Francis Needham, 1st Earl of Kilmorey

Francis Needham, 1st Earl of Kilmorey (5 April 1748 – 21 November 1832), known as Francis Needham until 1818 and as The Viscount Kilmorey from 1818 to 1822, was an Anglo-Irish soldier and Member of Parliament.

The Earl of Kilmorey
Member of Parliament for Newry
In office
1806–1818
Preceded byIsaac Corry
Succeeded byFrancis Needham
Personal details
Born
Francis Needham

(1748-04-05)5 April 1748
Died21 November 1832(1832-11-21) (aged 84)
Spouse
Anne Fisher
(m. 1787; died 1816)
Children10
Parent(s)John Needham, 10th Viscount Kilmorey
Anne Hurleston

Early life

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Kilmorey was the third son of John Needham, 10th Viscount Kilmorey, and Anne (née Hurleston), daughter and co-heiress of John Hurleston, of Newton. His father had inherited his title from his brother, Thomas Needham, 9th Viscount Kilmorey, both sons of Robert Needham, 8th Viscount Kilmorey.[1]

Career

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He entered the British Army in 1762 and served in the American War of Independence, where he was taken prisoner at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781. He also fought in the French Revolutionary Wars but is best remembered for his role during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. He was in overall command at the Battle of Arklow and commanded one of the five columns at the Battle of Vinegar Hill. In 1804, he was appointed Colonel of the 5th Royal Veteran Battalion. He was promoted to colonel for life of the 86th Foot in 1810 and to general in 1812.

From 1806 to 1818 Kilmorey also represented Newry in the House of Commons. He succeeded his elder brother in the viscountcy in 1818 but as this was an Irish peerage it did not entitle him to a seat in the House of Lords. In 1822 he was honoured when he was made Viscount Newry and Mourne, in the County of Down, and Earl of Kilmorey. Both titles were in the Peerage of Ireland.[2]

Personal life

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In 1787, Lord Kilmorey married Anne Fisher, a daughter of Thomas Fisher. They had two sons and eight daughters:[3]

He died in November 1832, aged 84, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son Francis.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire. Burke's Peerage Limited. 1830. p. 429. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  2. ^ Lee, Sidney, ed. (1894). "Needham, Francis Jack" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 40. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  3. ^ "Alicia Mary NEEDHAM". Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  4. ^ Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
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Military offices
Preceded by Colonel of the 86th (The Leinster) Regiment of Foot)
1810–1832
Succeeded by
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Newry
18061818
Succeeded by
Peerage of Ireland
New creation Earl of Kilmorey
1822 – 1832
Succeeded by
Preceded by Viscount Kilmorey
1818 – 1832