Henry Maxwell, 6th Baron Farnham facts for kids

Henry Maxwell, 6th Baron Farnham (born 1774 – died 19 October 1838) was an Irish nobleman and a clergyman in the Church of Ireland. He is known for his role as a landlord during a time of hardship in Ireland.

Henry Maxwell was the son of Henry Maxwell, who was the Bishop of Meath. His grandfather was John Maxwell, 1st Baron Farnham. Henry Maxwell became the 6th Baron Farnham on 20 September 1838, after his brother passed away. He held the title for less than a month before his own death.

Family Life

Henry Maxwell married Lady Anne Butler on 8 September 1798. Lady Anne was the daughter of Henry Thomas Butler, 2nd Earl of Carrick. They had several children together.

Their children included:

• Henry Maxwell, 7th Baron Farnham (born 1799 – died 1868)
• Sarah Juliana (born 1801), who married Alexander Saunderson, a Member of Parliament for Cavan.
• Somerset Richard Maxwell, 8th Baron Farnham (born 1803 – died 1884)
• Harriet Margaret Maxwell (born 1805 – died 1880), who married twice.
• James Pierce Maxwell, 9th Baron Farnham (born 1813 – died 1896)
• Richard Thomas Maxwell (born 1815 – died 1874), whose son, Somerset Henry Maxwell, became the 10th Baron Farnham.

Religious Influence and Challenges

In 1827, there were reports that many people on Lord Farnham's land had changed their religion from Catholic to Protestant. This happened during a time when many people were very poor and struggling to find food.

A lawyer named George Ensor was asked by James Warren Doyle, a Roman Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, to look into these reports. Ensor found that any changes in religion were likely due to the difficult conditions people were facing. He believed these changes might not last once the hard times were over.

Successor and Legacy

After Henry Maxwell's death, his eldest son, Henry, became the 7th Baron Farnham. During the Great Famine that followed, the 7th Baron Farnham also faced similar accusations. Some people claimed he did not help tenants who refused to change their Catholic faith.