Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery
Encyclopedia
Roger Boyle redirects here. For others of this name, see Roger Boyle (disambiguation)
Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery (25 April 1621 – 16 October 1679) was a British soldier, statesman
and dramatist. He was the third surviving son of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork
and Richard's second wife, Catherine Fenton. He was created Baron of Broghill on 28 February 1627. Boyle fought in the Irish Confederate Wars
(part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
) and subsequently became known for his antagonism towards Irish Catholics and their political aspirations. He was also a noted playwright and writer on 17th century warfare.
and acquiring large estates and wealth, largely at the expense of the local Irish lords. Roger Boyle was educated at Trinity College, Dublin
.
in 1641 and fought with his brothers against the Irish rebels at the battle of Liscarroll
in September 1642. However, Boyle and the English in Ireland were left vulnerable by the outbreak of the English Civil War
. Although initially under the command of the Royalist Marquis of Ormonde (later James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
), Lord Broghill consented to serve under the parliamentary commissioners in Cork
against the Irish Confederates
. Boyle fought with the Parliamentarians until the execution of the king, when he retired altogether from public affairs and took up his residence at Marston
in Somerset
shire.
Subsequently he originated a scheme to bring about the Restoration. On his way abroad to consult with King Charles II
, he was unexpectedly visited by Oliver Cromwell
in London. Cromwell informed him that his plans were well known to the council, and warned him of the consequence of persisting in them. Cromwell offered him a command in Ireland against the rebels that entailed no obligations except faithful service. It was accepted.
His assistance in Ireland proved invaluable during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
. Appointed master of the ordnance, he soon assembled a body of infantry and horse, and drove the rebels into Kilkenny
, where they surrendered. He also induced the Royalist garrison of Cork (English troops with whom he had served earlier in the wars) to defect back to the Parliamentarian side. On 10 May 1650 he completely defeated at Macroom
a force of Irish advancing to the relief of Cork, and joining Cromwell assisted in taking the latter place. On Cromwell's departure for Scotland he co-operated with Henry Ireton
, whom he joined at the siege of Limerick
. In 1651 he defeated an Irish force marching to Limerick's relief under Lord Muskerry at the battle of Knocknaclashy
, the final battle of the Irish Confederate Wars
, thus effecting the capture of the town.
By this time Broghill had become the fast friend and follower of Cromwell, whose stern measures in Ireland and support of the English and Protestants were welcomed after the policy of concession to the Irish initiated by Charles I
. He was returned to Cromwell's parliaments of 1654 and 1656 as member for the county of Cork
, and also in the latter assembly for Edinburgh
, for which he elected to sit. He served this year as lord president of the council in Scotland, where he won much popularity; and when he returned to England he was included in the inner cabinet of Cromwell's council, and was nominated in 1657 a member of the new House of Lords. He was one of those most in favour of Cromwell's assumption of the royal title, and proposed a union between the Protector's daughter Frances and Charles II.
; but as he saw no possibility of maintaining the government he left for Ireland, where by resuming his command in Munster
he secured the island for Charles and anticipated Monk's overtures by inviting the King to land at Cork. He sat for Arundel
in the Convention
and in the parliament of 1661, and at the Restoration was taken into great favour. On 5 September 1660 he was created earl of Orrery. The same year he was appointed a lord justice of Ireland and drew up the Act of Settlement. In 1661, he founded the town of Charleville, County Cork
, near his estate at Broghill. However, his mansion house in Broghill was later burned by Irish forces before the end of the century. He continued to exercise his office as lord-president of Munster till 1668, when he resigned it on account of disputes with the duke of Ormonde
, the lord-lieutenant
.
On 25 November, he was impeached
by the House of Commons
for "raising of money by his own authority upon his majesty's subjects," but the prorogation of parliament by the king interrupted the proceedings, which were not afterwards renewed. He married Lady Margaret Howard, 3rd daughter of Theophilus, 2nd Earl of Suffolk
, whose charms were celebrated by Suckling
in his poem "The Bride." By her he had besides five daughters, two sons, of whom the eldest, Roger (1646-1681 or 1682), succeeded as 2nd earl of Orrery.
There are some poems, of little interest, including verses:
Plays in verse, of some literary but less dramatic merit:
A collected edition was published in 1737, to which was added the fourth earl
's comedy As you find it. The General is also attributed to him.
Roger Boyle (disambiguation)
Roger Boyle was the 1st Earl of Orrery, British soldier, statesman and dramatist.Roger Boyle may also refer to:*Roger Boyle, 2nd Earl of Orrery...
Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery (25 April 1621 – 16 October 1679) was a British soldier, statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
and dramatist. He was the third surviving son of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork
Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork
Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork , also known as the Great Earl of Cork, was Lord Treasurer of the Kingdom of Ireland....
and Richard's second wife, Catherine Fenton. He was created Baron of Broghill on 28 February 1627. Boyle fought in the Irish Confederate Wars
Irish Confederate Wars
This article is concerned with the military history of Ireland from 1641-53. For the political context of this conflict, see Confederate Ireland....
(part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
Wars of the Three Kingdoms
The Wars of the Three Kingdoms formed an intertwined series of conflicts that took place in England, Ireland, and Scotland between 1639 and 1651 after these three countries had come under the "Personal Rule" of the same monarch...
) and subsequently became known for his antagonism towards Irish Catholics and their political aspirations. He was also a noted playwright and writer on 17th century warfare.
A colonial upbringing
Roger Boyle was named after his parents' first son who died at age nine. The Boyle family settled in Ireland in the late 16th century, Richard Boyle becoming the Earl of CorkEarl of Cork
Earl of the County of Cork, usually shortened to Earl of Cork, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1620 for the Anglo-Irish politician Richard Boyle, 1st Baron Boyle...
and acquiring large estates and wealth, largely at the expense of the local Irish lords. Roger Boyle 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...
.
Rebellion and civil war
Boyle travelled in France and Italy, and took part in the Bishops Wars against the Scots on returning home. He returned to Ireland on the outbreak of the rebellionIrish Rebellion of 1641
The Irish Rebellion of 1641 began as an attempted coup d'état by Irish Catholic gentry, who tried to seize control of the English administration in Ireland to force concessions for the Catholics living under English rule...
in 1641 and fought with his brothers against the Irish rebels at the battle of Liscarroll
Battle of Liscarroll
The Battle of Liscarroll was fought in County Cork in July 1642, at the start of the Eleven years war. An Irish Confederate army around 6000 strong and commanded by Garret Barry – a professional soldier - was defeated by an English force commanded by a Protestant Irishman, Murrough O'Brien, Baron...
in September 1642. However, Boyle and the English in Ireland were left vulnerable by the outbreak of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. Although initially under the command of the Royalist Marquis of Ormonde (later James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde PC was an Irish statesman and soldier. He was the second of the Kilcash branch of the family to inherit the earldom. He was the friend of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, who appointeed him commander of the Cavalier forces in Ireland. From 1641 to 1647, he...
), Lord Broghill consented to serve under the parliamentary commissioners in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
against the Irish Confederates
Confederate Ireland
Confederate Ireland refers to the period of Irish self-government between the Rebellion of 1641 and the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in 1649. During this time, two-thirds of Ireland was governed by the Irish Catholic Confederation, also known as the "Confederation of Kilkenny"...
. Boyle fought with the Parliamentarians until the execution of the king, when he retired altogether from public affairs and took up his residence at Marston
Marston Magna
Marston Magna is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated north of Yeovil in the South Somerset district...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
shire.
Subsequently he originated a scheme to bring about the Restoration. On his way abroad to consult with King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, he was unexpectedly visited by Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
in London. Cromwell informed him that his plans were well known to the council, and warned him of the consequence of persisting in them. Cromwell offered him a command in Ireland against the rebels that entailed no obligations except faithful service. It was accepted.
His assistance in Ireland proved invaluable during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
The Cromwellian conquest of Ireland refers to the conquest of Ireland by the forces of the English Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Cromwell landed in Ireland with his New Model Army on behalf of England's Rump Parliament in 1649...
. Appointed master of the ordnance, he soon assembled a body of infantry and horse, and drove the rebels into Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, where they surrendered. He also induced the Royalist garrison of Cork (English troops with whom he had served earlier in the wars) to defect back to the Parliamentarian side. On 10 May 1650 he completely defeated at Macroom
Battle of Macroom
The Battle of Macroom was fought in 1650, near Macroom, County Cork, in southern Ireland, during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. An English Parliamentarian force under Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery defeated an Irish Confederate force under David Roche....
a force of Irish advancing to the relief of Cork, and joining Cromwell assisted in taking the latter place. On Cromwell's departure for Scotland he co-operated with Henry Ireton
Henry Ireton
Henry Ireton was an English general in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War. He was the son-in-law of Oliver Cromwell.-Early life:...
, whom he joined at the siege of Limerick
Siege of Limerick (1650-51)
Limerick, in western Ireland was the scene of two sieges during the Irish Confederate Wars. The second and largest of these took place during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in 1650-51. Limerick was one the last fortified cities held by an alliance of Irish Confederate Catholics and English...
. In 1651 he defeated an Irish force marching to Limerick's relief under Lord Muskerry at the battle of Knocknaclashy
Battle of Knocknaclashy
The battle of Knocknaclashy, took place in county Cork in southern Ireland in 1651. In it, an Irish Confederate force led by Donagh MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry was defeated by an English Parliamentarian force under Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery...
, the final battle of the Irish Confederate Wars
Irish Confederate Wars
This article is concerned with the military history of Ireland from 1641-53. For the political context of this conflict, see Confederate Ireland....
, thus effecting the capture of the town.
By this time Broghill had become the fast friend and follower of Cromwell, whose stern measures in Ireland and support of the English and Protestants were welcomed after the policy of concession to the Irish initiated by Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
. He was returned to Cromwell's parliaments of 1654 and 1656 as member for the county of Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and also in the latter assembly for Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, for which he elected to sit. He served this year as lord president of the council in Scotland, where he won much popularity; and when he returned to England he was included in the inner cabinet of Cromwell's council, and was nominated in 1657 a member of the new House of Lords. He was one of those most in favour of Cromwell's assumption of the royal title, and proposed a union between the Protector's daughter Frances and Charles II.
Restoration
On Oliver Cromwell's death he gave his support to Richard CromwellRichard Cromwell
At the same time, the officers of the New Model Army became increasingly wary about the government's commitment to the military cause. The fact that Richard Cromwell lacked military credentials grated with men who had fought on the battlefields of the English Civil War to secure their nation's...
; but as he saw no possibility of maintaining the government he left for Ireland, where by resuming his command in Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
he secured the island for Charles and anticipated Monk's overtures by inviting the King to land at Cork. He sat for Arundel
Arundel (UK Parliament constituency)
Arundel was twice a parliamentary constituency in the Kingdom of England, the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. The first incarnation strictly comprised the town centre of Arundel and was a borough constituency first enfranchised in 1332 and disfranchised in 1868 under the Reform...
in the Convention
Irish Convention (1660)
The Irish Convention sat 7 February, 2 March and 27 May 1660, and again January 1661. It sought to restore the monarchy, episcopacy and the also the right for the King's Irish Parliament to tax and legislate for itself, rejecting claims of legislative supremacy by the King's English Parliament.Sir...
and in the parliament of 1661, and at the Restoration was taken into great favour. On 5 September 1660 he was created earl of Orrery. The same year he was appointed a lord justice of Ireland and drew up the Act of Settlement. In 1661, he founded the town of Charleville, County Cork
Charleville, County Cork
Charleville or Ráth Luirc is a town in north County Cork, Ireland, situated in Ireland's Golden Vale, near the border with County Limerick. It is located on the "Glen" tributary river, which flows into the Maigue River in Co. Limerick...
, near his estate at Broghill. However, his mansion house in Broghill was later burned by Irish forces before the end of the century. He continued to exercise his office as lord-president of Munster till 1668, when he resigned it on account of disputes with the duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde PC was an Irish statesman and soldier. He was the second of the Kilcash branch of the family to inherit the earldom. He was the friend of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, who appointeed him commander of the Cavalier forces in Ireland. From 1641 to 1647, he...
, the lord-lieutenant
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
.
On 25 November, he was impeached
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
by the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
for "raising of money by his own authority upon his majesty's subjects," but the prorogation of parliament by the king interrupted the proceedings, which were not afterwards renewed. He married Lady Margaret Howard, 3rd daughter of Theophilus, 2nd Earl of Suffolk
Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk
Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk, KG was an English nobleman and politician.Born at the family estate of Saffron Walden, he was the son of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk, by his second wife Catherine Knyvet of Charlton, and succeeded his father in 1626.Sir Theophilus Howard was named in...
, whose charms were celebrated by Suckling
John Suckling (poet)
Sir John Suckling was an English poet and one prominent figure among those renowned for careless gaiety, wit, and all the accomplishments of a Cavalier poet; and also the inventor of the card game Cribbage...
in his poem "The Bride." By her he had besides five daughters, two sons, of whom the eldest, Roger (1646-1681 or 1682), succeeded as 2nd earl of Orrery.
Boyle's writings
In addition to Lord Orrery's achievements as a statesman and administrator, he gained some reputation as a writer and a dramatist. He was the author of:- An Answer to a Scandalous Letter ... A Full Discovery of the Treachery of the Irish Rebels (1662), printed with the letter itself in his State Letters (1742)
- another answer to the same letter entitled Irish Colors Displayed ... being also ascribed to him
- Parthenissa, a novel (1651, 1654–56, 1669)
- English-Adventures by a Person of Honor (1676), whence OtwayThomas OtwayThomas Otway was an English dramatist of the Restoration period, best known for Venice Preserv'd, or A Plot Discover'd .-Life:...
drew his tragedy of the Orphan - Treatise of the Art of War (1677), a work of considerable historical value
There are some poems, of little interest, including verses:
- On His Majesty's Happy Restoration (unprinted)
- On the Death of Abraham Cowley (1677)
- The Dream (unprinted)
- Poems on most of the Festivals of the Church (1681)
Plays in verse, of some literary but less dramatic merit:
- Henry V (1664), tragedy
- The Generall (1664), a tragi-comedy. http://www.presscom.co.uk/halliwell/plymouth.html#the_generall
- Mustapha (1665), tragedy
- Tryphon (acted 1668), tragedy
- The Black PrinceThe Black Prince (play)The Black Prince is a Restoration era stage play, a historical tragedy written by Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery. It premiered on stage in 1667 and was first published in 1669...
(acted 1667; printed 1669), tragedy - Herod the Great (published 1694 but unacted), tragedy
- Altemira (1702), tragedy
- Guzman (1669), comedy
- Mr. Anthony (1690), comedy
A collected edition was published in 1737, to which was added the fourth earl
Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery
Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery KT PC FRS was an English nobleman, statesman and patron of the sciences....
's comedy As you find it. The General is also attributed to him.
Authorities
- State Letters of Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery, ed. with his life by. Th. Morrice (1742);
- Additional manuscripts (Brit. Mus.British MuseumThe British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
) 25,287 (letter-book when governor of Munster), and 32,095 sqq. 109-188 (letters); - Article in the Dictionary of National BiographyDictionary of National BiographyThe Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
and authorities there; - Anthony WoodAnthony WoodAnthony Wood or Anthony à Wood was an English antiquary.-Early life:Anthony Wood was the fourth son of Thomas Wood , BCL of Oxford, where Anthony was born...
, Athenae Oxonienses, iii. 1200; - Andrew KippisAndrew KippisAndrew Kippis was an English nonconformist clergyman and biographer.The son of Robert Kippis, a silk-hosier, he was born at Nottingham. Having gone to school at Sleaford in Lincolnshire he passed at the age of sixteen to the Dissenting academy at Northampton, of which Dr Philip Doddridge was then...
, Biographia ); - Orrery Papers, ed. by Lady Cork and Orrery (1893) (Preface);
- John Thomas GilbertJohn Thomas GilbertSir John Thomas Gilbert was an Irish archivist, antiquarian and historian.-Life:John Thomas Gilbert was the second son of John Gilbert, an English Protestant, who was Portuguese consul in Dublin, and Marianne Gilbert, an Irish Catholic, daughter of Henry Costello. He was born in Jervis Street,...
(editor), Contemporary Hist. of Affairs in Ireland, (1879–1880); - Calendar of State Pap., Irish and Domestic.