William Caulfeild, 1st Viscount Charlemont PC (Ire) (1624 – April 1671), was an Irish politician and peer.

Background

Born in

Donamon Castle Donamon Castle, or more correctly, Dunamon Castle (), is one of the oldest inhabited buildings in Ireland and stands on raised ground overlooking the River Suck in County Roscommon. History There was a fort here from early times (hence the name ...

County Roscommon County Roscommon () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is part of the province of Connacht and the Northern and Western Region. It is the List of Irish counties by area, 11th largest Irish county by area and Li ...

, he was the third son of William, 2nd

Baron Caulfeild Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knight, ...

, and his wife, Mary King, daughter of Sir John King and Catherine Drury. His two older brothers, Toby, 3rd Baron Caulfeild, and Robert, 4th Baron Caulfeild, both died without male issue and he succeeded to the barony on the latter's death in 1644.

Career

Having been first a leading Parliamentarian under

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially ...

, he captured Sir Phelim O'Neil in 1653 and executed him for rebellion and the murder of his brother Toby and his family. In 1660, the then Lord Caulfeild switched his allegiance and supported afterwards

King Charles II of England Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651 and King of England, Scotland, and King of Ireland, Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685. Charles II was the eldest su ...

, captaining a troop of horse. After the

English Restoration The Stuart Restoration was the reinstatement in May 1660 of the Stuart monarchy in Kingdom of England, England, Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland, and Kingdom of Ireland, Ireland. It replaced the Commonwealth of England, established in January 164 ...

, he took his seat in the

Irish House of Lords The Irish House of Lords was the upper house of the Parliament of Ireland that existed from medieval times until the end of 1800. It was also the final court of appeal of the Kingdom of Ireland. It was modelled on the House of Lords of Englan ...

and was sworn of the

Privy Council of Ireland His or Her Majesty's Privy Council in Ireland, commonly called the Privy Council of Ireland, Irish Privy Council, or in earlier centuries the Irish Council, was the institution within the Dublin Castle administration which exercised formal executi ...

. In 1661, the 5th Baron Caulfeild, as he was still known, was appointed ''Custos Rotulorum'' of County Armagh and ''Custos Rotulorum'' of County Tyrone, holding both offices until his death in 1671. He was rewarded with the governorship of

Charlemont Fort Charlemont Fort was a garrison situated in Charlemont, County Armagh. History The fort was built in 1602 by Lord Mountjoy. The name ''Charlemont'' came from Charles Blount's Christian name. It was situated on the Armagh bank of the River Blac ...

for life in July of the same year; however, he sold this office back to

the Crown The Crown is a political concept used in Commonwealth realms. Depending on the context used, it generally refers to the entirety of the State (polity), state (or in federal realms, the relevant level of government in that state), the executive ...

three years later. On 8 October 1665, he was created Viscount Charlemont, in the County of Armagh.

Family

In 1653, the then Lord Caulfeild married Hon. Sarah Moore, second daughter of the 2nd Viscount Moore of Drogheda and his wife, Alice Loftus, and had by her four sons and three daughters. She was the sister-in-law to Caulfeild's younger brother Thomas. Viscount Charlemont, as he had become, died in April 1671 and was buried at St Patrick's Cathedral in

Armagh Armagh ( ; , , " Macha's height") is a city and the county town of County Armagh, in Northern Ireland, as well as a civil parish. It is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland – the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, the Primates of All ...

on 25 May. His wife survived him until 1712. He was succeeded in his titles by his second and oldest surviving son,

William William is a masculine given name of Germanic languages, Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman Conquest, Norman conquest in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle ...

. A younger son, Toby, produced several notable descendants, including his grandson

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

Archdeacon of Kilmore The Archdeacon of Kilmore is a senior ecclesiastical officer within the Diocese of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh. The archdeaconry can trace its history from Maelisa Mac Gillco Erain, the earliest known incumbent, who died in 1199, to the current in ...

, and John's son, General James Caulfeild. His daughter Mary was the second wife of William, 6th

Baron Blayney Lord Blayney, Baron of Monaghan, in the County of Monaghan, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1621 for the soldier Sir Edward Blayney. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baron, who was killed at the Battle of Benburb ...

. His daughter Alicia was baptised at St Peter and St Kevin parish, Dublin, 16th December, 1691. married, firstly, John, son of

Archbishop In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...

James Margetson James Margetson (1600 – 26 August 1678) was an English churchman, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh from 1663 till 1678. Life James Margetson was a native of Drighlington in Yorkshire. He was educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge, and return ...

and, secondly, the 1st Baron Carpenter. Lord Charlemont's youngest son

sat in the

Parliament of Ireland The Parliament of Ireland () was the legislature of the Lordship of Ireland, and later the Kingdom of Ireland, from 1297 until the end of 1800. It was modelled on the Parliament of England and from 1537 comprised two chambers: the Irish Hou ...

Memorial

There is a memorial on the west wall of the north transept of

St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh There are two St Patrick's Cathedrals in Armagh, Northern Ireland: * St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh (Church of Ireland), the Anglican cathedral (and the Catholic cathedral prior to the Protestant Reformation) * St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh (Roma ...

."Funary Monuments & Memorials in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh" Curl, J.S. pp95-98: Whitstable; Historical Publications; 2013

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Charlemont, William Caulfeild, 1st Visount 1624 births 1671 deaths 17th-century Irish nobility

People from County Roscommon People from County Armagh Irish soldiers Cavaliers Roundheads Members of the Privy Council of Ireland Viscounts Charlemont Younger sons of barons