Arthur French (politician) facts for kids
Arthur French (born 1764 – died November 24, 1820) was an important Irish politician. He was a member of the Whig party, which was a political group at the time.
About Arthur French
Arthur French came from a well-known family called the French family, who lived in Frenchpark, County Roscommon, Ireland. They owned a lot of land and also made money by trading wine. Arthur was the oldest son of Arthur French, who was also a Member of Parliament (MP), and his mother was Alicia Magenis.
Arthur French married Margaret Costello. They had nine children together. Some of his sons later became important figures, holding the title of Baron de Freyne.
His Time as a Politician
In 1783, Arthur French was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Roscommon County. He served in the Irish House of Commons, which was like the parliament for Ireland before it joined with Great Britain.
After the Act of Union in 1801, Ireland and Great Britain became one country. Arthur French then represented Roscommon in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. This was the main parliament for the whole United Kingdom.
Arthur French was a very independent politician. It is said that he was offered a special title, an Earldom, if he supported the Act of Union. But he said no to this honor. Later, he was offered another title, a Barony, without any conditions, and he refused that too. Even so, three of his sons eventually held the title of Baron de Freyne.
He was known for asking the government for jobs and favors for his brothers and sons. While this might seem unusual today, it was quite common for Irish politicians at that time.
What He Believed In
Arthur French was not afraid to speak his mind. He disagreed with a policy that made whole communities pay fines if someone in their area was caught making illegal alcohol called poteen. This made the Chief Secretary of Ireland, Robert Peel, very angry, and he called French "an Abominable fellow."
However, Arthur French was extremely popular in Roscommon, so the government could not ignore him. He also spoke out against keeping martial law in Ireland, which meant the military had control instead of the usual laws.
Later Life and Death
By 1817, Arthur French started to have health problems. He passed away on November 24, 1820. One report from that time mentioned that he died "from excessive fox hunting," which suggests he was very active.
