Edward Pakenham, 6th Earl of Longford facts for kids

Edward Pakenham, the 6th Earl of Longford.

Edward Arthur Henry Pakenham, 6th Earl of Longford (born 29 December 1902 – died 4 February 1961) was an important Irish nobleman, politician, and writer. He was also known by his Irish name, Eamon de Longphort. In the 1940s, he was a member of the fifth Seanad Éireann, which is the upper house of the Irish Parliament.

Edward Pakenham's Early Life and School

Edward Pakenham was born in London on 29 December 1902. He was the older son of Thomas Pakenham, 5th Earl of Longford, and his wife, Mary. From birth until 1915, he was known as Lord Silchester. His mother especially loved him because he would become the Earl after his father, and he was often sick.

Edward went to Eton College, a famous school. While there, he won a special prize for divinity twice. In 1915, when he was still at Eton, his father was killed in a battle called the Battle of Gallipoli. This meant Edward became the Earl of Longford at a young age.

He later went to Christ Church, Oxford, a college at University of Oxford. There, he met Christine Patti Trew, who was also a student. They got married on 18 July 1925. Edward did not have any children. After he died, his younger brother, Frank, became the next Earl.

His Political Ideas and Beliefs

Edward Pakenham was an Irish Nationalist even when he was at Eton. He was inspired by big events like the Easter Rising in 1916 and the Russian Revolution of 1917. He learned the Irish language and started using the name Eamon de Longphort.

His strong political views were not always popular at Eton or at Christ Church. Once, at Christ Church, he was famously put into "Mercury," a pond with a statue of Mercury.

Edward was also an Anglo-Catholic, which is a part of the Church of Ireland. He remained a member of this church his whole life.

In 1946, Éamon de Valera, who was the Taoiseach (Ireland's Prime Minister), chose Edward to be a member of the 5th Seanad. He filled a spot that became empty when another member passed away. However, he was not chosen again for the next Seanad.

Edward Pakenham's Work in Theatre and Writing

Lord Longford loved theatre. In 1930, he became the Chairman of the Gate Theatre in Dublin. He worked there until 1936. Then, he started his own theatre group called the Longford Players.

He wrote many plays, including Ascendancy, The Melians, The Vineyard, and Yahoo (which was about the famous writer Jonathan Swift). Edward was very good at languages and knew a lot about Classical studies. He translated many plays from French, such as Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme and Tartuffe. He also translated plays from Greek, like Agamemnon and Oedipus Rex. He even turned the story Carmilla into a play.

He often worked with his wife, Christine. Together, they also redecorated their home, Pakenham Hall (now called Tullynally Castle), in a Chinese style.

Pakenham Hall was a popular place for smart people from Oxford University to gather. Famous writers like John Betjeman, Evelyn Waugh, and Maurice Bowra would visit.

Lord Longford also published several books of poetry. His mother even paid for some of them when he was still at Eton. However, he is not remembered as a very famous poet.

Edward Pakenham is buried at Mount Jerome Cemetery in Dublin.

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  Edward Pakenham, the 6th Earl of Longford.