Robert Shaw (politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Shaw, 1st Baronet (29 January 1774 - 10 March 1849) was a Tory
UK Member of Parliament
representing Dublin City
1804-1826.
Sir Robert's great great grandfather, William Shaw, went to Ireland and fought for King William
at the Battle of the Boyne
in 1689, and was rewarded by the grant of land there. William's great grandson, Robert Shaw senior moved to Dublin in the mid-18th century, prospered as a merchant and became Accountant General of the Post Office
. In 1785 he acquired Terenure
House, an estate of 35 acres (141,640.1 m²). His son, Robert was born in 1774.
On 7 January 1796 Robert married Maria, daughter and heiress of Abraham Wilkinson, and as a dowry received £10,000 together with a 110 acre (0.4451546 km²) estate, Bushy Park
(possibly named after Bushy Park
in Teddington
) which adjoined Terenure House. Six months later Robert Sr. died leaving his son in possession of both estates. He sold Terenure House in 1806 and Bushy Park House became the family home (and was occupied by members of the Shaw family until 1951).
Between 1799 and 1800, Shaw served in the Irish House of Commons
for Bannow
. In a by-election
on 31 March 1804 Shaw replaced the former Tory
MP John Claudius Beresford
. Shaw retained the seat until he retired, at the dissolution of Parliament, in 1826. He was created a baronet (i.e. becoming Sir Robert) on 17 August 1821, being formally invested by George IV
when he visited Ireland in 1822.
Maria died in 1831 having borne nine children. Sir Robert's cousin, Bernard Shaw, had died in 1826 and Sir Robert had provided Bernard's widow, Frances, with a cottage on the Terenure estate where she lived for the next 45 years. One of Frances' grandchildren, George Bernard Shaw, was to be a regular visitor. On several occasions Sir Robert proposed to Frances, but he was turned down each time
In July 1834 he married Amelia Spencer at Twickenham Parish Church. The couple kept a home in Twickenham
, and were closely involved in the formation of the Twickenham Independent (Congregational) chapel. Sir Robert died on 10 March 1849 at Bushy Park, Dublin.
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
UK 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,...
representing Dublin City
Dublin City (UK Parliament constituency)
Dublin City was an Irish Borough constituency in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It comprised the city of Dublin in the county of Dublin, and was represented by two Members of Parliament from its creation in 1801 until 1885.In 1885, Dublin City was split...
1804-1826.
Sir Robert's great great grandfather, William Shaw, went to Ireland and fought for King William
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
at the Battle of the Boyne
Battle of the Boyne
The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland...
in 1689, and was rewarded by the grant of land there. William's great grandson, Robert Shaw senior moved to Dublin in the mid-18th century, prospered as a merchant and became Accountant General of the Post Office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
. In 1785 he acquired Terenure
Terenure
Terenure is a mainly residential suburb of Dublin, Ireland, largely in the administrative area of Dublin City Council but with parts in the administrative county of South Dublin County .-Location and transport:...
House, an estate of 35 acres (141,640.1 m²). His son, Robert was born in 1774.
On 7 January 1796 Robert married Maria, daughter and heiress of Abraham Wilkinson, and as a dowry received £10,000 together with a 110 acre (0.4451546 km²) estate, Bushy Park
Bushy Park, Dublin
Bushy Park is a large, , suburban public park in Terenure, Dublin, Ireland.- Location :Although situated mainly in Terenure, and listed by the city council with that address, it stretches to the borders of Rathfarnham and Templeogue. It is across the road from Terenure College boys' school and has...
(possibly named after Bushy Park
Bushy Park
- External links :***...
in Teddington
Teddington
Teddington is a suburban area in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London, on the north bank of the River Thames, between Hampton Wick and Twickenham. It stretches inland from the River Thames to Bushy Park...
) which adjoined Terenure House. Six months later Robert Sr. died leaving his son in possession of both estates. He sold Terenure House in 1806 and Bushy Park House became the family home (and was occupied by members of the Shaw family until 1951).
Between 1799 and 1800, Shaw served in 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 Bannow
Bannow (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Bannow was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1800.- Boundaries and Boundary Changes :This constituency was the borough of Bannow in County Wexford.-History:...
. In a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
on 31 March 1804 Shaw replaced the former Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
MP John Claudius Beresford
John Claudius Beresford
John Claudius Beresford was a Tory UK Member of Parliament representing Dublin City 1801–1804 and County Waterford 1806–1811.-Early life:...
. Shaw retained the seat until he retired, at the dissolution of Parliament, in 1826. He was created a baronet (i.e. becoming Sir Robert) on 17 August 1821, being formally invested by George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
when he visited Ireland in 1822.
Maria died in 1831 having borne nine children. Sir Robert's cousin, Bernard Shaw, had died in 1826 and Sir Robert had provided Bernard's widow, Frances, with a cottage on the Terenure estate where she lived for the next 45 years. One of Frances' grandchildren, George Bernard Shaw, was to be a regular visitor. On several occasions Sir Robert proposed to Frances, but he was turned down each time
In July 1834 he married Amelia Spencer at Twickenham Parish Church. The couple kept a home in Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
, and were closely involved in the formation of the Twickenham Independent (Congregational) chapel. Sir Robert died on 10 March 1849 at Bushy Park, Dublin.