James Stopford, 1st Earl of Courtown
Encyclopedia
James Stopford, 1st Earl of Courtown (1700 – 12 January 1770) was an Irish
politician.
Courtown was the son of James Stopford, of Courtown
, County Wexford
, who represented Wexford County
in the Irish House of Commons
, and his wife Frances (née Jones). He succeeded his father as Member of Parliament for Wexford County in 1721, a seat he held until 1727, and then represented Fethard (County Wexford)
from 1727 to 1758. In 1756 he was appointed High Sheriff of Wexford
. In 1758 he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland
as Baron Courtown, of Courtown in the County of Wexford. Four years later he was further honoured when he was made Viscount Stopford and Earl of Courtown, in the County of Wexford, also in the Peerage of Ireland.
Lord Courtown married Elizabeth, daughter of the Right Reverend Edward Smyth, Bishop of Down and Connor
, in 1727. He died in January 1770 and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son James
, who became a prominent Tory
politician. His second son the Hon. Edward Stopford (1732–1794) was a Lieutenant-General in the Army. Lady Courtown survived her husband by 18 years and died in September 1788.
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...
politician.
Courtown was the son of James Stopford, of Courtown
Courtown
Courtown , formerly Ballinatray , is a village and Seaside resort in northeast County Wexford, Ireland. Courtown is situated on the Irish Sea coast. It is also referred to as Courtown Harbour and has merged into the adjoining village of Riverchapel. It lies on the R742 regional road.Both villages...
, 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...
, who represented Wexford County
Wexford County (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Wexford County was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1800.-1692–1801:...
in the Irish House of Commons
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
, and his wife Frances (née Jones). He succeeded his father as Member of Parliament for Wexford County in 1721, a seat he held until 1727, and then represented Fethard (County Wexford)
Fethard (County Wexford) (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Fethard was a constituency in County Wexford represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Fethard was represented with two members.-1689–1801:...
from 1727 to 1758. In 1756 he was appointed 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 1758 he was raised to 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,...
as Baron Courtown, of Courtown in the County of Wexford. Four years later he was further honoured when he was made Viscount Stopford and Earl of Courtown, in the County of Wexford, also in the Peerage of Ireland.
Lord Courtown married Elizabeth, daughter of the Right Reverend Edward Smyth, Bishop of Down and Connor
Bishop of Down and Connor
The Bishop of Down and Connor is an episcopal title which takes its name from the town of Downpatrick and the village of Connor in Northern Ireland...
, in 1727. He died in January 1770 and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son James
James Stopford, 2nd Earl of Courtown
James Stopford, 2nd Earl of Courtown KP, PC , known as Viscount Stopford from 1762 to 1770, was an Anglo-Irish peer and Tory politician....
, who became a prominent Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
politician. His second son the Hon. Edward Stopford (1732–1794) was a Lieutenant-General in the Army. Lady Courtown survived her husband by 18 years and died in September 1788.