James Agar, 1st Viscount Clifden (25 March 1734 – 1 January 1789) was an Irish peer

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,...

 and politician.

He was the second son of Henry Agar, a former MP for Gowran, and Anne Ellis, and probably born at Gowran Castle. In addition to being a Member of Parliament (MP) for Gowran

Gowran (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

Gowran was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Gowran was represented with two members.-1689–1801:...

, for which he sat three times, from 1753 to 1761, again from 1768 to 1769 and finally from 1776 to 1777, he controlled three other borough seats through the strength of his family holdings. Between 1761 and 1776, he represented Kilkenny County

Kilkenny County (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

Kilkenny County was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Kilkenny County was represented with two members.-1689–1801:...

 and between 1768 and 1769 Thomastown

Thomastown (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

Thomastown was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800. Following the Act of Union 1800 the borough was disfranchised.-1692–1801:-See also:*Thomastown, a town in County Kilkenny*Irish House of Commons...

. He held the post of joint Postmaster General of Ireland

Postmasters General of Ireland

The Postmasters General of Ireland, held by two people simultaneously, was a new appointment set up as part of the establishment of the Irish Post Office independent from that of Great Britain, by the Act 23, 24 George III in 1784. The post lasted nearly fifty years...

 between 1784 until 1789 with William Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby

William Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby

William Brabazon Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby , PC was a leading Irish Whig politician, being a member of the Irish House of Commons, and after 1800, of the United Kingdom parliament. Ponsonby was the son of the Hon...

. Agar's younger brother was Charles Agar

Charles Agar

Charles Agar was an English cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler who played for Leicestershire. He was born in Rothley and died in Southfields....

, first Earl of Normanton

Earl of Normanton

Earl of Normanton is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1806 for Charles Agar, 1st Viscount Somerton, Archbishop of Dublin. He had already been created Baron Somerton, of Somerton in the County of Kilkenny, in 1795 and Viscount Somerton, of Somerton in the County of Kilkenny, in...

 (1736–1809), who became the Church of Ireland

Church of Ireland

The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...

 archbishop

Archbishop

An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...

 of Dublin.