Arthur Smith-Barry, 1st Baron Barrymore facts for kids
Arthur Hugh Smith-Barry, 1st Baron Barrymore, PC (Ire) (born January 17, 1843 – died February 22, 1925), was an Anglo-Irish politician. He was a member of the Conservative Party.
Early Life and Education
Arthur Hugh Smith-Barry was the son of James Hugh Smith Barry. His family lived in Marbury, Cheshire, England, and also on Fota Island, County Cork, Ireland. His mother was Eliza Jacson.
He went to school at Eton, which is a famous boarding school. After that, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford, a college at the University of Oxford.
Political Career
Smith-Barry became a member of the UK Parliament in 1867. He represented County Cork until 1874.
After some years away from Parliament, he returned in 1886. This time, he was elected to represent Huntingdon. He stayed in this role until 1900.
In 1886, he also served as the High Sheriff of County Cork. This was an important local role. He was asked by Arthur Balfour, a leading politician, to help landowners in Ireland. They needed to resist a movement called the "Plan of Campaign," which involved tenants protesting against landlords.
In 1896, he became a member of the Privy Council of Ireland. This meant he advised the King or Queen on Irish matters.
In 1902, he was given a special honor. He was made a Baron and took the title Baron Barrymore. This title had been held by his ancestors before. He then joined the House of Lords, which is the upper house of the UK Parliament.
Cricket
Arthur Smith-Barry also enjoyed playing first-class cricket. He played two matches for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). He played one match in 1873 and another in 1875.
Family Life
Lord Barrymore married Lady Mary Frances in 1868. She was the daughter of the 3rd Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl. They had two children:
- Geraldine Smith-Barry, born in 1869.
- James Hugh Smith-Barry, born in 1870, but sadly died as a baby in 1871.
Lady Mary Frances passed away in 1884. Lord Barrymore then married Elizabeth in 1889. She was the daughter of U.S. General James S. Wadsworth. They had one child together:
- Dorothy Elizabeth Smith-Barry, born in 1894.
Lord Barrymore died in London in February 1925, when he was 82 years old. Since his only son had died as an infant, his title of Baron Barrymore ended when he passed away. Lady Barrymore died in 1930.
After Arthur Hugh Smith-Barry's death, his family estate, including Fota Island, was passed down through his relatives. Eventually, in 1939, his daughter Dorothy Bell bought the Fota Island estate. When she died in 1975, it went to her daughter, Mrs. Rosemary Villiers. Today, Fota House is cared for by The Irish Heritage Trust.
See also
- Earl of Barrymore
