Marcus Beresford, 1st Earl of Tyrone
Encyclopedia
Marcus Beresford, 1st Earl of Tyrone (16 July 1694 – 4 April 1763), known as Sir Marcus Beresford, 4th Baronet until 1720 and subsequently as The Viscount Tyrone until 1746, was an Irish peer, freemason and politician.
and his wife Nichola Sophia Hamilton, youngest daughter of Hugh Hamilton, 1st Baron Hamilton of Glenawly. In 1701 his father died and Beresford, aged only five succeeded to the baronetcy. His guardians were Marcus Trevor, 3rd Viscount Dungannon and after whose death in 1706, his wife Arabella Susanna.
, sitting for Coleraine
until 1720, when he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland
with the titles Baron Beresford, of Beresford, in the County of Cavan, and Viscount Tyrone by King George I of Great Britain. A year later, he joined the Irish House of Lords
. In 1736, he became Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland
, serving for the next two years. Beresford was further honoured in 1746, when he was created Earl of Tyrone.
in Dublin and was succeeded in his titles by his fourth and oldest surviving son George
. His fifth son John was also a Member of Parliament
and his seventh son William
was ennobled in his own right as Baron Decies
. In 1767, four years after the earl's death, his wife claimed the title Baron La Poer
and was shortly thereafter confirmed. She died in 1769.
Background
He was the only son of Sir Tristram Beresford, 3rd BaronetSir Tristram Beresford, 3rd Baronet
Sir Tristram Beresford, 3rd Baronet was an Irish politician and baronet.-Background:He was the second, but oldest surviving son of Sir Randal Beresford, 2nd Baronet and his wife Catherine Annesley, daughter of Francis Annesley, 1st Viscount Valentia...
and his wife Nichola Sophia Hamilton, youngest daughter of Hugh Hamilton, 1st Baron Hamilton of Glenawly. In 1701 his father died and Beresford, aged only five succeeded to the baronetcy. His guardians were Marcus Trevor, 3rd Viscount Dungannon and after whose death in 1706, his wife Arabella Susanna.
Career
In 1715, he entered 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...
, sitting for Coleraine
Coleraine (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Coleraine was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons from 1611 to 1800. Between 1725 and 1793 Catholics and those married to Catholics could not vote.-History:...
until 1720, when 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,...
with the titles Baron Beresford, of Beresford, in the County of Cavan, and Viscount Tyrone by King George I of Great Britain. A year later, he joined the Irish House of Lords
Irish House of Lords
The Irish House of Lords was the upper house of the Parliament of Ireland that existed from mediaeval times until 1800. It was abolished along with the Irish House of Commons by the Act of Union.-Function:...
. In 1736, he became Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland
Grand Lodge of Ireland
The Grand Lodge of Ireland is the second most senior Grand Lodge of Freemasons in the world, and the oldest in continuous existence. Since no specific record of its foundation exists, 1725 is the year celebrated in Grand Lodge anniversaries, as the oldest reference to Grand Lodge of Ireland comes...
, serving for the next two years. Beresford was further honoured in 1746, when he was created Earl of Tyrone.
Family
On 18 July 1717, he married Catherine, only daughter of James Power, 3rd Earl of Tyrone and had by her seven sons and eight daughters. Beresford died at Tyrone HouseTyrone House
Tyrone House was built in 1779. It is situated on a promontory by the sea, about two miles from the village of Kilcolgan, County Galway, Ireland. It was a big solemn house, grandly planned, three stories high, built on a height, in order to dominate the surrounding land and sea...
in Dublin and was succeeded in his titles by his fourth and oldest surviving son George
George Beresford, 1st Marquess of Waterford
George de la Poer Beresford, 1st Marquess of Waterford, KP, PC was an Irish politician, known as George Beresford, 2nd Earl of Tyrone from 1763 to 1789....
. His fifth son John was also 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,...
and his seventh son William
William Beresford, 1st Baron Decies
William Beresford, 1st Baron Decies was an Anglo-Irish clergyman.Decies was the third son of Marcus Beresford, 1st Earl of Tyrone, and Catherine Poer, 1st Baroness de la Poer. George de la Poer Beresford, 1st Marquess of Waterford, was his elder brother...
was ennobled in his own right as Baron Decies
Baron Decies
Baron Decies, of Decies in the County of Waterford, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1812 for the Right Reverend William Beresford, Archbishop of Tuam from 1794 to 1819. He was the third son of the Marcus Beresford, 1st Earl of Tyrone, and the younger brother of the George...
. In 1767, four years after the earl's death, his wife claimed the title Baron La Poer
Baron La Poer
Baron La Poer, de la Poer, or Le Pour, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland held by the Marquess of Waterford. Its creation is the sole instance of the law of the Kingdom of Ireland recognizing a peerage by writ.-The origin of the title:...
and was shortly thereafter confirmed. She died in 1769.