John Prendergast Smyth, 1st Viscount Gort
Encyclopedia
John Prendergast-Smyth, 1st Viscount Gort (1742 – 23 May 1817) was an Irish
politician.
Born John Smyth, Gort was the son of Charles Smyth, Member of the Irish Parliament for Limerick City, and Elizabeth Prendergast. His paternal grandparents were the Rt. Rev. Thomas Smyth, Bishop of Limerick
, and Dorothea Burgh, daughter of the Rt. Reverend Ulysses Burgh, Bishop of Ardagh
. His paternal uncle was the Most Reverend Arthur Smyth, Archbishop of Dublin
. Gort's maternal grandparents were Brigadier-General Sir Thomas Prendergast, 1st Baronet, who was killed in action at the Battle of Malplaquet
in 1709, and Penelope Cadogan, sister of William Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan
. In 1760 Gort succeeded to the estates of his maternal uncle Sir Thomas Prendergast, 2nd Baronet, and assumed the surname of Prendergast in lieu of Smyth. However, in 1785, after the death of his brother Thomas Smyth MP, he resumed the surname of Smyth in addition to that of Prendergast.
Gort was a Colonel in the Limerick Militia and sat as a Member of the Irish House of Commons
for Carlow Borough
from 1776 to 1783 and for Limerick City
between 1785 and 1798. In 1810 he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland
as Baron Kiltarton, of Gort in the County of Galway
, and in 1816 he was further honoured when he was made Viscount Gort, also in the Peerage of Ireland. Both titles were created with remainder to his nephew Charles Vereker, the son of his sister Juliana by her marriage with Thomas Vereker. Lord Gort also served as Governor of County Galway
from 1812 to 1817. He died unmarried on 23 May 1817, and was succeeded in his titles according to the special remainder by his nephew Charles Vereker
.
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.
Born John Smyth, Gort was the son of Charles Smyth, Member of the Irish Parliament for Limerick City, and Elizabeth Prendergast. His paternal grandparents were the Rt. Rev. Thomas Smyth, Bishop of Limerick
Bishop of Limerick
The Bishop of Limerick is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Limerick in the Province of Munster, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it still continues as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:The diocese of...
, and Dorothea Burgh, daughter of the Rt. Reverend Ulysses Burgh, Bishop of Ardagh
Bishop of Ardagh
The Bishop of Ardagh was a separate episcopal title which took its name after the village of Ardagh in County Longford, Ireland. It was used by the Roman Catholic Church until 1756, and intermittently by the Church of Ireland until 1839....
. His paternal uncle was the Most Reverend Arthur Smyth, Archbishop of Dublin
Archbishop of Dublin (Church of Ireland)
The Archbishop of Dublin is the title of the senior cleric who presides over the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough in the Church of Ireland...
. Gort's maternal grandparents were Brigadier-General Sir Thomas Prendergast, 1st Baronet, who was killed in action at the Battle of Malplaquet
Battle of Malplaquet
The Battle of Malplaquet, fought on 11 September 1709, was one of the main battles of the War of the Spanish Succession, which opposed the Bourbons of France and Spain against an alliance whose major members were the Habsburg Monarchy, Great Britain, the United Provinces and the Kingdom of...
in 1709, and Penelope Cadogan, sister of William Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan
William Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan
William Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan KT PC was a noted military officer in the army of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough during the War of the Spanish Succession...
. In 1760 Gort succeeded to the estates of his maternal uncle Sir Thomas Prendergast, 2nd Baronet, and assumed the surname of Prendergast in lieu of Smyth. However, in 1785, after the death of his brother Thomas Smyth MP, he resumed the surname of Smyth in addition to that of Prendergast.
Gort was a Colonel in the Limerick Militia and sat as a Member of 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...
for Carlow Borough
Carlow Borough (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Carlow Borough was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:This constituency was the borough of Carlow in County Carlow. It returned two members to the Parliament of Ireland from 1613 to 1800.-History:...
from 1776 to 1783 and for Limerick City
Limerick City (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Limerick City was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-1692–1801:...
between 1785 and 1798. In 1810 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 Kiltarton, of Gort in the County of Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, and in 1816 he was further honoured when he was made Viscount Gort, also in the Peerage of Ireland. Both titles were created with remainder to his nephew Charles Vereker, the son of his sister Juliana by her marriage with Thomas Vereker. Lord Gort also served as Governor of 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...
from 1812 to 1817. He died unmarried on 23 May 1817, and was succeeded in his titles according to the special remainder by his nephew Charles Vereker
Charles Vereker, 2nd Viscount Gort
Charles Vereker, 2nd Viscount Gort PC , known as Charles Vereker until 1817, was a British soldier and politician.-Background:...
.