John Bourke, 1st Earl of Mayo facts for kids
John Bourke, 1st Earl of Mayo (born around 1705 – died 1790), was an important Irish politician and a nobleman. He was known as Lord Naas from 1775 to 1781, and then as Viscount Mayo from 1781 to 1785. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for two different areas in Ireland: Naas and Old Leighlin. Later, he was given the special title of Earl of Mayo in 1785.
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Mayo
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| Member of Parliament for Naas | |
| In office 1768–1776 Serving with John Bourke
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| Succeeded by |
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| In office 1727–1760 Serving with
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| Member of Parliament for Old Leighlin | |
| In office 1761–1768 Serving with
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Bourke
1705 |
| Died | 1790 (aged 84–85) |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Spouse |
Mary Deane
(m. 1726) |
| Children | 3, including: John Bourke, 2nd Earl of Mayo |
| Parents |
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| Alma mater | Trinity College, Dublin |
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Bourke was born around the year 1705. His parents were Richard Bourke and Catherine Minchin. His family had a long history, being descended from important Gaelic nobles in Ireland. This means his ancestors were leaders and powerful figures from the old Irish clans.
John Bourke received a good education. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin, which is a very famous university in Ireland.
Political Career and Titles
John Bourke had a long and active career in Irish politics. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for many years. An MP is a person elected to represent a certain area in the country's parliament.
Serving in Parliament
- In 1727, John Bourke was first elected as an MP for the area of Naas. He represented Naas in the Irish House of Commons until 1760. The House of Commons was where elected representatives discussed and made laws.
- From 1761 to 1768, he served as an MP for another area called Old Leighlin.
- He was elected again for Naas in 1768. He held this seat until 1776.
Becoming a Peer
In 1776, John Bourke was given a special honor. He was made a Baron Naas. This meant he became a member of the Peerage of Ireland, a group of high-ranking noblemen. As a Baron, he then took his seat in the Irish House of Lords. This was another part of the Irish Parliament, usually made up of nobles and bishops.
His titles continued to grow:
- On January 13, 1781, he was made Viscount Mayo. This title had been held by some of his distant relatives before.
- Finally, on June 24, 1785, John Bourke received the highest title: he was made Earl of Mayo.
Family Life
John Bourke married Mary Deane in 1726. Mary was the daughter of Joseph Deane and Margaret Boyle. John and Mary had three children together.
His family continued to be involved in politics. John Bourke's son, John Bourke, 2nd Earl of Mayo, and his grandson, John Bourke, 4th Earl of Mayo, both followed in his footsteps. They also represented the Naas area in Parliament, just like their father and grandfather.
Images for kids
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The coat of arms for the Bourke family of Mayo.
