John Plunkett, 17th Baron of Dunsany facts for kids
John William Plunkett, 17th Baron of Dunsany (born August 31, 1853 – died January 16, 1899) was an Anglo-Irish politician and a noble. He was known for his love of sports and his interest in new inventions.
Early Life and Career
John William Plunkett was the second son of Edward Plunkett, 16th Baron of Dunsany. His father was interested in military topics and even wrote about building a tunnel under the English Channel to France.
John William studied at Trinity College Dublin and later at Trinity College, Cambridge. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1877 and his Master of Arts in 1881. He also served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy Artillery Volunteers.
He became a Conservative Party Member of Parliament (MP) for the Thornbury area of Gloucestershire. He served in this role from 1886 to 1892. An MP is a person elected to represent a group of people in the country's main law-making body, the Parliament.
Family Life
On April 3, 1877, John William married his second cousin, Ernle Elizabeth Louisa Maria Grosvenor Burton. Their wedding took place in London, England. Ernle was the only daughter of Colonel Francis Augustus Plunkett Burton.
Ernle, Lady Dunsany, had an interesting family history. She was a descendant of James Drax, an Englishman who went to Barbados in the 1620s. There, he became very wealthy by developing sugar plantations and trading. Later, his family returned to England and bought a large estate called Charborough Park in Dorset. Lady Dunsany inherited Charborough Park in 1905.
John William and Ernle Elizabeth had two sons:
- Edward John Moreton Drax, 18th Baron of Dunsany, who became a famous author.
- Admiral Sir Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax, who inherited Charborough Park.
Lady Dunsany was also a cousin of Sir Richard Burton, a famous traveler, scholar, and translator of the Arabian Nights. Some people believe that their son Edward, the author, may have inherited his creative imagination from the Burton family.
Interests and Legacy
John William Plunkett lived at his family home, Dunsany Castle, in County Meath, Ireland. He also had homes in London and Shoreham, Kent.
He was an amazing sportsman and was known as one of the best marksmen in England. He was also very interested in mechanical things and new technology. He even built his own X-Ray machine, which was working at Dunsany Castle before he passed away in 1899. This X-Ray machine was later given to Sevenoaks Hospital in 1918.
He loved trains and even had the special permission to drive the Irish Mail Train. He often took control of the local train line from Dublin to Drumree, which was near Dunsany. He was also responsible for installing the very first telephone system in Dunsany Castle.
The 17th Baron of Dunsany died on January 16, 1899, at Dunsany Castle. He was 45 years old. His wife, Ernle, later changed her name to Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax. She passed away in 1916.
