Luke White (died 1824) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luke White
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portrait by Gilbert Stuart
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| Born | c. 1740 or 1750 |
| Died | 25 February 1824 |
| Occupation | Politician  |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth de la Mazière, Arabella Fortescue |
| Children | 8, including Samuel, Luke Jr. and Henry |
| Position held | member of the 6th Parliament of the United Kingdom (1818–1820), member of the 7th Parliament of the United Kingdom (1820–1824) |
Luke White was an important Irish figure who lived from around 1740 or 1750 until 1824. He started his career selling books and later became a successful businessman. He also worked as a politician for the Whig party.
Early Life and Business Success
Luke White began his journey as a book dealer with very little money. He first sold books on the streets of Belfast. Later, around 1778, he opened an auction house in Dublin. Here, he bought and resold books all over the country.
His business grew, and he became very wealthy. By 1798, during the Irish Rebellion, he showed his support for the government. He helped the Irish government by giving them a large loan of 1 million pounds. This was a huge amount of money at the time.
Public Service and Property
In 1800, Luke White bought a large estate called Luttrellstown Castle. He purchased it from Henry Luttrell, who was the 2nd Earl of Carhampton. Luke White decided to change the castle's name to Woodlands. He did this to remove any memory of its previous owner.
Luke White also took on important public roles. He served as the High Sheriff of County Dublin in 1804. Two years later, in 1806, he was the High Sheriff of Longford. A High Sheriff was a key official responsible for law and order in a county.
In 1818, Luke White became a Member of Parliament (MP). He represented the area of Leitrim in the British House of Commons. He continued to serve as an MP until he passed away in 1824.
Family and Legacy
Luke White was married twice and had several children. On February 7, 1781, he married Elizabeth de la Mazière. They had four sons and three daughters together. Later, in 1800, he married Arabella Fortescue. With Arabella, he had one more son.
Luke White passed away in Park Street, Mayfair. He left behind a large fortune, including properties that earned £175,000 each year. His wealth eventually went to his fourth son, Henry. Henry later became a Baron, a special title of nobility.
Luke White's sons also followed in his footsteps. His second son, Samuel, became an MP for the same area his father represented. His third son, Luke White Jr., was an MP for Longford.
