Clotworthy Skeffington, 11th Viscount Massereene facts for kids

Clotworthy John Eyre Skeffington, 11th Viscount Massereene (born 9 October 1842 – died 26 June 1905) was an important person from an Anglo-Irish noble family. He held a special title called "Viscount Massereene."

He was the son of John Skeffington, 10th Viscount Massereene and Olivia Grady. When his father passed away in 1863, Clotworthy inherited his family's titles. These titles were part of the Peerage of Ireland, which is a system of noble ranks in Ireland.

What Was a Viscount?

A Viscount is a noble title, ranking below an Earl and above a Baron. It's like being part of a very old, important family with special duties and a place in society. Clotworthy was the 11th person in his family to hold the title of Viscount Massereene.

His Public Service

Clotworthy Skeffington took on several important roles during his life.

Lord Lieutenant of Louth

From November 1879 to March 1898, he served as the Lord Lieutenant of Louth. A Lord Lieutenant was a representative of the British monarch in a county. Their job was to help manage local affairs and keep order. It was a bit like being the main official for the county.

Military Career

Clotworthy also had a military career. He joined the Antrim Militia Artillery, which was a local military group. His own father had led this group before him. Clotworthy served at Carrickfergus Castle, an old castle in Northern Ireland. On 20 November 1872, he was promoted to a high rank called Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant. This meant he was in charge of the military unit.

Family Life and Legacy

On 4 October 1870, Clotworthy married Florence Elizabeth Whyte-Melville.

He had two sons. Sadly, his eldest son, Oriel, passed away in April 1905, just before Clotworthy himself died. Because of this, his second son, Algernon Skeffington, inherited the titles and became the 12th Viscount Massereene.