Francis Annesley, 1st Viscount Valentia facts for kids

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Personal details
Born	Francis Annesley 1 February c. 1585 Dublin, Ireland
Died	22 November 1660 Thorganby, Yorkshire, England
Resting place	Thorganby, Yorkshire, England
Occupation	English and Irish politician

Francis Annesley, 1st Viscount Valentia (born February 1, 1585 – died November 22, 1660) was an important English politician. He played a role during the time when England was settling in Ireland in the 1600s.

He served as a Member of Parliament in both England and Ireland. He was given the title Baron Mountnorris and later Viscount Valentia. He is well-known for a big disagreement he had with the Lord Lieutenant, Thomas Wentworth. Wentworth tried to remove Annesley from power. He had Annesley unfairly accused of mutiny, which could have led to a death sentence. However, it was understood that this sentence would not actually be carried out.

Francis Annesley's Life Story

Becoming a Powerful Figure

Francis Annesley came from an old family in Nottinghamshire, England. His father was Robert Annesley, a high constable in Newport. Francis was born in 1585.

Around 1606, he moved from England to Dublin, Ireland. He took advantage of the land given to English settlers in Ireland. This helped him get many estates across the country. He became good friends with Sir Arthur Chichester, who was the Lord Deputy of Ireland. Annesley received several small government jobs and a pension.

Role in Ulster Settlement

Annesley was very involved in the settlement of Ulster, which started in 1608. He gained some land and power there. In 1609, he was in charge of taking Irish rebels to England for trial. King James I gave him the fort and land of Mountnorris in 1612. This was because Sir Arthur Chichester spoke highly of him. In 1625, Annesley also became the clerk for the armies and garrisons.

In 1614, Annesley was elected to the Irish parliament for County Armagh. He supported the Protestants in their arguments with Catholics. His sister, Bridget Annesley, who worked for the Queen, may have helped his career.

Gaining Important Titles

In 1616, he joined the Irish Privy Council. The King made him a knight. By 1618, he was working as the main Secretary of State for Ireland. In 1620, the King made him an Irish baronet. In 1621, he was promised the title of Viscount Valentia. This title was held by his relative, Sir Henry Power, who had no direct heir.

In 1625, he was elected to the English parliament for Carmarthen. Around this time, Lord Falkland became the Lord Deputy of Ireland. Annesley often disagreed with Lord Falkland in the council. In 1625, Annesley was promoted to Vice-Treasurer of Ireland. This job gave him control over Ireland's money. In 1628, King Charles I made him an Irish peer, Baron Mountnorris.

In 1628, Annesley helped investigate charges against Lord Falkland. The investigation found Falkland guilty of unfair actions. As a result, Falkland was removed from his position in 1629. In 1632, Annesley also became the Treasurer at Wars.

Conflict with Sir Thomas Wentworth

In 1633, Sir Thomas Wentworth became the new Lord Deputy. Wentworth was a very strong leader. Mountnorris soon realized that Wentworth would be much stricter than Falkland. Wentworth did not like Mountnorris. He believed Mountnorris had been involved in corruption in his official duties.

In 1634, Wentworth ordered Mountnorris to stop taking extra money from the government. Mountnorris refused to obey this order. More accusations of wrongdoing came against him in 1635. Mountnorris then said he would resign and take his case directly to the King.

Escalating Tensions

Mountnorris's family also got involved in the conflict. His younger brother made an insulting gesture to Wentworth. Wentworth hit him with his cane. Another relative purposely dropped a stool on Wentworth's foot, which was sore from gout. At a dinner in April 1635, Mountnorris seemed to brag about this act. He also hinted that more insults to Wentworth might happen.

Facing Serious Charges

Wentworth decided to take strong action against Mountnorris. In July 1635, King Charles I agreed to investigate Mountnorris's actions. He also agreed to bring him before a military court. In December, Mountnorris was brought before a council of war at Dublin Castle. He was accused of speaking disrespectfully about his commander. This was seen as an act that could cause mutiny in the army. Such an offense could be punished by death.

Mountnorris asked for a trial in the Irish House of Lords, as he was a peer. But the military court refused this request. Wentworth presented his case against Mountnorris. Mountnorris was not allowed to have a lawyer. The court quickly decided, with Wentworth present, and sentenced Mountnorris to death.

After the Sentence

Wentworth told Mountnorris that he would ask the King to change the sentence. He said he would rather lose his own hand than see Mountnorris lose his head. Many people in England thought the sentence was too harsh. Wentworth later explained that he felt it was necessary to remove Mountnorris from his position. He believed this was the most effective way to do it.

Mountnorris was imprisoned for three days. He was offered freedom if he admitted the sentence was fair, but he refused. He lost all his government jobs. In February 1636, Lady Mountnorris, his wife, wrote to Wentworth. She asked him to help her husband and appealed to his kindness. She even visited Wentworth's house and begged him on her knees. Wentworth was polite but did not change his mind. Later that year, Lady Mountnorris asked the King to let her husband return to England, and the King agreed.

Life After the Conflict

Mountnorris spent the rest of his life trying to get his old jobs back. In 1641, he wrote to Wentworth, asking for a reconciliation. He hoped Wentworth would help him regain the King's favor. Meanwhile, a committee in the English parliament began looking into his case. In September 1641, the House of Commons declared his sentence and imprisonment unfair and illegal. The House of Lords also looked into the matter, but their final decision is not fully recorded.

In 1642, Mountnorris inherited the title of Viscount Valentia after his cousin Sir Henry Power died. In 1643, he was allowed to go to Duncannon in Ireland. He also lived on an estate near his birthplace in Newport Pagnell, England. In 1648, the English Parliament gave him back his job as Clerk of the Signet in Ireland. They also gave him £500. He later became friends with Henry Cromwell, who was Lord Deputy of Ireland during the Protectorate. He also secured the job of Secretary of State in Dublin. In 1656, he suggested giving these jobs to his son, Arthur. Henry Cromwell spoke highly of both father and son. Lord Mountnorris passed away in 1660.

Family Life

Francis Annesley married his first wife, Dorothea (who died in 1624). She was the daughter of Sir John Philipps, 1st Baronet. They had eleven children together. Three sons and several daughters lived to adulthood.

He then married Jane (who died in 1683/4). She was the widow of Sir Peter Courten and daughter of Sir John Stanhope. They had nine children, including at least one son and one daughter.

Viscount Valentia died in November 1660 and was buried in Thorganby, England. His eldest son, Arthur, took over his title. Arthur later became Lord Annesley and Earl of Anglesey.

Images for kids

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  A Viscount's Coronet

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  The coat of arms for Viscount Valentia