Colonel Sir John Burke, 2nd Baronet, DL (1782 – 14 September 1847) was an Irish soldier and Whig politician who was MP for

County Galway County Galway ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Northern and Western Region, taking up the south of the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht. The county population was 276,451 at the 20 ...

(1830–2) and High Sheriff of County Galway (1838–9).

Background

He was the oldest and only surviving son of Sir Thomas Burke, 1st Baronet and his wife Christian Browne. His mother Christian Browne is said by Burke's Peerage to be daughter of Edward Browne. but by "The Burkes of Marble Hill" by TU Sadleir. 1913. to be the daughter of James Browne, of the city of Limerick (grand-daughter of John Browne, of Ballynagallagh, Co. Limerick, by Elizabeth, daughter of John Fitzgerald, of Carrigoran, County Clare, who married Hon. Ellen Butler, daughter of Pierce, 2nd Viscount Ikerrin.) In 1813, Sir John Burke succeeded his father as baronet. Burke was admitted at

Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any ...

, though it is doubtful if he resided there, and then at the Royal Military College, Great Marlow. Shortly before his death he was recommended by

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Field marshal (United Kingdom), Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (; 1 May 1769 – 14 September 1852) was a British Army officer and statesman who was one of the leading military and political figures in Britain during t ...

for a peerage.

Career

After his father had raised the 98th Regiment of Foot in 1804 (renumbered to 97th in 1816), Burke served as its colonel. He was with his regiment in America and the

West Indies The West Indies is an island subregion of the Americas, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, which comprises 13 independent island country, island countries and 19 dependent territory, dependencies in thr ...

and following its dissolution in 1818 received the stand of colours. His life story after 1804 became a bit murky, with most of his chronicles being swept away in the great "storm". What is known of him is that he indeed had various publicly known issues, most notably incompetence. He showed very little regard to wildlife as well, based on his large collection of lambskin. A lover of the painter

Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (; ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), mononymously known as Rembrandt was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and Drawing, draughtsman. He is generally considered one of the greatest visual artists in ...

, he amassed a strong collection of the artist's virgin work. Burke entered the

British House of Commons The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the upper house, the House of Lords, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. The House of Commons is an elected body consisting of 650 memb ...

in 1830, sitting for

the next two years. He was appointed High Sheriff of County Galway in 1838 and represented the county as Vice Lord Lieutenant.

Family

On 18 May 1812, he married Elizabeth Mary Calcraft, eldest daughter of John Calcraft at

St James's Church, Piccadilly St James's Church, Piccadilly, also known as St James's Church, Westminster, and St James-in-the-Fields, is an Anglican church on Piccadilly in the centre of London, England. The church was designed and built by Sir Christopher Wren. The churc ...

, and had by her four children, two daughters and five sons. Burke died in his house at Ely Place,

Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...

and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his oldest son Thomas. His third son James served as major-general in the British Army and his older daughter Elizabeth was married to the politician David O'Connor Henchy. His sister Ellen married Percy Smythe, 6th Viscount Strangford.

Arms

References

Citations

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Burke, Sir John, 2nd Baronet 1782 births 1847 deaths Baronets in the Baronetage of Ireland 98th Regiment of Foot officers Deputy lieutenants of Galway Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge Graduates of the Royal Military College, Great Marlow High sheriffs of County Galway Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for County Galway constituencies (1801–1922) Politicians from County Galway UK MPs 1830–1831 UK MPs 1831–1832 John