Richard Boyle, 2nd Earl of Shannon
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Richard Boyle, 2nd Earl of Shannon KP, PC (Ire)
(30 January 1727 – 20 May 1807) was an Irish
peer and Member of Parliament
. He represented Dungarvan
and Cork County
, and then succeeded his father as Earl of Shannon.
and his second wife, Lady Henrietta Boyle (1700 -1746). His maternal grandparents were Charles Boyle, 2nd Earl of Burlington
and Juliana Noel.
. In 1749, he entered the Irish House of Commons
, representing Dungarvan
until 1761. He was then elected for Clonakilty
as well as Cork County
and sat for the latter constituency until 1764, when he succeeded his father in the titles. According to the "Blackwell Companion to Modern Irish Culture" (1998) by William John McCormack and Patrick Gillan, Richard "did not possess the political talent which had enabled his father to dominate the Irish House of Commons for so long."
He served in the Privy Council of Ireland
from 1763 to 1770. In 1766, Shannon was commissioned Master-General of the Ordnance
of the Kingdom of Ireland
. He resigned his post in 1770. In 1774, Shannon was again appointed Privy Councilor, serving to 1789. The same year he was appointed Muster-Master-General of the royal military forces in the Kingdom of Ireland. He maintained his position to 1781. That year he became Joint Vice Treasurer of Ireland,, an office held in commission with other politicians to 1789. In the later office Shannon served under William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire
, the active Lord High Treasurer of Ireland
.
In 1783, Shannon was among the Founders of the Knights of St Patrick. In 1786, Shannon was created Baron Carleton
in the Peerage of Great Britain
. The title would keep being inherited by later Earls of Shannon. According to the "Blackwell Companion" this was a reward for political services to George III of Great Britain
. Shannon "remained a force in domestic politics" and supported the governments of Dublin Castle
. In other words, Shannon actively supported the continued British rule in Ireland throughout the 1770s and 1780s. At the time the Irish Volunteers
, the local Irish militia, played a part in both military and political matters of the island. The Constitution of 1782
also increased the legislative freedom of the Irish Parliament. British administration relied in part to their continued support.
In 1789, Shannon retired from all his political offices. The "Blackwell Companion" considers this a direct result of the Regency crisis of 1788. In the summer of 1788 the mental health of George III deteriorated, but he was nonetheless able to discharge some of his duties and to declare British Parliament prorogued from 25 September to 20 November. During the prorogation George III became deranged, posing a threat to his own life, and when Parliament reconvened in November the King could not deliver the customary Speech from the Throne
during the State Opening of Parliament
. Parliament found itself in an untenable position; according to long-established law it could not proceed to any business until the delivery of the King's Speech at a State Opening. The administration of William Pitt the Younger
, Prime Minister of Great Britain outlined formal plans for installing a Regency. However their authority to do so was questionable. Shannon "broke with the administration" during the Crisis.
The "Blackwell Companion" notes that he was back in the political fold by the middle of the 1790s, continuing to support the governments of Dublin Castle. In 1793, he was appointed a Privy Councilor for the third and final time. He served to his death in 1807. Also in 1793, Shannon was appointed First Lord of the Treasury
for the Kingdom of Ireland. The "Companion" notes his strong support of the Act of Union 1800
which created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
. The authors point that the Act would result in "the abolition of his parliamentary base".
of the Irish House of Commons
from 1756 to 1771, and his wife Lady Elizabeth Cavendish. Lady Elizabeth was a daughter of William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire
and his wife Catherine Hoskins. Her maternal grandparents were John Hoskins and Catherine Hale.
Richard and Catherine had two children:
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
(30 January 1727 – 20 May 1807) was an Irish
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 and 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,...
. He represented Dungarvan
Dungarvan (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Dungarvan was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Dungarvan was represented with two members.-1689–1801:...
and Cork County
Cork County (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Cork County was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1800.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:This constituency was the borough in County Cork. It returned two members to the Parliament of Ireland to 1800.-History:...
, and then succeeded his father as Earl of Shannon.
Family
He was a son of Henry Boyle, 1st Earl of ShannonHenry Boyle, 1st Earl of Shannon
Henry Boyle, 1st Earl of Shannon, PC was a prominent Irish politician.Boyle was the second son of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Boyle , second son of Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery. His mother was Lady Mary O'Brien, daughter of Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin...
and his second wife, Lady Henrietta Boyle (1700 -1746). His maternal grandparents were Charles Boyle, 2nd Earl of Burlington
Charles Boyle, 2nd Earl of Burlington
Charles Boyle, 3rd Earl of Cork and 2nd Earl of Burlington, 4th Baron Clifford, PC was a peer, courtier and politician....
and Juliana Noel.
Career
Boyle was educated at Trinity College, DublinTrinity 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...
. In 1749, he entered 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...
, representing Dungarvan
Dungarvan (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Dungarvan was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Dungarvan was represented with two members.-1689–1801:...
until 1761. He was then elected for Clonakilty
Clonakilty (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Clonakilty was a constituency in County Cork represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1800.-History:Established by a charter of King James I of England granting it to Sir Richard Boyle, it was purchased from Lord Burlington by Speaker Boyle in 1738 and he nominated the provost from three...
as well as Cork County
Cork County (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Cork County was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1800.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:This constituency was the borough in County Cork. It returned two members to the Parliament of Ireland to 1800.-History:...
and sat for the latter constituency until 1764, when he succeeded his father in the titles. According to the "Blackwell Companion to Modern Irish Culture" (1998) by William John McCormack and Patrick Gillan, Richard "did not possess the political talent which had enabled his father to dominate the Irish House of Commons for so long."
He served in the Privy Council of Ireland
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
from 1763 to 1770. In 1766, Shannon was commissioned Master-General of the Ordnance
Master-General of the Ordnance
The Master-General of the Ordnance was a very senior British military position before 1855, when the Board of Ordnance was abolished.-Responsibilities:...
of the Kingdom of Ireland
Kingdom of Ireland
The Kingdom of Ireland refers to the country of Ireland in the period between the proclamation of Henry VIII as King of Ireland by the Crown of Ireland Act 1542 and the Act of Union in 1800. It replaced the Lordship of Ireland, which had been created in 1171...
. He resigned his post in 1770. In 1774, Shannon was again appointed Privy Councilor, serving to 1789. The same year he was appointed Muster-Master-General of the royal military forces in the Kingdom of Ireland. He maintained his position to 1781. That year he became Joint Vice Treasurer of Ireland,, an office held in commission with other politicians to 1789. In the later office Shannon served under William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire, KG was a British aristocrat and politician. He was the eldest son of the William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire by his wife the heiress Lady Charlotte Boyle, suo jure Baroness Clifford of Lanesborough, who brought in considerable money and estates to...
, the active Lord High Treasurer of Ireland
Lord High Treasurer of Ireland
The Lord High Treasurer of Ireland was the chief financial officer of that kingdom until the treasuries of Great Britain and Ireland were united in 1817...
.
In 1783, Shannon was among the Founders of the Knights of St Patrick. In 1786, Shannon was created Baron Carleton
Baron Carleton
Baron Carleton is a title that has been created three times in British history, once in the Peerage of Ireland and twice in the Peerage of Great Britain. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1626 when Sir Dudley Carleton was made Baron Carleton, of Imbercourt in the County of...
in the Peerage of Great Britain
Peerage of Great Britain
The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain after the Act of Union 1707 but before the Act of Union 1800...
. The title would keep being inherited by later Earls of Shannon. According to the "Blackwell Companion" this was a reward for political services to George III of Great Britain
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
. Shannon "remained a force in domestic politics" and supported the governments of Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
. In other words, Shannon actively supported the continued British rule in Ireland throughout the 1770s and 1780s. At the time the Irish Volunteers
Irish Volunteers (18th century)
The Irish Volunteers were a militia in late 18th century Ireland. The Volunteers were founded in Belfast in 1778 to defend Ireland from the threat of foreign invasion when regular British soldiers were withdrawn from Ireland to fight across the globe during the American War of Independence...
, the local Irish militia, played a part in both military and political matters of the island. The Constitution of 1782
Constitution of 1782
The Constitution of 1782 is a collective term given to a series of legal changes which freed the Parliament of Ireland, a Medieval parliament consisting of the Irish House of Commons and the Irish House of Lords, of legal restrictions that had been imposed by successive Norman, English, and later,...
also increased the legislative freedom of the Irish Parliament. British administration relied in part to their continued support.
In 1789, Shannon retired from all his political offices. The "Blackwell Companion" considers this a direct result of the Regency crisis of 1788. In the summer of 1788 the mental health of George III deteriorated, but he was nonetheless able to discharge some of his duties and to declare British Parliament prorogued from 25 September to 20 November. During the prorogation George III became deranged, posing a threat to his own life, and when Parliament reconvened in November the King could not deliver the customary Speech from the Throne
Speech from the Throne
A speech from the throne is an event in certain monarchies in which the reigning sovereign reads a prepared speech to a complete session of parliament, outlining the government's agenda for the coming session...
during the State Opening of Parliament
State Opening of Parliament
In the United Kingdom, the State Opening of Parliament is an annual event that marks the commencement of a session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is held in the House of Lords Chamber, usually in November or December or, in a general election year, when the new Parliament first assembles...
. Parliament found itself in an untenable position; according to long-established law it could not proceed to any business until the delivery of the King's Speech at a State Opening. The administration of William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
, Prime Minister of Great Britain outlined formal plans for installing a Regency. However their authority to do so was questionable. Shannon "broke with the administration" during the Crisis.
The "Blackwell Companion" notes that he was back in the political fold by the middle of the 1790s, continuing to support the governments of Dublin Castle. In 1793, he was appointed a Privy Councilor for the third and final time. He served to his death in 1807. Also in 1793, Shannon was appointed First Lord of the Treasury
First Lord of the Treasury
The First Lord of the Treasury is the head of the commission exercising the ancient office of Lord High Treasurer in the United Kingdom, and is now always also the Prime Minister...
for the Kingdom of Ireland. The "Companion" notes his strong support of the Act of Union 1800
Act of Union 1800
The Acts of Union 1800 describe two complementary Acts, namely:* the Union with Ireland Act 1800 , an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain, and...
which created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
. The authors point that the Act would result in "the abolition of his parliamentary base".
Marriage and children
On 15 December 1763, Richard married Catherine Ponsonby. Her parents were John Ponsonby, SpeakerSpeaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
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...
from 1756 to 1771, and his wife Lady Elizabeth Cavendish. Lady Elizabeth was a daughter of William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire, KG, PC was a British nobleman and Whig politician, the son of William Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Devonshire and Hon. Rachel Russell....
and his wife Catherine Hoskins. Her maternal grandparents were John Hoskins and Catherine Hale.
Richard and Catherine had two children:
- Catherine Henrietta Boyle (12 January 1768 - 8 July 1815). Married Francis Bernard, 1st Earl of BandonFrancis Bernard, 1st Earl of BandonFrancis Bernard, 1st Earl of Bandon was an Irish peer and politician.He was the only son of James Bernard and his wife Esther Smith, daughter of Percy Smith. Between 1778 and 1783, Bernard sat as Member of Parliament for Ennis...
. - Henry Boyle, 3rd Earl of ShannonHenry Boyle, 3rd Earl of ShannonHenry Boyle, 3rd Earl of Shannon KP, PC , styled Viscount Boyle from 1764 until 1807, was among the last surviving Members of the Parliament of Ireland. He represented Cork County in the new Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1807...
(8 August 1771 - 22 April 1842).