James Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont facts for kids
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James Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont
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Charlemont as painted by Pompeo Batoni, c. 1753–56
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| 1st Earl of Charlemont | |
| In office 1763–1799 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 August 1728 |
| Died | 4 August 1799 |
James Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont (born August 18, 1728 – died August 4, 1799), was an important Irish politician. He was known for his love of art and his efforts to make Ireland more independent. He held important titles like Knight of St Patrick and was a member of the Privy Council of Ireland.
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Who Was James Caulfeild?
James Caulfeild was born in Dublin, Ireland. His father was James Caulfeild, the 3rd Viscount Charlemont. When his father passed away in 1734, James became the 4th Viscount. A Viscount is a noble title, ranking below an Earl.
His Early Life
James's mother was Elizabeth Bernard. She was the daughter of a judge named Francis Bernard. After James's father died, his mother remarried. Sadly, she passed away in 1743.
The title of Charlemont came from Sir Toby Caulfeild. He was given land in Ireland by King James I in the 1600s. He was made Baron Charlemont in 1620. Later, the 5th Baron was made a Viscount by King Charles II.
A Love for Art and Buildings
Lord Charlemont loved art and culture from ancient Greece and Rome. He spent nine years traveling around Europe and beyond. This trip, called the Grand Tour, took him to Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Egypt.
When he returned to Dublin, he hired a famous architect. His name was Sir William Chambers. Chambers helped him redesign his home, Marino House. He also designed a special building nearby called the Casino at Marino. This building is famous for its unique style. Chambers also designed Charlemont's city home, Charlemont House.
Lord Charlemont also helped his community. His old townhouse at 14 Jervis Street was given to a new hospital. It became the Jervis Street Hospital in 1796.
His Political Work
Lord Charlemont was a very influential person in Irish politics. He worked closely with other important leaders like Henry Flood and Henry Grattan. He was a well-educated man with a great interest in books and art. He had a lot of influence in both Dublin and London society.
In 1763, he was made an Earl for his services to Ireland. An Earl is a high noble title. But he cared more about Ireland's freedom than royal favors. He strongly supported Grattan's efforts to make Ireland more independent.
In 1783, he became a founding Knight of the Order of St Patrick. This is a special honor given to important people in Ireland. He also played a big part in forming the Irish Volunteers. These were groups of armed citizens who helped protect Ireland. He led their big meeting in Dublin in 1783. Lord Charlemont was also strongly against the idea of the Union. This act would have joined Ireland and Great Britain.
He was also the first President of the Royal Irish Academy. This is a group that promotes learning and research in Ireland. He was also a member of the Royal Dublin Society.
Family Life
In 1768, Lord Charlemont married Mary Hickman. She was from County Clare. Their marriage was said to be very happy. They had two sons, named James and Henry.
