Henry O'Brien, 8th Earl of Thomond facts for kids
Henry O'Brien, 8th Earl of Thomond (born August 14, 1688 – died April 20, 1741) was an important person in Ireland. He was a noble, known as a peer, and also a Member of Parliament (MP). This meant he had a special title and helped make laws for the country.
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Early Life and Titles
Henry O'Brien was born into a very important family. His father, Henry Horatio O'Brien, passed away in 1690. This happened before Henry's grandfather, the 7th Earl of Thomond, died. Because of this, young Henry inherited the title of Earl of Thomond directly from his grandfather in 1691. This made him the 8th Earl at a very young age.
Public Service and Roles
Henry O'Brien became a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1710. He represented the area of Arundel in Sussex, England. He served in this role until 1714.
New Noble Titles
After his time as an MP, Henry was given another noble title. He became known as Viscount Tadcaster. This was a special honor.
Important Government Jobs
Henry O'Brien held several important positions in the government.
- In 1714, he became the Governor of County Clare and the Governor of Carlow. A governor was in charge of a specific county.
- From 1721 to 1741, he served as the Lord Lieutenant of Essex. This was another high-ranking role, representing the King or Queen in that area.
A Play Dedicated to Him
In 1722, a play called Hibernia Freed was performed. It was a serious play, known as a tragedy. The writer, William Philips, dedicated this play to Henry O'Brien. This shows how important and respected Henry was at the time. The play was shown at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre in London.
Family and Legacy
Henry O'Brien passed away in 1741. He was buried in Limerick Cathedral in Ireland.
Marriage and Children
In 1707, Henry married Lady Elizabeth Seymour. She was the daughter of Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset. Henry and Elizabeth did not have any children. Because of this, his title of Viscount Tadcaster ended when he died.
Passing on the Estates
Henry O'Brien owned a lot of land in County Clare, Ireland. He decided to leave these lands to Murrough, Lord O'Brien. Murrough was the young son of Henry's cousin, William O'Brien, 4th Earl of Inchiquin.
However, Murrough also passed away in 1741. So, the estates then went to Percy Wyndham. Percy was a nephew of Henry's wife, Elizabeth. Percy added O'Brien to his last name. In 1756, he was also given the title of Earl of Thomond.
