Barry Maxwell, 1st Earl of Farnham
Barry Maxwell, 1st Earl of Farnham PC (Ire) (1723 – 7 October 1800), styled The Honourable Barry Maxwell from 1756 to 1779, was an Irish peer and politician.
Background
He was the son of John Maxwell, 1st Baron Farnham and Judith Barry.
Political career
He was Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas between 1741 and 1800, was called to the Irish Bar in 1748 and appointed a Bencher in 1757. On his brother's death on 16 November 1779, he succeeded as 3rd Baron Farnham, inheriting the Farnham estate. He commissioned James Wyatt, one of the most fashionable architects of the time, to design a new house. These plans are now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
He was created Viscount Farnham on 10 January 1781, Earl of Farnham on 22 June 1785, and became a Privy Councillor in Ireland on 6 June 1796. From 1756 to 1761 and again from 1768 to 1779, he sat in the Irish House of Commons for Cavan Borough. Between 1761 and 1768, he represented Armagh Borough.[1]
Family
He married twice, firstly on the 15 January 1757 to Margaret King, daughter of Robert King of Drewstown. They had the following children:
- John James Maxwell, 2nd Earl of Farnham (5 February 1760 – 23 July 1823).
- Anne Maxwell; she married in 1787 to Richard Fox of Fox Hall.
- Judith Maxwell, died unmarried in 1818.
He then married secondly in 1771 to Grace Burdett (died 8 March 1816), daughter of Arthur Burdett of Ballymaney. They had the following issue:
- Grace Maxwell (died 19 June 1866); she married to Sir Ralph St George, 7th Baronet (1758–1842)
- Elizabeth Maxwell, died unmarried in January 1782.
On his death, he was succeeded by his son John James.
Notes
- ↑ "National Library of Ireland - Collection List No. 95 - FARNHAM PAPERS" (PDF). National Library of Ireland. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
References
- Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990. (ISBN 033338847X),
- Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages
- Maxwell family genealogy, part 03. showing the Maxwell of Calderwood, Maxwell of Farnham (co. Cavan), and Maxwell of Finnebrogue families.
- An examination into the principles contained in a pamphlet entitled The speech of lord Minto, with some remarks upon a pamphlet entitled Observations on that part of the speaker's speech which relates to trade- A pamphlet written by the Earl opposing the Act of Union 1800
External links
| Parliament of Ireland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Maxwell Hon. Brinsley Butler |
Member of Parliament for Cavan Borough 1756 – 1761 With: Lord Newtown-Butler |
Succeeded by Brinsley Butler, Lord Newtown-Butler Charles Coote |
| Preceded by Robert Cuninghame Hon. John Ponsonby |
Member of Parliament for Armagh Borough 1761–1768 With: Robert Cuninghame |
Succeeded by George Macartney Philip Tisdall |
| Preceded by Lord Newtown-Butler William Stewart |
Member of Parliament for Cavan Borough 1768 – 1780 With: George Montgomery |
Succeeded by George Montgomery Hon. John James Maxwell |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| New creation | Earl of Farnham 1785 – 1800 |
Succeeded by John Maxwell |
| Viscount Farnham 1781 – 1800 | ||
| Preceded by Robert Maxwell |
Baron Farnham 1779 – 1800 | |