Donough MacCarthy, 4th Earl of Clancarty facts for kids

Donough MacCarthy (1668–1734) was the 4th Earl of Clancarty. He was an important figure in Irish history. Donough supported King James II during the Williamite War in Ireland. This war was a big conflict in Ireland in the late 1600s.

He fought bravely at the Siege of Derry. After his side lost the war, he was declared an outlaw in 1691. This meant he lost his titles and lands. Donough then went to live in other countries, like the Netherlands and Germany, where he eventually passed away.

Early Life and Family

Donough was born in 1668 in Blarney, Ireland. He was the only son of Callaghan MacCarty and Elizabeth Fitzgerald. His father was the 3rd Earl of Clancarty.

His father's family, the MacCarthys of Muskerry, were descendants of the ancient kings of Desmond. Donough's mother came from the FitzGerald dynasty. This was a powerful family in Ireland with English roots. His mother's father was George FitzGerald, 16th Earl of Kildare.

Both of Donough's parents were Protestant. However, his father had been Catholic earlier in his life. Donough had three sisters.

Becoming the 4th Earl

When Donough was only eight years old, his father passed away in 1676. Donough then became the 4th Earl of Clancarty. He also inherited his family's large estates in County Cork and County Kerry.

His mother, who was Protestant, took him to England. She wanted him to have a Protestant education. She placed him under the care of John Fell, who was the Bishop of Oxford. Later, his mother married Sir William Davys, a judge in Ireland.

Marriage and Religion

Donough's uncle, Justin McCarthy, Viscount Mountcashel, was very close to the future King James II. His uncle had a strong influence on Donough. In 1684, King Charles II invited Donough to the Palace of Whitehall for Christmas.

There, Donough married Elizabeth Spencer (1671–1704). She was the daughter of Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland. Some records say they married on October 30, 1684. Donough was sixteen, and Elizabeth was thirteen.

They separated soon after their marriage. At that time, Donough, Elizabeth, and her father were all Protestant. But in February 1685, James II, who was Catholic, became king. Donough and his father-in-law both became Catholic in 1686.

The Williamite War

When King James II arrived in Kinsale on March 12, 1689, Donough welcomed him. James II then made Donough a Lord of the Bed Chamber.

Donough raised a group of soldiers for King James II. He led his soldiers from Munster to Derry during the Siege of Derry. He arrived on June 28, 1689. That same evening, he led a brave night attack against the Butchers Gate. His soldiers surprised the defenders and reached the gate, but they were eventually pushed back.

In 1690, Donough was captured at the Siege of Cork. He was held prisoner in the Tower of London. On May 11, 1691, he was declared an outlaw by the Williamites. This meant he lost his titles and all his lands.

Life in Exile

After being held for three years, Donough escaped from the Tower of London in 1694. He fled to France to join King James II's court.

In 1698, he secretly returned to England to find his wife, Elizabeth. He wanted to start their married life together. However, his wife's brother, Lord Spencer, found out and told the authorities. This caused a public stir. King William III didn't think it was a big deal. He called Donough "that little spark Clancarty."

A few months later, Donough was allowed to leave England and go into exile. His wife went with him. Much of his land was taken by the king's advisor, Hans Willem Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland.

Donough and Elizabeth settled in Germany, near Hamburg-Altona and Lübeck. In 1706, Donough bought an island in the Netherlands called Rottumeroog. He lived there until a big flood in 1717 washed it away. After that, he spent winters elsewhere but returned to the island in summers until he sold it in 1731.

Donough was known as "de malle graaf" (the crazy earl) by the Dutch. He was an adventurous person. He made a living by finding things from shipwrecks. In 1721, he visited London and got his old titles back, but not his lands.

Donough and Elizabeth had three children:

• Robert (1698–1769), who became a captain in the Royal Navy.
• Justin, who became an officer in the Neapolitan Army.
• Charlotte, who married John West, 1st Earl De La Warr.

Later Years and Death

Donough passed away on October 1, 1734. He died at the Prahlenhof near Hamburg-St. Pauli in Germany. He had many debts when he died, which led to his belongings being sold.

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