Connor Maguire, 2nd Baron of Enniskillen facts for kids

Connor Maguire (born 1616, died 1645) was an important Irish nobleman from Ulster. He was known as the 2nd Baron of Enniskillen. He played a part in the Irish Rebellion of 1641. This was a big uprising in Ireland. He was later executed for a serious crime against the king.

Early Life and Family

Connor Maguire was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1616. His father was Sir Bryan Maguire. His family was loyal to the English king. Because of this loyalty, his father was given the title of Baron.

The Maguire family received land in Fermanagh from King James I. This was part of a plan called the Ulster Plantation. This plan brought many English and Scottish settlers to Ulster.

Connor's mother was from the O'Neill family. This was a very powerful family in Ulster. He may have studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, but he did not finish his studies there.

His brother, Rory Maguire, married into a leading family of settlers. Rory was also a member of Parliament for County Fermanagh in 1640.

Becoming a Baron and Politics

Connor Maguire became the Baron of Enniskillen in 1634. This meant he inherited his father's title. He attended the Irish Parliament in Dublin. This Parliament met on March 10, 1640.

In February 1641, he met a rebel leader named Rory O'Moore. Rory O'Moore had a plan to free Ireland from English rule. He thought it was a good time because the English government was busy fighting in Scotland.

The Irish Rebellion of 1641

In August 1641, Connor Maguire learned about a plan to capture Dublin Castle. This castle was a very important English stronghold in Ireland. The rebels hoped that Colonel Owen Roe O'Neill would help them. He was an Irish soldier serving in Spain.

The rebellion was planned for October 23. However, the plot was discovered on the night of October 22. A man named Hugh Oge MacMahon told the authorities. Rory O'Moore managed to escape.

Capture and Confession

Connor Maguire was captured along with MacMahon and Colonel Reade. Reade was a soldier who had served the king. Maguire admitted what he knew without being forced. He gave a full statement in March 1642. He gave an even more detailed statement later that year.

Trial and Execution

In June 1642, Maguire, MacMahon, and Reade were moved to the Tower of London. This was a famous prison. Eleven months later, they were moved to Newgate Prison.

In October 1643, Reade escaped. Maguire and MacMahon were sent back to the Tower. In August 1644, both prisoners escaped again. But they were caught within six weeks.

After many delays, Maguire was put on trial in February 1645. His trial was held in the King's Bench. MacMahon had already been executed.

The Trial Process

Maguire was a Baron, so he asked to be tried by other noblemen. However, this request was denied. The court decided that he could be tried in England for crimes committed in Ireland.

Many legal points were discussed during his trial. In the end, he was found guilty. He was sentenced to be executed for his serious crime against the king. Connor Maguire was a Catholic. He was not allowed to have a priest with him before his death. He was executed at Tyburn, a place in England known for executions.

Family Life

Connor Maguire married Mary Fleming. She was the daughter of Thomas Fleming from Queen's County. They had one son together.

After Connor's death, his brother Rory became a leader in Fermanagh during the civil war. Rory was a Colonel in the Ulster Army of Confederate Ireland. He continued to fight until he was killed in 1648.

Some of Connor Maguire's family members were later called Barons of Enniskillen. They served in France or for King James II. The last person to hold this title was a retired captain in 1789.