Arthur MacMurrough Kavanagh facts for kids
Arthur MacMurrough Kavanagh (born March 25, 1831 – died December 25, 1889) was an important Irish politician. He was known for overcoming big challenges in his life.
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Arthur Kavanagh's Life Story
Arthur MacMurrough Kavanagh was born on March 25, 1831, at Borris House in County Carlow, Ireland. His father, Thomas Kavanagh, was a Member of Parliament (MP), which means he helped make laws for the country. His mother was Lady Harriet Margaret Le Poer Trench, an artist. Arthur's family had a long history, tracing their roots back to the medieval Kings of Leinster.
Arthur was born with very short arms and legs. The reason for this birth defect is not known. However, his mother was determined that he would have the same chances as any other child. She made sure he received special care from a doctor named Francis Boxwell. Dr. Boxwell believed that Arthur could live a full and active life.
Growing Up and Learning New Skills
Arthur learned to ride horses at just three years old! He was strapped into a special saddle and used the short stumps of his arms to guide the horse. His mother also arranged for a special mechanical wheelchair to be built for him. She always encouraged him to enjoy outdoor activities.
Arthur loved fishing, hunting, drawing, and writing stories. He used special tools to help him. His mother taught him how to write and paint by holding pens and brushes in his mouth.
In 1846, when Arthur was about 15, his mother took him and two of his siblings on a two-year trip to the Middle East. During this adventure, Arthur almost drowned in the Nile river while fishing. Luckily, a local salesman saved him.
Travels and Early Career
After his travels, Arthur went to live in places like Uppsala and Moscow for a short time. He traveled a lot between 1846 and 1853, visiting Egypt, Turkey, Persia (modern-day Iran), and India. In India, he faced a challenge when his mother stopped his money supply. So, he found a job with the East India Company as a despatch rider, delivering important messages.
Becoming a Leader
In 1851, Arthur became the head of his family's estates and inherited the title of "The MacMurrough." This happened after his older brother Thomas passed away.
He took on important roles in his local community. He served as the High Sheriff of County Kilkenny in 1856 and High Sheriff of Carlow in 1857. A High Sheriff was a senior official who helped keep law and order in the county.
Arthur was a member of the Conservative Party and a Protestant. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for County Wexford from 1866 to 1868. Then, he served as an MP for County Carlow from 1868 to 1880.
When he was elected, his manservant had to help him get to his seat in the Parliament building. The Speaker of the House, Evelyn Denison, made a special rule allowing his manservant to stay in the room during meetings to assist him.
Arthur Kavanagh was against changing the official status of the Church of Ireland. However, he supported a law called the Landlord and Tenant (Ireland) Act 1870, which aimed to improve conditions for farmers.
After losing his seat in Parliament in 1880, he was appointed to a special group called the Bessborough Commission. This group looked into land issues in Ireland. Arthur disagreed with some of their findings and wrote his own report. In 1886, he became a member of the Privy Council of Ireland, which meant he advised the King or Queen.
Arthur Kavanagh passed away from pneumonia on December 25, 1889, in London. He was buried in Ballicopagan cemetery. His son, Walter MacMurrough Kavanagh, followed in his footsteps and also became an MP for County Carlow later on. Arthur's life story even inspired a novel called The History of Sir Richard Calmady.
Family Life
In 1855, Arthur Kavanagh married his cousin, Mary Frances Forde-Leathley. With his wife's help, he was a kind and generous landlord. He also worked as a county magistrate (a type of judge) and was chairman of the board of guardians, which helped manage local services.
Arthur and Mary had seven children:
- Eva (died 1896)
- May (died 1949)
- Agnes (died 1932)
- Walter (died 1922)
- Arthur (died 1882)
- Charles (died 1950)
- Osborne (died 1897)
See Also
- Walter MacMurrough Kavanagh]]
