Francis Plowden (politician) facts for kids
Francis Plowden (born around 1644 – died April 1712) was an English politician and official. He became important while working for James II of England in Ireland. Francis Plowden was a supporter of King James II, who was also known as a Jacobite.
Early Life and Career
Francis Plowden was born in Plowden, Shropshire, England. His family was Roman Catholic and belonged to the gentry, which means they were a wealthy and respected family, but not nobles. He was the second son of Edmund Plowden and Elizabeth Cotton.
Even though his family had no strong ties to Ireland, Francis Plowden moved there. By 1688, he was living in Galway and was part of the city's local government. On August 11, 1688, he was chosen to be a member of the Privy Council of Ireland. This was a group of important advisors to the King in Ireland.
Supporting King James II
Francis Plowden remained loyal to King James II after the Glorious Revolution. This was a time when King James II lost his throne in England. On April 27, 1689, Plowden was given a job on the Irish revenue commission. This group was in charge of collecting taxes and money for the government.
In May 1689, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Bannow. He served in the Patriot Parliament, which was a special parliament called by King James II in Dublin. This parliament did not last very long.
After the death of the Earl of Tyrconnell in August 1691, Plowden was given an even bigger role. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Ireland. He shared this important job with Richard Nagle and Alexander Fitton. Their task was to act on behalf of King James II while he was not in Ireland. At this time, the land still controlled by King James's supporters was very small. The Williamite War in Ireland ended soon after, on October 3, 1691, with the Treaty of Limerick.
Life in Exile
After the war, Francis Plowden left Ireland. He moved to France on December 22, 1691. There, he joined the exiled court of King James II at Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. This was where King James and his supporters lived after losing power in England.
In 1695, Plowden became the governor for James Francis Edward Stuart. This young boy was the son of King James II and was known as the Prince of Wales. In 1700, Francis Plowden was made the comptroller of the household for King James II. This meant he managed the royal household. From 1701, he held the same position for Mary of Modena, who was King James II's wife.
Francis Plowden died in April 1712. He was buried in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France.
Family Life
On October 1, 1699, Francis Plowden married Mary. She was the eldest daughter of John Stafford Howard and the granddaughter of William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford. Francis and Mary Plowden had one son and two daughters together.
