Arthur St Leger, 1st Viscount Doneraile facts for kids
Arthur St Leger, 1st Viscount Doneraile (who died on July 7, 1727) was an important Anglo-Irish figure. He was a politician and a "peer," which means he held a special noble title.
Arthur St Leger's Life
Arthur St Leger was the son of John St. Leger and his first wife, Lady Mary Chichester. His mother's father was Arthur Chichester, 1st Earl of Donegall. Arthur was also a descendant of Sir Anthony St Leger, a famous historical figure.
Arthur had a half-brother named Sir John St Leger. John became a judge in the Court of Exchequer (Ireland). People said John's success was largely thanks to Arthur's support. The two brothers were very close throughout their lives.
Arthur's Political Career
Arthur St Leger represented the area of Doneraile in the Irish House of Commons. This was like being a member of parliament in Ireland. He served there from 1692 to 1693.
On June 23, 1703, he was given the noble titles of Viscount Doneraile and Baron Kilmayden. These titles were part of the Peerage of Ireland. In 1715, he became a member of the Privy Council of Ireland. This was a group of important advisors to the monarch.
A Famous Debate in Parliament
One of Arthur St Leger's most notable moments was during a big debate in the Irish House of Lords in 1719. This debate was about a legal case called Sherlock v Annesley.
In this case, judges, including Arthur's brother John, followed a decision made by the British House of Lords. They ignored a different decision made by the Irish House of Lords. The Irish peers (nobles) were very angry. They felt their authority was being challenged.
The Irish peers called the judges to appear before them. After a short, heated meeting, they sent the judges to prison for three months. Only two peers voted against sending the judges to prison: Arthur St Leger and the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Lord Midleton.
Lord Midleton was worried about the political problems this would cause. He correctly warned that the Irish House of Lords might lose its power to make legal decisions. Arthur St Leger, however, seemed to vote the way he did because he was loyal to his brother. They were very close.
Family Life
On June 24, 1690, Arthur St Leger married Elizabeth Hayes. Elizabeth inherited a lot of land in County Waterford from her family.
Arthur and Elizabeth had four children together. Two of their sons later inherited his noble titles. A third son, John, sadly died in a duel in 1741.
Their daughter, Elizabeth Aldworth, became famous as "The Lady Freemason". She was also an ancestor of later Viscounts Doneraile.
