Joseph Leeson, 1st Earl of Milltown
Encyclopedia
Joseph Leeson, 1st Earl of Milltown (11 March 1701 – 2 October 1783) was an Irish
peer
and politician.
, the ancestor of the Barons Dufferin and Claneboye
).
for Rathcormack
. He was created Baron Russborough, in the County of Wicklow, on 5 May 1756, Viscount Russborough, of Russellstown in the County of Wicklow, on 8 September 1760, and Earl of Milltown
, in the County of Dublin, on 10 May 1763.
Cecilia had died by 1738, when Leeson married Anne Preston, daughter of Nathaniel Preston, on 20 October 1738. They had one daughter:
Anne died on 17 January 1766, and Leeson married thirdly Elizabeth French, daughter of the Very Revd William French, Dean of Ardagh, on 10 February 1768. They had four children:
Lord Milltown died on 2 October 1783 at the age of 82. His third wife died on 23 January 1842 having lived 55 years past his death. In 1728 Suesey Street in Dublin was renamed Leeson Street, presumably in his honour. Lord Milltown commissioned Russborough House
, a particularly fine example of Palladian architecture, designed by Richard Cassels and built between 1741 and 1755. The interior of the house contrasts with the austere exterior by way of some ornate plasterwork on the ceilings by the Lafranchini brothers. It is the longest house in Ireland, with a frontage measuring 210 m/700 ft, and is considered by some the most beautiful.
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...
peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
and politician.
Background
He was the son of Joseph Leeson, who was a brewer in Dublin, and Mary Brice, daughter of Alderman Andrew Brice, Sheriff of Dublin. His father came to Ireland about 1680, made a fortune as a brewer and acquired much property in the area around what is now Dawson Street. The name Leeson is found in Ireland before 1680; four Leesons occurred in the lists of army personnel in the Ormond Manuscripts, the earliest in 1644. The name seems to originate in Cornwall where it is quite common. He had one known sibling — his sister, Joyce Leeson, who married Sir Robert Blackwood, 1st BaronetSir Robert Blackwood, 1st Baronet
Sir Robert Blackwood, 1st Baronet , of Ballyleidy, County Down, was created a Baronet of Ireland on July 1, 1763...
, the ancestor of the Barons Dufferin and Claneboye
Baron Dufferin and Claneboye
Baron Dufferin and Claneboye, of Ballyleidy and Killyleagh in County Down, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created 31 July 1800 for Dorcas, Lady Blackwood. She was the widow of Sir John Blackwood, 2nd Baronet, Member of the Irish Parliament for Killyleagh and Bangor...
).
Political career
Between 1743 and 1756, Leeson sat in the Irish House of CommonsIrish 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 Rathcormack
Rathcormack (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Rathcormack was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons from 1611 to 1800. It was a mix of Potwalloping and a Manor Borough established by Charter and remained tied to the borough and surrounding area. The franchise was vested in the £5 and until 1793, Protestant Freeholders and...
. He was created Baron Russborough, in the County of Wicklow, on 5 May 1756, Viscount Russborough, of Russellstown in the County of Wicklow, on 8 September 1760, and Earl of Milltown
Earl of Milltown
Earl of Milltown, in the County of Dublin, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1763 for the Irish politician Joseph Leeson, 1st Viscount Russborough. He had already been created Baron Russborough, in the County of Wicklow, in 1756, and Viscount Russborough, of Russellstown in...
, in the County of Dublin, on 10 May 1763.
Family and legacy
On 20 January 1729 he married Cecilia Leigh, daughter of Francis Leigh. They had three children:- The Hon. Joseph LeesonJoseph Leeson, 2nd Earl of MilltownJoseph Leeson, 2nd Earl of Milltown , styled Viscount Russborough between 1763 and 1783, was an Irish peer.Leeson was the son of Joseph Leeson, 1st Earl of Milltown, by Cecilia, daughter of Francis Leigh, of Rathangan. He was elected to the Irish House of Commons for Thomastown in 1757, a seat he...
, later styled Viscount Russborough, later 2nd Earl of Milltown (1730–1801) - The Lady Mary Leeson (1734–1794) (married the 2nd Earl of Mayo)
- The Hon. Brice Leeson, later 3rd Earl of Milltown (1735–1807)
Cecilia had died by 1738, when Leeson married Anne Preston, daughter of Nathaniel Preston, on 20 October 1738. They had one daughter:
- The Lady Anne Leeson (married Hugh Henry)
Anne died on 17 January 1766, and Leeson married thirdly Elizabeth French, daughter of the Very Revd William French, Dean of Ardagh, on 10 February 1768. They had four children:
- The Hon. William Leeson (1770–1819)
- The Hon. Robert Leeson (1773–1850)
- The Lady Cecilia Leeson (married David La Touche)
- The Lady Florence Arabella Leeson (d. 1840) (married Marcus Beresford, a grandson of the 1st Earl of TyroneMarcus Beresford, 1st Earl of TyroneMarcus Beresford, 1st Earl of Tyrone , known as Sir Marcus Beresford, 4th Baronet until 1720 and subsequently as The Viscount Tyrone until 1746, was an Irish peer, freemason and politician.-Background:...
)
Lord Milltown died on 2 October 1783 at the age of 82. His third wife died on 23 January 1842 having lived 55 years past his death. In 1728 Suesey Street in Dublin was renamed Leeson Street, presumably in his honour. Lord Milltown commissioned Russborough House
Russborough House
Russborough House is a stately house situated near the Blessington Lakes in County Wicklow, Ireland, between the towns of Blessington and Ballymore Eustace and is reputed to be the longest house in Ireland, with a frontage measuring 210 m/700 ft...
, a particularly fine example of Palladian architecture, designed by Richard Cassels and built between 1741 and 1755. The interior of the house contrasts with the austere exterior by way of some ornate plasterwork on the ceilings by the Lafranchini brothers. It is the longest house in Ireland, with a frontage measuring 210 m/700 ft, and is considered by some the most beautiful.