth Baronets represented Wexford
Wexford Borough (UK Parliament constituency)
Wexford Borough was a United Kingdom Parliament constituency, in Ireland, returning one Member of Parliament . It was an original constituency represented in Parliament when the Union of Great Britain and Ireland took effect on 1 January 1801....
and County Waterford respectively in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
, the ninth additionally serving as High Sheriff of Wexford
High Sheriff of Wexford
The High Sheriff of Wexford was the British Crown’s judicial representative in County Wexford, Ireland from the 16th century until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Irish Free State and replaced by the office of Wexford County Sheriff. The sheriff had judicial, electoral, ceremonial...
in 1840. The eleventh Baronet was also a Member of Parliament as well as a Senator of the Irish Free State
Seanad Éireann (Irish Free State)
Seanad Éireann was the upper house of the Oireachtas of the Irish Free State from 1922–1936. It has also been known simply as the Senate, or as the First Seanad. The Senate was established under the 1922 Constitution of the Irish Free State but a number of constitutional amendments were...
. The twelfth Baronet was Cumann na nGaedheal TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
for Wexford
Wexford (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Wexford is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
from 1923 to 1936. The fourteenth Baronet was Member of Parliament for Tipperary North from 1915 to 1918 and Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
TD for Wexford from 1937 to 1944 and from 1948 to 1951. The fifteenth Baronet was Fine Gael TD for Wexford from 1951 to 1973. The sixteenth Baronet was a Judge and Fine Gael TD for Wexford from 1973 to 1977. John Joseph Esmonde
John Joseph Esmonde
Dr John Joseph Esmonde LRCSI, , of Drominagh, Borrisokane, County Tipperary, Ireland, was an Irish nationalist MP for North Tipperary 1910–1915....
, father of the fourteenth and fifteenth Baronets, was also a politician. Two of his sons from his second marriage also gained prominence. John Witham Esmonde (1907-1983) was a Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
while Eugene Esmonde
Eugene Esmonde
Lieutenant Commander Eugene Esmonde VC DSO, F/Lt, RAF, Lt-Cdr RN was a distinguished pilot who was a posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy awarded to members of Commonwealth forces...
was a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
and recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
.
The family seat is Ballynastragh, Gorey
Gorey
Gorey , is a market town in north County Wexford, Ireland, situated beside the main M11 Dublin to Wexford road. The town is also connected to the railway network along the same route. Local newspapers include the Gorey Guardian and Gorey Echo....
, County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
.
Esmonde Baronets, of Ballynastragh (1629)
- Sir Thomas Esmonde, 1st Baronet (d. c. 1665)
- Sir Laurence Esmonde, 2nd Baronet (d. 1688)
- Sir Laurence Esmonde, 3rd Baronet (d. c. 1717)
- Sir Laurence Esmonde, 4th Baronet (d. 1738)
- Sir John Esmonde, 5th Baronet (d. 1758)
- Sir Walter Esmonde, 6th Baronet (d. 1766)
- Sir James Esmonde, 7th Baronet (1701-1766)
- Sir Thomas Esmonde, 8th Baronet (d. 1803)
- Sir Thomas Esmonde, 9th Baronet (1786-1868)
- Sir John Esmonde, 10th Baronet (1826-1876)
- Sir Thomas Henry Grattan Esmonde, 11th BaronetSir Thomas Esmonde, 11th BaronetSir Thomas Henry Grattan Esmonde, 11th Baronet, was an Irish Home Rule nationalist politician.Esmonde was elected Irish Parliamentary Party MP for the constituencies South Dublin 1885–1892, West Kerry 1892–1900 and North Wexford 1900–1918 in the House of Commons of the United...
(1862-1935) - Sir Osmond Thomas Grattan Esmonde, 12th Baronet (1896-1936)
- Sir Laurence Grattan Esmonde, 13th Baronet (1863-1943)
- Sir John Lymbrick Esmonde, 14th BaronetSir John Esmonde, 14th BaronetSir John Lymbrick Esmonde, 14th Baronet was an Irish nationalist politician who served as Member of Parliament in the Parliament of the United Kingdom and later as a Teachta Dála in Dáil Éireann....
(1893-1958) - Sir Anthony Charles Esmonde, 15th Baronet (1899-1981)
- Sir John Henry Grattan Esmonde, 16th BaronetSir John Esmonde, 16th BaronetSir John Henry Grattan Esmonde, 16th Baronet of the Esmonde Baronets, was an Irish Fine Gael politician. A Senior Counsel by profession, Esmonde was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1973 general election as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála for the Wexford constituency...
(1928-1987) - Sir Thomas Francis Grattan Esmonde, 17th Baronet (b. 1960)