John Wandesford, 1st Earl Wandesford facts for kids
John Wandesford, 1st Earl Wandesford (born May 24, 1725 – died January 12, 1784) was an important person in Ireland during the 1700s. He was known as an Anglo-Irish peer, which means he was a member of the nobility with special titles and a seat in the government.
Who Was John Wandesford?
John Wandesford was born into a noble family. His father was George Wandesford, who held the title of the 4th Viscount Castlecomer. A viscount is a noble rank, below an earl but above a baron. His mother was Susannah Griffith.
His Noble Titles
When his father passed away on June 25, 1751, John Wandesford inherited his father's title and became the 5th Viscount Castlecomer. This also meant he gained a seat in the Irish House of Lords on November 22, 1751. The House of Lords was a part of the Irish Parliament, where important decisions were made.
A few years later, on August 1, 1758, John Wandesford received an even higher title. He was made the Earl Wandesford within the Peerage of Ireland. An earl is a very high rank in the nobility.
A Man of Science
Besides his political roles, John Wandesford was also interested in science. On April 4, 1774, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. The Royal Society is a very old and respected group in Britain that promotes science. Being a Fellow means he was recognized for his interest and support of scientific knowledge.
His Family Life
John Wandesford married Agnes Elizabeth Southwell on August 11, 1750. Her father was John Southwell from County Limerick. Together, John and Agnes had a son and a daughter.
Sadly, their son passed away before John Wandesford did. This meant that when John Wandesford died on January 12, 1784, his titles as Viscount Castlecomer and Earl Wandesford could not be passed on. Because of this, his noble titles ended with him. His daughter, Frances, later married John Butler, 17th Earl of Ormonde, who was another important noble.
