Luke Plunket, 3rd Earl of Fingall facts for kids

Luke Plunket, 3rd Earl of Fingall (born in 1639, died in 1684) was an important Irish soldier and politician. He was known for signing a special document called the Catholic Remonstrance in 1661.

Who Was Luke Plunket?

Early Life and Family

Luke Plunket was born in Ireland in 1639. He was the oldest son of Christopher Plunket and Mabel Barnewall. His father was the 2nd Earl of Fingall, a noble title, since 1637.

As the oldest son, Luke was given the special title of Baron of Killeen from birth. This is called a courtesy title, meaning he used it out of respect, even though he wasn't officially the Earl yet. His father's family, the Plunkets, were known as Old English. This means they were descendants of Normans who came to Ireland a long time ago, in the 11th century.

Luke's mother, Mabel Barnewall, was the daughter of Nicholas Barnewall, 1st Viscount Kingsland. Luke had four brothers and one sister.

A Difficult Childhood

Luke's father was involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and the Irish Confederate Wars. These were times of big conflicts in Ireland. After the Irish Catholic Confederation broke up in 1649, his father continued fighting. He joined the Royalist Alliance, who supported the King, against the Parliamentarians.

In August 1649, Luke's father fought in the Battle of Rathmines. He was wounded and captured by the Parliamentarians. Sadly, he died two weeks later from his injuries while being held prisoner.

Luke became the 3rd Earl of Fingall in August 1649, when he was only about ten years old. Because of the wars, his father's lands and properties were taken away by the Parliamentarians.

Family Life

Marriage and Children

Before 1666, Luke married Margaret MacCarty. She was the daughter of Donough MacCarthy, 1st Earl of Clancarty.

Luke and Margaret had three sons and three daughters:

• Peter (1678–1718): He was their third son but the only one who lived to become the next Earl.
• Elizabeth: She married Rowland Eyre.
• Helena: She married Sir FitzGerald Aylmer first, and then Michael Fleming.
• Amelia: She married Theobald Taaffe, 4th Earl of Carlingford.

Their marriage was not always easy and caused some worry for their friends and family. Luke and Margaret often lived apart.

Later Years and Legacy

Political Involvement

In December 1661, Lord Fingall was one of the people who signed the Catholic Remonstrance. This was an important document presented to the King.

Luke spent many years trying to get his family's lands back. It was a long legal process. One official even said his case was "suspended between Heaven and earth" because it took so long. By 1677, he had gotten most of his lands back.

Even though he was active in politics in the 1660s, he seemed to live a quieter life in his later years. During a time called the Popish Plot, his wife, Lady Fingall, was living in London. She was wrongly accused of being part of a Catholic plot, but nothing happened to her.

Death

Luke Plunket, 3rd Earl of Fingall, died in 1684. His oldest surviving son, Peter, became the 4th Earl of Fingall.