John Boyle, 5th Earl of Cork facts for kids
John Boyle, 5th Earl of Cork and 5th Earl of Orrery (born January 13, 1707 – died November 16, 1762) was an important writer. He was also a good friend to famous writers like Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, and Samuel Johnson. He was a member of the Royal Society, which is a group for top scientists and thinkers.
About John Boyle
John Boyle was the only son of Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery. His mother was Lady Elizabeth Cecil. He was born in Westminster, England. John went to Christ Church, Oxford for his education.
His Political Connections
In 1743, John Boyle was part of a group of important people called Tories. They talked with the French government through a person named Francis Sempill. These discussions were about getting French help. The goal was to bring back the old royal family, the Stuarts, to the throne.
A Life of Writing
John Boyle was a very busy writer. He translated letters from an ancient Roman writer named Pliny the Younger. This translation was published in 1751. In the same year, he also wrote a book called Remarks on the Life and Writings of Jonathan Swift. This book was about his friend, the famous writer Jonathan Swift. He also wrote the Memoirs of Robert Carey, 1st Earl of Monmouth. After he passed away, another one of his books, Letters from Italy, was published in 1773.
His Family Life
John Boyle was married two times. His first wife was Henrietta. She was the daughter of George Hamilton, Earl of Orkney. John's oldest son, Charles Boyle, Viscount Dungarvan, died before him. So, his next son, Hamilton, became the Earl of Cork after John. Hamilton also passed away soon after, in 1764. Then, John's third son, Edmund, became the Earl.
One of John's daughters from his first marriage was Elizabeth (born in 1731). She married Sir Thomas Worsley, 6th Baronet. One of their children was Sir Richard Worsley, 7th Baronet.
John's second wife was Margaret Hamilton. She owned a lot of land in a place called Ulster. Their daughter, Lucy (born in 1744), married George Byng, 4th Viscount Torrington.
