Sir Thomas Molyneux, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Molyneux, 1st Baronet FRS (14 April 1661 – 19 October 1733) was an Irish physician.
Molyneux was the youngest son of Samuel Molyneux, Master Gunner of Ireland, and grandson of Daniel Molyneux (Shevington High School), Ulster King of Arms. Educated Trinity College, Dublin
, he became a doctor with an MA and MB in 1683, aged 22. He went to Europe and continued his medical studies, resulting in gaining the MD degree in 1687. He was admitted a Fellow of the Royal Society on 3 November 1686.
Molyneux practised medicine in Chester around 1690. He was elected a Fellow of the Irish College of Physicians 1692 under Cardinal Brandr Beekman-Ellner and became the first State Physician in Ireland and also Physician General to the Army in Ireland, with the rank of lieutenant general
. Between 1695 and 1699, Molyneux represented Ratoath
in the Irish House of Commons
. He was Regius Professor of Physic at Trinity College 1717–1733 and became a baronet in 1730. Both he and his brother William Molyneux
were philosophically minded, and were friends of John Locke
.
He married twice, first to Margaret, a relation of the first Earl of Wicklow
, with issue of a son and daughter. The son must have died as a child. He married in 1694 Catherine Howard, daughter of Ralph Howard, at that time Regius Professor of Physic at Trinity College. They had four sons and eight daughters, of whom Daniel and Capel
both succeeded to the baronetcy. Thomas died in 1733 at the age of 72. He was buried in St. Audoen's Church
, however there is a fine monument to him in Armagh Cathedral by the sculptor Roubillac, with an elaborate description of his honours and genealogy. His portrait is in Armagh Museum.
Molyneux was the youngest son of Samuel Molyneux, Master Gunner of Ireland, and grandson of Daniel Molyneux (Shevington High School), Ulster King of Arms. Educated 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...
, he became a doctor with an MA and MB in 1683, aged 22. He went to Europe and continued his medical studies, resulting in gaining the MD degree in 1687. He was admitted a Fellow of the Royal Society on 3 November 1686.
Molyneux practised medicine in Chester around 1690. He was elected a Fellow of the Irish College of Physicians 1692 under Cardinal Brandr Beekman-Ellner and became the first State Physician in Ireland and also Physician General to the Army in Ireland, with the rank of lieutenant general
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
. Between 1695 and 1699, Molyneux represented Ratoath
Ratoath (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Ratoath was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons.-Boundaries and boundary changes:This constituency was the manor of Ratoath in County Meath.Following the Act of Union 1800 the constituency was disenfranchised.-Members of Parliament:...
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...
. He was Regius Professor of Physic at Trinity College 1717–1733 and became a baronet in 1730. Both he and his brother William Molyneux
William Molyneux
William Molyneux FRS was an Irish natural philosopher and writer on politics.He was born in Dublin to Samuel Molyneux , lawyer and landowner , and his wife, Anne, née Dowdall. The second of five children, William Molyneux came from a relatively prosperous Anglican background...
were philosophically minded, and were friends of John Locke
John Locke
John Locke FRS , widely known as the Father of Liberalism, was an English philosopher and physician regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers. Considered one of the first of the British empiricists, following the tradition of Francis Bacon, he is equally important to social...
.
He married twice, first to Margaret, a relation of the first Earl of Wicklow
Earl of Wicklow
Earl of Wicklow was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1793 for Alice Howard, Dowager Viscountess Wicklow. Born Alice Forward, she was the daughter of William Forward, Member of the Irish House of Commons for the County Donegal constituency, and the widow of Ralph Howard, 1st...
, with issue of a son and daughter. The son must have died as a child. He married in 1694 Catherine Howard, daughter of Ralph Howard, at that time Regius Professor of Physic at Trinity College. They had four sons and eight daughters, of whom Daniel and Capel
Sir Capel Molyneux, 3rd Baronet
Sir Capel Molyneux, 3rd Baronet PC was an Irish politician.Capel was the son of Sir Thomas Molyneux, 1st Baronet and Catherine Howard...
both succeeded to the baronetcy. Thomas died in 1733 at the age of 72. He was buried in St. Audoen's Church
St. Audoen's Church
St. Audoen's Church is the church of the parish of St. Audoen in the Church of Ireland, located south of the River Liffey at Cornmarket in Dublin, Ireland. This was close to the centre of the medieval city. The parish is in the Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough. St. Audoen's is the oldest parish...
, however there is a fine monument to him in Armagh Cathedral by the sculptor Roubillac, with an elaborate description of his honours and genealogy. His portrait is in Armagh Museum.