James Roche, 3rd Baron Fermoy
Encyclopedia
James Boothby Burke Roche, 3rd Baron Fermoy (28 July 1852 – 30 October 1920) was an Irish peer
and a Member of Parliament
(MP) in the United Kingdom House of Commons. He was the great-grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales
.
in 1852, the son of Edmond Burke Roche
, and his wife Eliza Caroline née Boothby. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge
.
He visited the United States
where he met and married the heiress Frances Ellen Work on 22 September 1880 at Christ Church, New York City
. The marriage was not a success and they separated in December 1886. She was granted a divorce on the grounds of desertion on 3 March 1891 at Wilmington, Delaware
.
They had four children, twin sons and two daughters:
In 1896 he stood as an Anti-Parnellite Nationalist
candidate in the Kerry East by-election
for a seat in the Parliament
of the United Kingdom
. The Nationalists had split into two factions after the party leader, Charles Stewart Parnell
was named as co-respondent in a divorce. Roche was supported initially by both the Parnellites and the Anti-Parnellites
, until it was revealed that he was himself divorced. During the campaign, Roche denied publicly that he knew of the divorce or that he had deserted his wife and children. Although he went on to win the seat, the opposing Unionist
candidate gained the highest vote ever recorded for a Unionist candidate in Kerry East
. He served one term and did not stand in the following general election
in 1900.
On 1 September 1920 he succeeded his brother as Baron Fermoy
. Just two months later he died at Artillery Mansions, Westminster
, London
. He was buried at St Marylebone Cemetery, Finchley
on 3 November 1920.
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 a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) in the United Kingdom House of Commons. He was the great-grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
.
Biography
He was born at Twyford Abbey, MiddlesexMiddlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
in 1852, the son of Edmond Burke Roche
Edmond Roche, 1st Baron Fermoy
Edmond Burke Roche, 1st Baron Fermoy was an Irish Member of Parliament.Fermoy was the son of Edward Roche and Margaret Honoria Curtain. He was elected to the House of Commons for County Cork in 1837, a seat he held until 1855, and then represented Marylebone between 1859 and 1865. In 1855 he was...
, and his wife Eliza Caroline née Boothby. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
.
He visited the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he met and married the heiress Frances Ellen Work on 22 September 1880 at Christ Church, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The marriage was not a success and they separated in December 1886. She was granted a divorce on the grounds of desertion on 3 March 1891 at Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
.
They had four children, twin sons and two daughters:
- Eileen (b. and d. 1882).
- CynthiaCynthia RocheHon. Cynthia Burke Roche was a Newport, Rhode Island socialite and an art collector.-Life and work:She was born on April 10, 1884 in London to James Roche, 3rd Baron Fermoy and Frances Ellen Work. Her brothers were Maurice Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy, the maternal grandfather of Diana, Princess of...
(10 April 1884 − 8 December 1966), who married firstly Arthur Scott BurdenArthur Scott Burden-Biography:He was born on August 11, 1879. His brother was James A. Burden, who was the President of the Burden Iron Works of Troy, New York.He was married on June 11, 1906 to the Hon...
(d. June 1921) in 1906 and secondly Guy Fairfax Cary (d. 1950) in 1922. She is the matrilineal great-grandmother of American actor Oliver PlattOliver PlattOliver James Platt is a Canadian-American actor. He is currently starring in the Showtime original series, The Big C with Laura Linney.-Early life:...
. - Edmund Maurice Burke (15 May 1885 – 8 July 1955), who was the grandfather of Diana, Princess of WalesDiana, Princess of WalesDiana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
. - Francis George Burke (15 May 1885 – 30 October 1958), who died unmarried.
In 1896 he stood as an Anti-Parnellite Nationalist
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...
candidate in the Kerry East by-election
Kerry East (UK Parliament constituency)
East Kerry was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland, returning one Member of Parliament 1885–1922.Prior to the United Kingdom general election, 1885 the area was part of the Kerry constituency. Following the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the formation of the Irish Free State in 1922, the area was no...
for a seat in the Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
. The Nationalists had split into two factions after the party leader, Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish landowner, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party...
was named as co-respondent in a divorce. Roche was supported initially by both the Parnellites and the Anti-Parnellites
Irish National Federation
The Irish National Federation was a nationalist political party in Ireland. It was founded in March 1891 by former members of the Irish National League who had left the Irish Parliamentary Party in protest when Charles Stewart Parnell refused to resign the party leadership as a result of his...
, until it was revealed that he was himself divorced. During the campaign, Roche denied publicly that he knew of the divorce or that he had deserted his wife and children. Although he went on to win the seat, the opposing Unionist
Irish Unionist Party
The Irish Unionist Alliance was a Unionist party founded in Ireland in 1891 to oppose plans for Gladstonian and Parnellite Home Rule for Ireland. The party was led for much of its life by Colonel Edward James Saunderson and later by the William St John Brodrick, Earl of Midleton...
candidate gained the highest vote ever recorded for a Unionist candidate in Kerry East
Kerry East (UK Parliament constituency)
East Kerry was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland, returning one Member of Parliament 1885–1922.Prior to the United Kingdom general election, 1885 the area was part of the Kerry constituency. Following the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the formation of the Irish Free State in 1922, the area was no...
. He served one term and did not stand in the following general election
United Kingdom general election, 1900
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
in 1900.
On 1 September 1920 he succeeded his brother as Baron Fermoy
Baron Fermoy
Baron Fermoy is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1856 for Edmond Roche, who represented County Cork and Marylebone in the House of Commons and also served as Lord Lieutenant of County Cork. His younger son, the third Baron, sat as Member of Parliament for Kerry East. He was...
. Just two months later he died at Artillery Mansions, Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
, 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...
. He was buried at St Marylebone Cemetery, Finchley
Finchley
Finchley is a district in Barnet in north London, England. Finchley is on high ground, about north of Charing Cross. It formed an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, becoming a municipal borough in 1933, and has formed part of Greater London since 1965...
on 3 November 1920.
Styles
- 1852–1856: James Boothby Burke Roche
- 1856–1896: The Hon James Boothby Burke Roche
- 1896–1900: The Hon James Boothby Burke Roche, MP
- 1900–1920: The Hon James Boothby Burke Roche
- 1920: The Rt Hon James Boothby Burke Roche, 3rd Baron Fermoy