Charles Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont

Charles Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont KB PC(I) (6 April 1738 – 20 October 1800),[2] was an Irish peer.[1][3] He held a senior political position as one of the joint Postmasters General of Ireland. Charles was briefly styled as The 5th Baron Coote between February 1766 and his elevation to the earldom in September 1767.


The Earl of Bellomont

Earl of Bellomont
Portrait of Charles Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont,
by Sir Joshua Reynolds
Tenure1767–1800
Other titlesBaron Coote
BornCharles Coote
(1738-04-06)6 April 1738
Died20 October 1800(1800-10-20) (aged 62)
Dublin
Cause of deathInflammation of the lungs[1]
OfficesJoint Postmaster General of Ireland
Spouse(s)Lady Emily Maria Margaret FitzGerald
IssueCharles, Viscount Coote: died 1786
Mary
Prudentia
Emily
Louisa
ParentsCharles Coote (1695–1750) and Prudence Geering

Life

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Charles was the son of Charles Coote MP (1695–1750) and Prudence Geering of Cootehill, County Cavan. He was born on 6 April 1738 and baptised six days later.[2][3] He was educated at Trinity College Dublin.[4]

Lord Bellomont, as he then was, was badly wounded while fighting a duel with The Viscount Townshend on 2 February 1773: Townshend shot him in the groin. The quarrel seems to have been political, as Townshend had been a highly unpopular Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.[5]

Coote was the representative for County Cavan in the Irish House of Commons from 1761 to 1766.[2] He succeeded as The 5th Baron Coote in February 1766, and was created Earl of Bellomont in September 1767.

He married Lady Emily Maria Margaret FitzGerald, the daughter of The 1st Duke of Leinster and Emily, Duchess of Leinster, in Blackrock on 20 August 1774. The couple had five children: one son, Charles, who died in 1786, and four daughters, Mary, Prudentia, Emily and Louisa.[3]

Between 1789 and 1797, Lord Bellomont was one of the joint Postmasters General of Ireland with The 1st Marquess of Ely.[6]

His titles became extinct at his death.

Speeches

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  • Charles Coote Earl of Bellamont (1789). Earl of Bellamont's Speeches, in the House of Lords, on Friday the 13th and Monday the 16th February, 1789. Dublin: P Byrne. OCLC 228671162.

References

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  1. ^ a b Cokayne, George Edward (1912). Complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom: Vol 2. London: The St. Catherine Press. p. 109.
  2. ^ a b c "Irish Legislation Database". Queen's University Belfast. 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Lodge, John; Archdall, Mervyn (1789). Peerage of Ireland: or, A genealogical history of the present Nobility of that Kingdom: Vol III. Dublin: James Moore. pp. 216–217.
  4. ^ Alumni Dublinenses: a register of the students, graduates, professors and provosts of Trinity College in the University of Dublin (1593–1860), George Dames Burtchaell/Thomas Ulick Sadleir p. 176: Dublin, Alex Thom and Co, 1935
  5. ^ Gilchrist, James P (1821). A brief display of the origin and history of ordeals: trials by battle; courts of chivalry or honour; and the decision of private quarrels by single combat: also, a chronological register of the principal duels fought from the accession of His late Majesty to the present time. London: James P Gilchrist. pp. 105–106.
  6. ^ Haydn, Joseph (1851). The Book of Dignities Containing Lists of the Official Personages of the British Empire. Longmans, Brown, Green and Longmans. p. 461. Postmasters General of Ireland
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Parliament of Ireland
Preceded by Member of Parliament for County Cavan
1761–1766
With: Hon. Brinsley Butler
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Postmaster General of Ireland
1789–1797
With: The Earl of Ely
Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Unknown Custos Rotulorum of Cavan
1780–1800
Succeeded by
Peerage of Ireland
New creation Earl of Bellomont
1767–1800
Extinct
Preceded by Baron Coote
1766–1800
Baronetage of Ireland
New creation Baronet
(of Donnybrooke)
1774–1800
Succeeded by