Charles MacCarthy, 1st Viscount Muskerry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charles MacCarthy
Viscount Muskerry
Tenure	1628–1641
Predecessor	Cormac, 16th Lord of Muskerry
Successor	Donough, 1st Earl of Clancarty
Born	c. 1570
Died	20 February 1641 London
Buried	Westminster Abbey
Spouse(s)	1. Margaret O'Brien 2. Ellen Roche
Issue Detail	Donough & others
Father	Cormac, 16th Lord of Muskerry
Mother	Mary Butler

Sir Charles MacCarthy, 1st Viscount of Muskerry (died 1641), also known as Cormac Oge, was an important Irish leader. His family were traditional Irish chieftains, but he gained a noble title under English law. This made him a Viscount instead of just a Lord. He served in the Irish House of Lords in both Irish parliaments during the reign of King Charles I. Charles MacCarthy was against Strafford, who was the king's main representative in Ireland. In 1641, he helped to bring about Strafford's downfall by telling the king in London about the problems people had with Strafford. Charles MacCarthy died during this trip and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Early Life and Family

Charles, also called Cormac, was likely born around the 1570s in County Cork, in southern Ireland. He had two names because he lived in a place where both English and Irish were spoken. Charles was the oldest son of Cormac MacDermot MacCarthy and his wife, Mary Butler.

His Parents and Irish Roots

Since his father was also named Cormac, Charles was called "Cormac oge," which means "the younger" in Irish. His father was the 16th Lord of Muskerry. Charles's father had become a Protestant, following the Church of Ireland. The MacCarthys of Muskerry were a powerful Gaelic Irish family. They were a branch of the MacCarthy-Mor line, which started in the 14th century.

Charles's mother, Mary Butler, was the second daughter of Theobald Butler, 1st Baron Cahir. Her family, the Butlers, were Old English and came from Theobald Walter, 1st Chief Butler of Ireland. He was appointed chief butler of Ireland by King Henry II in 1177. Charles had three other siblings, who are mentioned in his father's article.

Growing Up and Changing Faith

It seems that Charles MacCarthy was a Protestant when he was young. However, he later became a Catholic.

Marriages and Children

First Marriage to Margaret O'Brien

MacCarthy married Margaret O'Brien around 1590. She was the daughter of Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond, who was a Protestant. Her family, the O'Briens, was another important Gaelic Irish family. They were descendants of Brian Boru, a famous medieval high king of Ireland.

His Children

Charles and Margaret had two sons:

• Cormac, who was disabled and died young before his father.
• Donough (1594–1665), who became the 1st Earl of Clancarty and 2nd Viscount of Muskerry.

They also had five daughters. Their birth order is not fully known:

• Julia (died 1633), who married Sir Valentine Browne, 1st Baronet.
• Mary, who married Sir Valentine Browne, 2nd Baronet and had a son named Valentine Browne, 1st Viscount Kenmare.
• Elena, who married John Power.
• Eleanor, who married Charles MacCarthy Reagh of Kilbrittain in 1636. They had three sons and a daughter.
• Helen, who married Colonel Edmund Fitzmaurice.

Second Marriage to Ellen Roche

After his first wife died, Charles MacCarthy married again in 1636 or later. His second wife was Ellen Roche, the oldest daughter of David Roche, 7th Viscount Fermoy. She was a strong Catholic. This was also her second marriage. She was the widow of Donal MacCarthy Reagh of Kilbrittain. She had a son named Charles MacCarthy Reagh of Kilbrittain, who had married Eleanor, one of Charles MacCarthy's daughters, in 1636. So, Charles MacCarthy married the mother of his son-in-law!

Charles MacCarthy was a Catholic during the later part of his life. He likely changed his religion after his first wife died, as her father had been a Protestant.

A Time of Peace and New Titles

Ireland After the Nine Years' War

Charles MacCarthy's father fought in a big conflict called Tyrone's Rebellion, also known as the Nine Years' War (1593–1603). His father sided with the English and fought against the Spanish during the Siege of Kinsale in 1601. Most of Charles MacCarthy's life happened during a peaceful time in southern Ireland. This peace lasted for almost 40 years, from the Treaty of Mellifont (which ended the Nine Years' War) until the Irish Rebellion of 1641.

Becoming a Lord and Viscount

In 1616, Charles MacCarthy became the 17th Lord of Muskerry after his father passed away. The Lord Deputy, Oliver St John, made him a knight in 1620. In 1628, King Charles I of Ireland, England, and Scotland, gave him new titles: Baron Blarney and Viscount Muskerry. These titles were probably bought. They had a special rule that made his second son, Donough, his successor. This was because his oldest son, Cormac, was alive but disabled.

This was the first time the title of Muskerry was created. The title later ended in 1691. However, it was brought back as Baron Muskerry in 1781 for Robert Tilson Deane, 1st Baron Muskerry.

Charles MacCarthy in Parliament

Working with King Charles I

As Viscount Muskerry, Charles sat in the Irish House of Lords. He was part of the two Irish parliaments that met during King Charles I's rule. The Irish Parliament of 1634–1635 started on 14 July 1634. It was opened by the new Lord Deputy of Ireland, Thomas Wentworth (who later became Lord Strafford). Wentworth had started his job in July 1633. Muskerry took his seat in parliament on the very first day. Wentworth ended this parliament on 18 April 1635.

Standing Up to Lord Strafford

The Irish Parliament of 1640–1649 began on 16 March 1640. Christopher Wandesford, whom Strafford had chosen, opened it as Lord Deputy. Strafford himself arrived two days later. In its first meeting, the parliament agreed to give £45,000 to the king. This money was to create an Irish army of 9,000 soldiers. The king wanted to use this army against the Scots in the Second Bishops' War. While attending parliament, Muskerry likely stayed at his new house in Dublin.

On 3 April 1640, Strafford left Ireland. The House of Commons (another part of parliament) created a group to collect complaints about Strafford's bad behavior. They sent a group to Westminster, in London, to give these complaints to the king. Muskerry's son, Donough, was part of this group.

The House of Lords also decided to send some of their members to London to tell the king their complaints. These members included Lord Muskerry, Gormanston, Dillon, and Kilmallock. Parliament met again on 26 January 1641. Lord Deputy Wandesford had died on 3 December 1640. So, the Irish government was being run by the Lords Justices, Parsons and Borlase.

The House of Lords said that their members who went to London were acting as a committee. They excused their absence. On 18 February 1641, the lords wrote down their complaints in 18 points. They complained that Strafford had made them pay too much in taxes.

His Final Days

Charles MacCarthy died on 20 February 1641 in London. He was there on his mission for parliament. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. His second son, Donough, became the next Viscount. Since his older, ailing brother had died earlier, the special rule for the title did not need to be used. Charles's widow later married Thomas Fitzmaurice.

Important Dates in His Life