John Maxwell-Barry, 5th Baron Farnham facts for kids
John Maxwell-Barry, 5th Baron Farnham (born 18 January 1767 – died 20 September 1838) was an important Irish politician and a representative peer. This means he was a member of the Irish Parliament and later represented Irish nobles in the British Parliament. He was also part of the Privy Council of Ireland, a group of advisors to the monarch.
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Early Life and Family
John Maxwell-Barry was born in 1767. His father was Henry Maxwell, who was the Lord Bishop of Meath, a high-ranking church leader in Ireland. His grandfather was John Maxwell, 1st Baron Farnham, who was the first person to hold the title of Baron Farnham.
On 4 July 1789, John Maxwell-Barry married Juliana Lucy Annesley. She was the daughter of Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Mountnorris, who was a powerful noble, and the 8th Viscount Valentia. Juliana passed away on 10 October 1833.
Political Career in Ireland
John Maxwell-Barry began his political journey in Ireland. In 1788, he tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) for County Cavan. However, he was not officially elected that time.
He later successfully became an MP. From 1792 to 1798, he represented Doneraile in the Irish House of Commons. This was the main law-making body in Ireland at the time. After that, he represented Newtown Limavady until 1801. This was when the Act of Union happened, which joined the Irish Parliament with the British Parliament.
Besides being an MP, John Maxwell-Barry held other important roles. He was appointed High Sheriff of Carlow for 1795-96. A High Sheriff was a key official responsible for law and order in a county. He also served as the Governor of co. Cavan from 1805 to 1831. A Governor was in charge of the county's administration. Additionally, he was a Colonel in the Cavan Militia, a local military force, from 1797 to 1823.
Role in the British Parliament
After the Act of Union, John Maxwell-Barry continued his political career in the British House of Commons. He was an MP for Cavan from 1806 to 1824. This meant he represented his home area in the main Parliament of the United Kingdom.
On 7 July 1809, he was made a Privy Councillor in Ireland. This was a special honor, meaning he was part of a group that advised the King or Queen on Irish matters.
Baron Farnham and Later Life
On 23 July 1823, John Maxwell-Barry's first cousin passed away. This meant John inherited the title of 5th Baron Farnham and also the large Farnham estate, which included land and property.
Later, on 17 December 1825, he was chosen as a representative peer. This allowed him to represent the Irish nobility in the House of Lords, the upper house of the British Parliament.
John Maxwell-Barry died on 20 September 1838. He did not have any children. Because of this, his title as Baron and the Farnham estate passed to his brother, Henry.
