John Maxwell, 2nd Earl of Farnham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John James Maxwell
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portrait by Gilbert Stuart
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| Representative Peer for Ireland | |
| In office 3 March 1816 – 1823 |
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| Preceded by | Barry Maxwell, 1st Earl of Farnham |
| 2nd Earl of Farnham | |
| In office 17 October 1800 – 1823 |
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| Member of the Irish Parliament for County Cavan |
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| In office 1780–1783 |
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| In office 1793–1800 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 February 1759 |
| Died | 23 July 1823 |
| Spouse | Grace Cuffe |
John James Maxwell was an important figure in Irish history. Born on February 5, 1759, he became the 2nd Earl of Farnham. He was known as an Irish Representative Peer and a politician, meaning he helped represent Ireland in the government and make laws. He passed away on July 23, 1823.
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John James Maxwell's Early Life
John James Maxwell was the son of Barry Maxwell, 1st Earl of Farnham and Margaret King. His father was the first Earl of Farnham. John James had a very noticeable feature: bright red hair! Because of this, people often called him "Shane Rua," which means "Red John" in Irish.
In 1784, John James Maxwell married Grace Cuffe. She was the daughter of Thomas Cuffe. However, John and Grace did not have any children together.
Becoming the Earl of Farnham
On October 17, 1800, John James Maxwell took over his father's titles. He became the 2nd Earl of Farnham, the 2nd Viscount Farnham, and the 4th Baron Farnham. Along with these important titles, he also inherited the large Farnham estate. This estate was located in County Cavan, Ireland.
Expanding Farnham House
After inheriting the estate, John James Maxwell wanted to make some changes. He hired a famous architect named Francis Johnston. Johnston was known for his work in Dublin. Maxwell asked him to design an extension for Farnham House, making it even grander.
His Time as a Politician
John James Maxwell was active in politics for many years. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for County Cavan. An MP is someone elected to represent their area in the parliament, which is like a country's main law-making body.
Serving in Parliament
Maxwell served two terms as an MP for County Cavan. His first term was from 1780 to 1783. He then served a second time from 1793 until 1800. During these years, he helped make decisions for Ireland in the Parliament of Ireland.
Becoming a Representative Peer
On March 3, 1816, John James Maxwell was chosen for a special role. He was elected as a representative peer. A representative peer is a member of the nobility who is elected by other nobles to represent them in the House of Lords, which is part of the parliament. This was a very important position.
John James Maxwell's Legacy
John James Maxwell passed away in 1823. Since he and his wife Grace did not have any children, some of his titles ended with him. The Earldom and the Viscountcy of Farnham became "extinct," meaning they no longer existed after his death.
However, the Barony of Farnham and the Farnham estate continued. They were passed on to his cousin, John Maxwell-Barry. This ensured that the family's legacy and the estate remained in the Maxwell family.
