Nicholas Lawless, 1st Baron Cloncurry facts for kids

Nicolas Lawless, 1st Baron Cloncurry (born 30 October 1735 – died 28 August 1799) was an important Irish businessman and politician. He was known as Sir Nicholas Lawless, Bt for a while before he became a Baron. He made his money as a wool merchant and banker.

Nicolas Lawless was the son of Robert Lawless and Mary Hadsor. His mother's father, Dominick Hadsor, was a merchant from Dublin. In 1776, Nicolas was given the special title of Baronet. This title was "of Abington" in County Limerick, and it was part of the Baronetage of Ireland.

In the same year, 1776, he became a member of the Irish Parliament, representing the area of Lifford. He held this position until 1789. That year, he was given an even higher title and became a Baron, which is a type of noble. His full title was Baron Cloncurry, of Cloncurry in County Limerick.

Lord Cloncurry built a beautiful home called Maretimo House in Blackrock, County Dublin. He also started building a large country house called Lyons Hill in County Kildare. His son finished building this house later. Lord Cloncurry had bought the land for the Lyons estate from the Aylmer family.

Family Life

Lord Cloncurry married Margaret Browne in 1761. She was the daughter of Valentine Browne from Mount Browne, County Limerick. They had at least four children together.

One of their daughters, Charlotta Louisa Lawless, married Edward Plunkett, 14th Baron Dunsany. Another daughter, Valentina Letitia Lawless, married Sir Francis Conyngham.

Lady Cloncurry passed away in Dublin in February 1795 when she was 46 years old. Lord Cloncurry died at Maretimo House in Blackrock, County Dublin, in August 1799. He was 63 years old. His only son who was still alive, Valentine, inherited his titles. Many people believed that Valentine's difficult time, including being held in the Tower of London, made his father's health worse and led to his early death.