John Ormsby Vandeleur (Ennis MP) facts for kids

John Ormsby Vandeleur was an important figure in Ireland. He was born in 1765 and passed away in 1828. He was a lawyer, a big landowner, and a politician from Kilrush in County Clare. He served in the Irish Parliament from 1790 to 1800. Later, he was a member of the British Parliament from 1801 to 1802.

Early Life and Family Background

John was the oldest son of Crofton Vandeleur, who was also a politician. His mother, Alice, came from another important family.

John studied at Glasgow University and then at Lincoln's Inn to become a lawyer. He officially became a barrister (a type of lawyer) in Ireland in 1790. In 1800, he married Lady Frances Moore. They had two sons and two daughters.

The Vandeleur family originally came from the Netherlands. They settled in Ireland in the 1630s. They became very successful landowners over time. In 1688, they moved to Kilrush and continued to grow their wealth.

Land and Developing Kilrush

In 1794, John inherited his father's large estates. By the mid-1800s, the family owned nearly 20,000 acres in County Clare. Much of this land was in the area around Kilrush.

In 1808, Vandeleur built Kilrush House. As the biggest landlord, he practically owned the town of Kilrush. He worked hard to develop and improve the town in the early 1800s. His family members, like Crofton Moore Vandeleur and Hector Vandeleur, continued this work.

However, the Vandeleur family later faced criticism. During the Great Famine, they were seen as not being very helpful to their tenants. They also became absentee landlords, meaning they lived elsewhere and didn't manage their lands directly. This led to bad feelings, especially when they evicted many of their tenants in the 1880s.

Political Career and Public Service

John Vandeleur began his political career in 1790. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Carlow. He held this seat until 1798.

After that, he represented Ennis in the Irish Parliament. This was a "pocket borough," meaning a powerful person (in this case, Lord Conyngham) largely controlled who was elected.

The Parliament of Ireland was dissolved in 1800 by the Act of Union. This act joined Ireland with Great Britain. Vandeleur was then chosen to represent Ennis in the new British Parliament in London. In January 1801, he became a member of the Privy Council of Ireland.

In exchange for supporting the government and the Act of Union, Vandeleur received important jobs. He was appointed as a Commissioner of Revenue in 1799. This was a well-paying position. He also served as a Commissioner of Excise for Ireland from 1802 to 1806. Later, he was a Commissioner of Customs from 1806 to 1822.

Death and Legacy

John Ormsby Vandeleur passed away on November 28, 1828. He died at the home of his brother, Thomas Burton Vandeleur, who was a judge.

His oldest son, Crofton Moore Vandeleur, inherited his estates. Crofton Moore Vandeleur also became a politician, serving as an MP for Clare from 1859 to 1874.