John Clotworthy, 1st Viscount Massereene facts for kids
John Clotworthy, 1st Viscount Massereene (who died in September 1665), was an important politician from Ireland with English roots. He played a big part in the politics of his time, especially during the English Civil War and the period when the King returned to power.
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Who Was John Clotworthy?
John Clotworthy was the son of Sir Hugh Clotworthy, who was a soldier and later a sheriff in Ireland. His mother was Mary Langford. The Clotworthy family originally came from Devon, a county in England.
His Political Journey
John Clotworthy became a member of the Irish Parliament in 1634, representing County Antrim. Later, in 1640, he also joined the English Parliament.
He was a strong opponent of powerful figures like Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, and William Laud, who was an Archbishop. Clotworthy was very involved in the legal cases against them. He had very strong religious beliefs and disagreed deeply with their views.
During the Irish Confederate Wars in 1646, he tried to negotiate for the city of Dublin to be handed over to the Parliament's forces, but he wasn't successful. In 1647, during the English Civil War, he faced accusations of not supporting the Parliament enough and of misusing money. Because of these accusations, he left the country for a short time but returned to Parliament in 1648.
In December 1648, he was arrested and stayed in prison for almost three years.
Helping the King Return
John Clotworthy played an active role in helping King Charles II return to the throne. This event is known as the Restoration of Charles II. After the King returned, Clotworthy helped manage affairs in Ireland for soldiers and others who had settled there.
Even though King Charles II was known to be sympathetic to Roman Catholics, Clotworthy continued to strongly support the Presbyterians in Ireland and opposed Roman Catholics and certain groups within the Church of England. Despite these differences, King Charles II liked him personally. So, on November 21, 1660, John Clotworthy was given the titles Baron Lough Neagh and Viscount Massereene. These titles would pass down to his son-in-law if he didn't have any sons.
Family Life
In 1626, John Clotworthy married Margaret Jones. She was the daughter of Roger Jones, 1st Viscount Ranelagh. John and Margaret had one daughter:
- Mary Clotworthy, who later married Sir John Skeffington.
His Death and Legacy
John Clotworthy died in September 1665. He did not have any sons, so his titles, as planned, went to his son-in-law, Sir John Skeffington. Sir John Skeffington then became the 2nd Viscount Massereene.
Later, a descendant of the family, the 5th Viscount Massereene, was given the title Earl of Massereene in 1756. This earldom eventually ended in 1816 because the 4th Earl had no sons. However, the titles of viscount and barony continued through his daughter.
His Personality
Historians have described John Clotworthy as a very determined person with strong beliefs. He was known for his firm religious views, which greatly influenced his actions and decisions throughout his life.
Clotworthy Family Today
Over the years, many people with the Clotworthy name have moved to other countries, including America. Today, only a few people with the Clotworthy name are known to still live in Northern Ireland.
