John Bellew, 1st Baron Bellew of Duleek facts for kids
John Bellew, 1st Baron Bellew of Duleek (died 12 January 1692) was an important Irish soldier and politician. He was a supporter of King James II, who was also known as a Jacobite.
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Early Life and Military Role
John Bellew was the son of Sir Christopher Bellew of Bellewstown. His mother was Frances Plunkett. When he was a child, John was sent to France to keep him safe during the Irish Rebellion of 1641.
He came back to Ireland in 1648 with the Marquess of Ormonde. The Marquess gave him a job leading a group of horse soldiers in the Royalist army. Later, John Bellew became a lieutenant in charge of weapons in Ireland. He was part of the Battle of Rathmines during the Irish Confederate Wars.
Losing and Getting Back His Land
After the wars, John Bellew's family land was taken away by the Commonwealth of England. This happened under a law called the Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652. He lost about 6,000 acres in County Louth and County Meath. He was then moved to Connaught, a different part of Ireland.
When the king returned to power in 1660 (this was called the Stuart Restoration), John Bellew got his land back. He was also made a knight in 1661.
Becoming a Baron and Later Years
John Bellew was a Roman Catholic. In 1685, he became a member of the Privy Council of Ireland, which was a group of advisors to the king. On October 29, 1686, James II of England made him a baron. This meant he became Baron Bellew of Duleek.
In 1689, he was part of the Irish House of Lords in a special meeting called the Patriot Parliament. During the Williamite War in Ireland, he gathered a group of soldiers for the Jacobite army, which supported King James II.
In April 1691, the new government declared him an enemy, which meant he lost his rights and property. He fought in the Battle of Aughrim in July 1691. He was badly hurt in this battle and was captured. John Bellew died from his wounds in January 1692 while he was a prisoner in England. He was buried in St. Mary's Abbey, Duleek.
Family and Legacy
John Bellew married Mary (or Margaret) Bermingham on November 28, 1663. His oldest son, Walter, was supposed to take his title. However, because John Bellew had been declared an enemy, Walter's title was not officially recognized by everyone.
After Walter died in 1694, the family worked to get the title back. On March 30, 1697, the declaration against John Bellew was removed. This allowed his next son, Richard Bellew, to officially become the 3rd Baron Bellew.
