Eyre Massey
Encyclopedia
Eyre Massey, 1st Baron Clarina (24 May 1719–17 May 1804), was an Irish army officer. In 1800, he was made Baron Clarina
in the Peerage of Ireland
.
, and his wife Elizabeth, fourth daughter of the Right Hon. George Evans, the father of George Evans, 1st Baron Carbery
. His eldest brother was Hugh, first lord Massey. In a memoir he states that he ‘purchased a pair of colours’ in the 27th foot in 1739, and went with the regiment to the West Indies as lieutenant of the grenadiers.
The 27th foot, of which his fellow Limerickman General William Blakeney was colonel, was at Porto Bello
, with Admiral Vernon, in 1739, and the few survivors returned home in December 1740. Military records show the dates of Massey's commissions in the 27th foot as ensign, 25 January 1741. Massey served with his regiment in Scotland in 1745–1746, and was made captain-lieutenant, and captain in the regiment by the Duke of Cumberland
, apparently in 1747, captain 24 May 1751, and major 10 December 1755. In 1757 he went out to North America as a major 46th foot, of which he became lieutenant-colonel in 1758, and the year after commanded the regiment in the expedition to Niagara
, succeeding to the command of the king's troops when Brigadier-general John Prideaux was killed.
Massey states in his memoirs that as Sir William Johnson was in command of a large body of Indians, who were lukewarm in the British cause, he waived the chief command in favour of Johnson. Massey commanded in the action at La Belle-Famille
, where with five hundred of the 46th and some Indians he routed eighteen hundred French regulars and Canadians, together with five hundred Indians, taking all the French officers but one prisoner. This action took place in view of Fort Niagara
, which surrendered immediately afterwards, leaving the whole region of the Upper Ohio in possession of the English. Massey was transferred to his old regiment, the 27th Inniskillings, at his own request, and commanded the grenadiers of the army in the advance on Montreal in 1760. He commanded a battalion of grenadiers at the capture of Martinique in 1761, and at the conquest of Havana in 1762. He was several times severely wounded. He commanded the 27th at New York and Quebec in 1763–9, and afterwards in Ireland. He was appointed colonel of the regiment on 19 February 1773. As a major-general he went out to Nova Scotia
in 1776, and commanded the troops at Halifax for four years. Later he held command at Cork. A plan of his for the defence of Cork in 1780 is in British Museum (Add. MS. 33178, f. 240).
For many following years he remained unemployed. In some letters to General Sir John Vaughan about 1793–4 Massey relates his disappointments in not obtaining a command, and his vexations at the appointment by the Marquis of Buckingham, the lord-lieutenant, of ‘Popish children’ (Master Talbot, aged eight, Master Skerritt, aged nine, and others), to ensigncies in his regiment. Later in 1794 he obtained the Cork command, which he held until his promotion to full general in 1796. The command had difficulties with new regiments, which the government persisted in ‘drafting’ in defiance of their recruiting engagements. He quelled a mutiny of two thousand of these young troops at Spike Island
in 1795.
Massey was raised to the peerage of Ireland on 27 December 1800, under the title of Baron Clarina of Elm Park, co. Limerick. He died a full general, colonel of the 27th Inniskilling foot, marshal of the army in Ireland, and governor of Limerick and of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, on 17 May 1804, aged 85.
, by whom he had four children. Two of his successors in the title—his second and only surviving son, Nathaniel William, second baron, who died a major-general on the staff in the West Indies in 1810, and his great-grandson, the fourth baron (died 1897), who served in the 95th regiment in the Crimea and the Indian mutiny—rose to general's rank.
His elder brother was Hugh Massy, 1st Baron Massy
(1700-88).
Baron Clarina
Baron Clarina, of Elm in the County of Limerick, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 27 December 1800 for General Eyre Massey...
in the Peerage of Ireland
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,...
.
Life
Born on 24 May 1719, he was fifth son of Colonel Hugh Massey of Duntrileague, County LimerickCounty Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
, and his wife Elizabeth, fourth daughter of the Right Hon. George Evans, the father of George Evans, 1st Baron Carbery
George Evans, 1st Baron Carbery
George Evans, 1st Baron Carbery PC was an Irish politician and peer.Evans was the son of George Evans, of Bulgaddon Hall, County Limerick and his wife Mary . He was elected to the Irish House of Commons for Limerick County in 1707, a seat he held until 1715...
. His eldest brother was Hugh, first lord Massey. In a memoir he states that he ‘purchased a pair of colours’ in the 27th foot in 1739, and went with the regiment to the West Indies as lieutenant of the grenadiers.
The 27th foot, of which his fellow Limerickman General William Blakeney was colonel, was at Porto Bello
Porto Bello
Porto Bello was the hunting lodge of the last Royal Governor of the British Colony of Virginia, John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore. Dunmore fled to Porto Bello to escape the early stages of the American Revolution in Williamsburg, Virginia...
, with Admiral Vernon, in 1739, and the few survivors returned home in December 1740. Military records show the dates of Massey's commissions in the 27th foot as ensign, 25 January 1741. Massey served with his regiment in Scotland in 1745–1746, and was made captain-lieutenant, and captain in the regiment by the Duke of Cumberland
Duke of Cumberland
Duke of Cumberland is a peerage title that was conferred upon junior members of the British Royal Family, named after the county of Cumberland.-History:...
, apparently in 1747, captain 24 May 1751, and major 10 December 1755. In 1757 he went out to North America as a major 46th foot, of which he became lieutenant-colonel in 1758, and the year after commanded the regiment in the expedition to Niagara
Niagara River
The Niagara River flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the Province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States. There are differing theories as to the origin of the name of the river...
, succeeding to the command of the king's troops when Brigadier-general John Prideaux was killed.
Massey states in his memoirs that as Sir William Johnson was in command of a large body of Indians, who were lukewarm in the British cause, he waived the chief command in favour of Johnson. Massey commanded in the action at La Belle-Famille
Battle of La Belle-Famille
The Battle of La Belle-Famille occurred on July 24, 1759, during the French and Indian War along the Niagara River portage trail. François-Marie Le Marchand de Lignery's French relief force for the besieged French garrison at Fort Niagara fell into Eyre Massey's British and Iroquois ambush...
, where with five hundred of the 46th and some Indians he routed eighteen hundred French regulars and Canadians, together with five hundred Indians, taking all the French officers but one prisoner. This action took place in view of Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built to protect the interests of New France in North America. It is located near Youngstown, New York, on the eastern bank of the Niagara River at its mouth, on Lake Ontario.-Origin:...
, which surrendered immediately afterwards, leaving the whole region of the Upper Ohio in possession of the English. Massey was transferred to his old regiment, the 27th Inniskillings, at his own request, and commanded the grenadiers of the army in the advance on Montreal in 1760. He commanded a battalion of grenadiers at the capture of Martinique in 1761, and at the conquest of Havana in 1762. He was several times severely wounded. He commanded the 27th at New York and Quebec in 1763–9, and afterwards in Ireland. He was appointed colonel of the regiment on 19 February 1773. As a major-general he went out to Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
in 1776, and commanded the troops at Halifax for four years. Later he held command at Cork. A plan of his for the defence of Cork in 1780 is in British Museum (Add. MS. 33178, f. 240).
For many following years he remained unemployed. In some letters to General Sir John Vaughan about 1793–4 Massey relates his disappointments in not obtaining a command, and his vexations at the appointment by the Marquis of Buckingham, the lord-lieutenant, of ‘Popish children’ (Master Talbot, aged eight, Master Skerritt, aged nine, and others), to ensigncies in his regiment. Later in 1794 he obtained the Cork command, which he held until his promotion to full general in 1796. The command had difficulties with new regiments, which the government persisted in ‘drafting’ in defiance of their recruiting engagements. He quelled a mutiny of two thousand of these young troops at Spike Island
Spike Island
Spike Island may refer to one of several places:Australia:* Spike Island England:* Spike Island, Bristol* Spike Island, Cheshire, an area of Halton* Spike Island, former name for Northumberland Heath, London...
in 1795.
Massey was raised to the peerage of Ireland on 27 December 1800, under the title of Baron Clarina of Elm Park, co. Limerick. He died a full general, colonel of the 27th Inniskilling foot, marshal of the army in Ireland, and governor of Limerick and of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, on 17 May 1804, aged 85.
Family
Massey married Catherine, sister of Robert Clements, 1st Earl of LeitrimRobert Clements, 1st Earl of Leitrim
Robert Clements, 1st Earl of Leitrim was an Irish nobleman and politician.Son of Cavan Borough MP Nathaniel Clements, Deputy Vice Treasurer and Teller of the Irish Exchequer, Clements served as High Sheriff of Leitrim in 1759, having been the previous year appointed as Controller of the Great and...
, by whom he had four children. Two of his successors in the title—his second and only surviving son, Nathaniel William, second baron, who died a major-general on the staff in the West Indies in 1810, and his great-grandson, the fourth baron (died 1897), who served in the 95th regiment in the Crimea and the Indian mutiny—rose to general's rank.
His elder brother was Hugh Massy, 1st Baron Massy
Hugh Massy, 1st Baron Massy
Hugh Massy, 1st Baron Massy was an Irish peer and politician.Massy was the son of Colonel Hugh Massy and the elder brother of General Eyre Massey, 1st Baron Clarina. He was a Member of the Irish House of Commons for Limerick County between 1759 and 1776...
(1700-88).