Henry Maxwell (1669–1730) facts for kids

Henry Maxwell (1669 – 2 February 1730) was an important Anglo-Irish politician and writer. He was a member of the Whig political group. Maxwell was one of the most active people in the Irish House of Commons (like Ireland's parliament) during his time.

He was also one of the first people in the 1700s to suggest that England and Ireland should unite. Even though he wrote about supporting an old law called Poynings' Law, which limited what the Irish Parliament could do, he sometimes criticized how it worked in practice.

Early Life and Education

Henry Maxwell was born in Finnebrogue, County Down, in Ireland. His father was a clergyman in the Church of Ireland. His family had roots in Scotland and England.

In 1683, when he was about 14, he started studying at Trinity College Dublin. He earned his first degree in 1688. Later, in 1718, he also received a special law degree from the same university.

It's not known if he stayed in Ireland during the Glorious Revolution of 1688 or the Williamite War in Ireland. These were big conflicts about who should rule. However, we know he was strongly against Jacobitism, which was the movement to bring back the old royal family.

Maxwell first planned to become a lawyer. He joined the Middle Temple in London in 1693, which is a place where lawyers are trained. But he left before he officially became a lawyer.

Political Career

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In 1698, Henry Maxwell was elected to the Irish House of Commons as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Bangor. He was re-elected for the same area in 1703.

In 1703, Maxwell wrote an important political paper called An essay upon an union of Ireland with England. In this paper, he argued that joining England and Ireland was the best way to solve problems between their parliaments. He also wanted to assure people in England that Irish Protestants did not want to be fully independent.

In the same year, he helped create a bill to allow more Protestant settlers to become citizens in Ireland. He also wanted to encourage Huguenots (French Protestants who were escaping persecution) to move to Ireland.

Working with the Whigs

By 1704, Maxwell was a key member of the Whig group led by Alan Brodrick. This group was against the government of James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde. Like many Irish Whigs, Maxwell strongly supported the official church.

In 1704, he opposed payments to non-Anglican Protestant clergymen. He was praised by Archbishop William King for standing against efforts to change the Test Acts, which limited the rights of non-Anglicans. He also opposed giving more rights to presbyterians.

However, in other areas, his views matched the Whigs. He supported the Whig Lord Lieutenant, Lord Wharton. In 1707, Maxwell criticized the Irish Privy Council for changing bills that the Irish Parliament had already passed.

By 1710, Maxwell was leading an important committee in the Irish Commons called the committee of public accounts. In 1711, a paper believed to be written by Maxwell criticized peace talks to end the War of the Spanish Succession.

Representing Killybegs

In 1713, Maxwell became the MP for Killybegs. He was helped by his friend and fellow Whig, William Conolly. Maxwell played a big role in the parliament from 1713 to 1714. At the start, he led the criticism against the Peace of Utrecht, a peace treaty proposed by the British Tory leader, Robert Harley.

Later, Maxwell was again chosen to lead the committee of public accounts. He was very suspicious of Irish Tories, thinking some might support Jacobitism. This belief grew stronger after the Jacobite rising of 1715 in Scotland.

Serving Donegal Borough

In 1715, Maxwell was elected to represent Donegal Borough. Again, this was thanks to Conolly's support. In parliament, he joined the committee of public accounts. He also led a committee that investigated some Tory officials from the time of Queen Anne.

When Conolly became the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons in 1715, people started calling Maxwell "the speaker's echo." However, Maxwell did disagree with Conolly once, by voting against the Indemnity Bill in 1716.

In 1721, Maxwell supported a bill to create the Bank of Ireland. He wrote several papers against those who opposed the bank. He admitted that Ireland was under the control of Kingdom of Great Britain. He asked his fellow Irishmen to be realistic about this.

Later that year, he again criticized the Privy Council for changing Irish bills. He also spoke out against how Poynings' Law was actually used. Maxwell remained active in parliament throughout the 1720s. He was elected to the committee of public accounts twice more (in 1721 and 1725). He also played a key role in new laws, especially those related to the linen industry.

By the end of his time in parliament, he was a strong supporter of the government in Dublin. In 1727, he became a member of the Privy Council of Ireland. In the election that year, he was again elected for Donegal Borough.

Henry Maxwell passed away in Dublin on 12 February 1730. He was buried at St Mary's Church, Mary Street, Dublin.

Family Life

Henry Maxwell was married two times. His first wife was his cousin, Jane Maxwell. She was the sister of John Maxwell, 1st Baron Farnham. In 1713, he married his second wife, Dorothy. She was the daughter of Edward Brice, a merchant from Belfast.

Maxwell died without leaving a will. His three children, Robert, Edward, and Margaret, were still young. So, Dorothy's father, Edward Brice, became their guardian and managed the family's property.

Political Writings

Henry Maxwell wrote several important political papers during his career:

• Anguis in herba: or, The fatal consequences of a treaty with France (1701, reprinted in 1707 and 1711)
• An essay upon an union of Ireland with England: most humbly offered to the consideration of the queen's most excellent majesty, and both houses of parliament (1703)
• Reasons offered for erecting a bank in Ireland: in a letter to H Rowley, esq. (1721)
• Mr Maxwell's second letter to Mr Rowley; wherein the objections against the bank are answered (1721)