John Blennerhassett (1691–1775) facts for kids
John Blennerhassett (born 1691 – died 5 May 1775) was an Anglo-Irish politician. This means he was from an Irish family with British roots. He served in the Irish House of Commons, which was like the parliament in Ireland at that time. He was a member for a very long time, from 1709 until his death in 1775.
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Who Was John Blennerhassett?
His Early Life and Family
John Blennerhassett was born in County Kerry, a beautiful part of Ireland. He was the oldest son of a man also named John Blennerhassett and his mother, Margaret Crosbie.
He joined the Kerry Militia, which was a local defense force. By 1756, he had become a colonel, a high rank in the military.
A Long Career in Politics
John Blennerhassett began his political journey in 1709. He was first elected as a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is someone chosen to represent the people of an area in the government. He took over the seat that his father had held, representing County Kerry.
He served as an MP for different areas over many years:
- From 1713 to 1715, he represented Tralee.
- From 1715 to 1727, he was again the MP for Kerry.
- From 1727 to 1760, he returned to represent Tralee.
- Finally, from 1761 until his death in 1775, he served as the MP for Kerry for a third time.
Important Roles and Titles
In 1717, John Blennerhassett held the important role of High Sheriff of Kerry. A High Sheriff was a key official in a county, responsible for law and order.
Because he served in the Irish House of Commons for so many years, he became known as the Father of the Irish House of Commons. This title was given to the member who had served the longest.
His Family Life
John Blennerhassett married Jane Denny. Together, they had two sons named John and Arthur. They also had four daughters. One of his daughters, Mary, married Lancelot Crosbie. Interestingly, Lancelot Crosbie also became an MP for Kerry, just like his father-in-law, John Blennerhassett.
