Henry O'Brien, 5th Earl of Thomond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry O'Brien
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| Earl of Thomond | |
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| Tenure | 1624–1639 |
| Predecessor | Donogh, 4th Earl |
| Successor | Barnabas, 6th Earl |
| Died | 26 July 1639 |
| Buried | St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Brereton |
| Issue Detail |
Margaret, & others |
| Father | Donogh, 4th Earl |
| Mother | Elizabeth FitzGerald |
Henry O'Brien, 5th Earl of Thomond (1588–1639) was an important Irish nobleman. He was known as Lord Ibrickane until 1624. He served in the Irish House of Lords, which was part of the Irish Parliament.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Henry O'Brien was born in 1588. He was the oldest son of Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond. His mother was Elizabeth FitzGerald.
His father's family, the O'Brien dynasty, was a very old and powerful Irish family. They were descendants of Brian Boru, a famous medieval high king of Ireland. This means Henry came from a long line of important leaders.
Henry's mother, Elizabeth, was the fourth daughter of Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare.
Marriage and Children
On July 13, 1608, Henry O'Brien married Mary Brereton. She was a wealthy heiress, meaning she inherited a lot of money and land. Mary was the only daughter of William Brereton, 1st Baron Brereton.
Henry and Mary had five daughters:
- Mary (died 1686): She married Charles Cokayne, 1st Viscount Cullen in 1627.
- Margaret: She married Edward Somerset, 2nd Marquess of Worcester first, and then Donough Kearney.
- Elisabeth (1656–1659): She married Dutton Gerard, 3rd Baron Gerard, in 1636.
- Anne (died 1645): She married Henry O'Brien, 7th Earl of Thomond in 1641.
- Honora: She married Sir Francis Inglefield first, and then Sir Robert Howard.
His Role in Parliament
On March 3, 1613, Henry O'Brien was called to join the Irish House of Lords. At that time, he was known as Lord Ibrickane. The House of Lords was a part of the Irish Parliament. This was the only parliament held during the reign of King James I in Ireland.
Becoming the 5th Earl
Henry's father, Donogh, passed away on September 5, 1624. After his father's death, Henry became the 5th Earl of Thomond. This meant he inherited his father's title and responsibilities.
Death
Henry O'Brien, the 5th Earl of Thomond, died in 1639. He was buried in St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick. Since he did not have any sons, his title was passed on to his brother, Barnabas O'Brien, 6th Earl of Thomond.
