Hubert de Burgh-Canning, 2nd Marquess of Clanricarde
Encyclopedia
Hubert George de Burgh-Canning, 2nd Marquess of Clanricarde (30 November 1832 – 12 April 1916 London
), was an Anglo-Irish
ascendancy nobleman
and politician.
He was the son of Ulick de Burgh, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde
and his wife Harriet, daughter of British Prime Minister George Canning
. He was unmourned in Ireland
, where he had a reputation as one of the worst and most repressive absentee landlords in the country. His estate in Portumna
, County Galway
, comprising 52000 acres (21,043.7 ha), yielded 25,000 sterling yearly in rents paid by 1,900 tenants, and was a main target during the 1887 Plan of Campaign
fought for fair rents by the Irish Parliamentary Party
. Clanricarde's opposition was so obdurate that a minister commented: "... what right has Clanricarde to be treated better than a lunatic or an orphan?" The estate papers contain letters from the Earl which provide ample evidence of his heartless attitude. His land agent John Blake was murdered in 1882 and in 1888 the Earl wrote to Chief Secretary Balfour "the western Irish cannot be kept up to their contracts without the threat of eviction." From 1891 onwards the Congested Districts Board
attempted to compulsorily purchase the estate but were not successful until 1915.
On his death all his peerages became extinct, save the second creation of the earldom of Clanricarde
, which passed by special remainder to the 6th Marquess of Sligo.
He was buried in Highgate Cemetery in Highgate
, London
.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
), was an Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
ascendancy nobleman
Protestant Ascendancy
The Protestant Ascendancy, usually known in Ireland simply as the Ascendancy, is a phrase used when referring to the political, economic, and social domination of Ireland by a minority of great landowners, Protestant clergy, and professionals, all members of the Established Church during the 17th...
and politician.
He was the son of Ulick de Burgh, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde
Ulick de Burgh, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde
Ulick John de Burgh, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde KP, PC , styled Lord Dunkellin until 1808 and known as The Earl of Clanricarde between 1808 and 1825, was a British Whig politician.-Background and education:...
and his wife Harriet, daughter of British Prime Minister George Canning
George Canning
George Canning PC, FRS was a British statesman and politician who served as Foreign Secretary and briefly Prime Minister.-Early life: 1770–1793:...
. He was unmourned in 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...
, where he had a reputation as one of the worst and most repressive absentee landlords in the country. His estate in Portumna
Portumna
Portumna is a market town in the south-east of County Galway, Ireland, on the border with County Tipperary. The town is located to the west of the point where the River Shannon enters Lough Derg. This historic crossing point over the River Shannon between counties Tipperary and Galway has a long...
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, comprising 52000 acres (21,043.7 ha), yielded 25,000 sterling yearly in rents paid by 1,900 tenants, and was a main target during the 1887 Plan of Campaign
Plan of Campaign
The Plan of Campaign was a stratagem adopted in Ireland between 1886 and 1891, co-ordinated by Irish politicians for the benefit of tenant farmers, against mainly absentee and rack-rent landlords. It was launched to counter agricultural distress caused by the continual depression in prices of dairy...
fought for fair rents by the Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
. Clanricarde's opposition was so obdurate that a minister commented: "... what right has Clanricarde to be treated better than a lunatic or an orphan?" The estate papers contain letters from the Earl which provide ample evidence of his heartless attitude. His land agent John Blake was murdered in 1882 and in 1888 the Earl wrote to Chief Secretary Balfour "the western Irish cannot be kept up to their contracts without the threat of eviction." From 1891 onwards the Congested Districts Board
Congested Districts Board
Congested Districts Board may mean or refer to:*the Congested Districts Board for Ireland*the Congested Districts Board...
attempted to compulsorily purchase the estate but were not successful until 1915.
On his death all his peerages became extinct, save the second creation of the earldom of Clanricarde
Earl of Clanricarde
Earl of Clanricarde is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland, first in 1543 and again in 1800. The former creation became extinct in 1916 while the 1800 creation is still extant and held by the Marquess of Sligo since 1916....
, which passed by special remainder to the 6th Marquess of Sligo.
He was buried in Highgate Cemetery in Highgate
Highgate
Highgate is an area of North London on the north-eastern corner of Hampstead Heath.Highgate is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. It has an active conservation body, the Highgate Society, to protect its character....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.