James Cuffe, 1st Baron Tyrawley (1747 – 15 June 1821) was an Irish peer and politician.

Life

Cuffe's father was James Cuffe of Elmhall and Ballinrobe Castle and his mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Arthur Gore, 2nd Baronet and Elizabeth Annesley, and sister of Arthur Gore, 1st Earl of Arran. From 1768 until 1797 Cuffe represented

County Mayo County Mayo (; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. In the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht, it is named after the village of Mayo, County Mayo, Mayo, now ge ...

in the

Irish House of Commons The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland that existed from 1297 until the end of 1800. The upper house was the Irish House of Lords, House of Lords. The membership of the House of Commons was directly elected, ...

. In 1776, he stood also for Donegal Borough and in 1783 for

Tuam Tuam (; , meaning 'mound' or 'burial-place') is a town in Ireland and the second-largest settlement in County Galway. It is west of the midland Region, Ireland, midlands of Ireland, about north of Galway city. The town is in a civil parishe ...

, however, chose both times not to sit. He was created Baron Tyrawley on 7 November 1797 and was elected as one of the first Irish representative peers in 1800. He was appointed Governor of Mayo, a position he held until 1821.

Family

Cuffe had two illegitimate sons Henry and James Cuffe with Sarah Wewitzer, a leading actress. She called herself "Lady Trelawny" but neither of their children was recognised by inheriting their father's title. James was M.P. for Tralee. Lord Tyrawley's first wife, Sir Richard Levinge died without issue in 1808. She was the daughter of Richard Levinge (1724-1783)">Levinge_baronets.html" ;"title="ary Levinge, daughter of Levinge baronets">Sir Richard Levinge died without issue in 1808. She was the daughter of Richard Levinge (1724-1783) and Alice Marlay. Both her grandfathers were eminent judges. A tombstone was placed in Ballinrobe churchyard to Henry Cuff, who died 25 August 1811, son of James Cuff, Baron of Tyrawly. A further tombstone in the same churchyard gives Right Honr. Sarah, Baroness Tyrawly who died 4 October 1820. James Cuffe's own tombstone reads: "To the memory of The Right Honr. James Cuff , Lord Baron Tyrawly , One of his Majestys , Most Honr. Privy Counsil , Late Barrackmaster Genl. , of , Ireland , who died on the 15th June 1821 , Aged ___ years.."Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead, Ireland - 1907 Vol. VII No. 2 of Part I. Having no legitimate sons living at the time of his death, his title became extinct.

References

1747 births 1821 deaths Barons in the Peerage of Ireland Peers of Ireland created by George III Irish MPs 1769–1776 Irish MPs 1776–1783 Irish MPs 1783–1790 Irish MPs 1790–1797 Politicians from County Mayo Irish representative peers Members of the Privy Council of Ireland Members of the Irish House of Lords Members of the Parliament of Ireland (pre-1801) for County Mayo constituencies Members of the Parliament of Ireland (pre-1801) for County Donegal constituencies Members of the Parliament of Ireland (pre-1801) for County Galway constituencies {{Ireland-pre1801-MP-stub