Ralph Gore, 1st Earl of Ross
Encyclopedia
General Ralph Gore, 1st Earl of Ross (23 November 1725 – September 1802), known as Sir Ralph Gore, 6th Baronet from 1746 until 1764, subsequently as The Lord Gore until 1768 and then as The Viscount Belleisle until 1772, was an Irish soldier, politician and peer.
, he was the second son of Sir Ralph Gore, 4th Baronet
and his second wife Elizabeth, only daughter of St George Ashe
, at that time Bishop of Clogher
. Gore was educated at Trinity College, Dublin
and in 1744, he purchased a lieutenantcy in the 33rd Regiment of Foot. In 1746, he succeeded his older brother St George as baronet.
, Gore joined the regiment in Flandern in 1745 and took over a company. At the Battle of Fontenoy
on 11 May, he was hit on his right arm by a shot, however quickly recovered. During the Battle of Lauffeld
on 2 July 1747 all his superior officers were killed or severely wounded, so command of the battalion fell to Gore, who performed so well, that on the following day he received the thanks of the British commander Prince William, Duke of Cumberland.
In 1760, he raised the 92nd Regiment of Foot (Donegal Light Infantry) and became its lieutenant-colonel until the regiment's dissolution three years later. Gore was promoted to colonel in 1772 and to major-general in 1777. Two years thereafter he was admitted to the Irish general staff and in 1781 obtained colonelship of the 32nd (Cornwall) Regiment of Foot. In the following year, he was made a lieutenant-general and in 1788 during the absence of Sir William Augustus Pitt
was acting Commander-in-Chief, Ireland
. Gore was promoted to a full general in 1796.
, sitting for Donegal County, the same constituency his father and brother had represented before, until 1764, when on 30 June, he was ennobled in the Peerage of Ireland
with the title Baron Gore, of Manor Gore, in the County of Donegal. He took his seat in the Irish House of Lords
in 1767 and was created Viscount Belleisle, of Belleisle, in the County of Fermanagh on 25 August 1768. Gore was finally advanced as Earl of Ross, in the County of Fermanagh on 4 January 1772. He served as High Sheriff of Donegal
in 1755 and as High Sheriff of Fermanagh
in 1760.
. After her death in 1771, Gore remarried Alicia Clements, youngest daughter of Nathaniel Clements
on 22 August 1773. His only son by his second marriage, predeceased him in 1789. Alicia died in 1795 and was buried like her son at Clifton Church in Bristol
. Gore survived her until 1802 and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his nephew Ralph; his other titles became extinct.
Background
Born at Belle Isle CastleBelle Isle Castle
Belle Isle Castle is a castle near Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It largely dates to the 18th century, being built in part by Sir Ralph Gore, later Earl of Ross. In 1830 the estate passed to the Rev. John Porter, beig bought for £68,000. The castle remained in the Porter family...
, he was the second son of Sir Ralph Gore, 4th Baronet
Sir Ralph Gore, 4th Baronet
Sir Ralph Gore, 4th Baronet was a Speaker of the Irish House of Commons.The Gore Baronetcy, of Magherabegg in the County of Donegal, was created in the Baronetage of Ireland on 2 February 1622 for Paul Gore .The fourth Baronet served as Chancellor of the Irish Exchequer and as Speaker...
and his second wife Elizabeth, only daughter of St George Ashe
St George Ashe
St. George Ashe , D.D., a Church of Ireland cleric who served successively as Bishop of Cloyne, Clogher and Derry in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.Ashe was born in County Roscommon in 1658...
, at that time Bishop of Clogher
Bishop of Clogher
The Bishop of Clogher is an episcopal title which takes its name after the village of Clogher in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Following the Reformation, there are now parallel apostolic successions: one of the Church of Ireland and the other of the Roman Catholic Church.-History:Clogher is one...
. Gore was educated at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
and in 1744, he purchased a lieutenantcy in the 33rd Regiment of Foot. In 1746, he succeeded his older brother St George as baronet.
Military career
In the middle of the War of the Austrian SuccessionWar of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
, Gore joined the regiment in Flandern in 1745 and took over a company. At the Battle of Fontenoy
Battle of Fontenoy
The Battle of Fontenoy, 11 May 1745, was a major engagement of the War of the Austrian Succession, fought between the forces of the Pragmatic Allies – comprising mainly Dutch, British, and Hanoverian troops under the nominal command of the Duke of Cumberland – and a French army under Maurice de...
on 11 May, he was hit on his right arm by a shot, however quickly recovered. During the Battle of Lauffeld
Battle of Lauffeld
The Battle of Lauffeld, also known as the Battle of Lafelt or Battle of Maastricht, also Battle of Val, took place on 2 July 1747, during the French invasion of the Netherlands. It was part of the War of the Austrian Succession...
on 2 July 1747 all his superior officers were killed or severely wounded, so command of the battalion fell to Gore, who performed so well, that on the following day he received the thanks of the British commander Prince William, Duke of Cumberland.
In 1760, he raised the 92nd Regiment of Foot (Donegal Light Infantry) and became its lieutenant-colonel until the regiment's dissolution three years later. Gore was promoted to colonel in 1772 and to major-general in 1777. Two years thereafter he was admitted to the Irish general staff and in 1781 obtained colonelship of the 32nd (Cornwall) Regiment of Foot. In the following year, he was made a lieutenant-general and in 1788 during the absence of Sir William Augustus Pitt
William Augustus Pitt
General Sir William Augustus Pitt KB, PC was a long-serving if undistinguished senior officer of the British Army whose sixty years of service covered several major wars and numerous postings as garrison or regiment commander. He served as MP between 1754 and 1761...
was acting Commander-in-Chief, Ireland
Commander-in-Chief, Ireland
Commander-in-Chief, Ireland was title of the commander of British forces in Ireland before 1922.The role nominally is held by the President of Ireland today as the supreme commander of the Defence Forces.-Commanders-in-Chief, Ireland, 1700-1922:...
. Gore was promoted to a full general in 1796.
Political career
In 1747, Gore 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 Donegal County, the same constituency his father and brother had represented before, until 1764, when on 30 June, he was ennobled in 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 title Baron Gore, of Manor Gore, in the County of Donegal. He took his seat in 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 1767 and was created Viscount Belleisle, of Belleisle, in the County of Fermanagh on 25 August 1768. Gore was finally advanced as Earl of Ross, in the County of Fermanagh on 4 January 1772. He served as High Sheriff of Donegal
High Sheriff of Donegal
The High Sheriff of Donegal was the British Crown’s judicial representative in County Donegal, Ireland from the 16th century until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Free State and replaced by the office of Donegal County Sheriff. The sheriff had judicial, electoral, ceremonial and...
in 1755 and as High Sheriff of Fermanagh
High Sheriff of Fermanagh
The High Sheriff of Fermanagh is the Sovereign's judicial representative in County Fermanagh. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became annually appointed from the Provisions of Oxford in 1258...
in 1760.
Family
On 23 February 1754 he married firstly Katherine, eldest daughter of William ConollyWilliam James Conolly
William James Conolly was an Irish politician.He was elected to the Irish House of Commons for Ballyshannon at a by-election in 1727. At the general election earlier that year his uncle William Conolly, the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, had been elected for the seat, but chose to continue...
. After her death in 1771, Gore remarried Alicia Clements, youngest daughter of Nathaniel Clements
Nathaniel Clements
Nathaniel Clements was an Irish politician and financial figure, important in the political and financial administration of Ireland in the mid-18th century.-Early history:Clements was the fifth son of Robert Clements...
on 22 August 1773. His only son by his second marriage, predeceased him in 1789. Alicia died in 1795 and was buried like her son at Clifton Church in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. Gore survived her until 1802 and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his nephew Ralph; his other titles became extinct.