Nicholas Loftus, 1st Viscount Loftus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nicholas Loftus
PC (I)
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Member of the Irish Parliament for Fethard |
|
| In office 1710–1713 |
|
| Member of the Irish Parliament for Clonmines |
|
| In office 1713–1715 |
|
| Member of the Irish Parliament for County Wexford |
|
| In office 1715–1751 |
|
| Baron Loftus | |
| In office 1751–1763 |
|
| Viscount Loftus | |
| In office 1756–1763 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Died | 31 December 1763 |
| Spouse | Anne Ponsonby |
| Children | 7, including Nicholas, Henry, Edward, and Nicholas |
| Parents | Henry Loftus and Anne Crewkern |
Nicholas Loftus, 1st Viscount Loftus (around 1687 – 31 December 1763) was an important Anglo-Irish politician and a noble. He held high titles and served in the Irish government during the 1700s.
Contents
Nicholas Loftus: A Life in Irish Politics
Nicholas Loftus was a key figure in Irish politics during the 18th century. He started his career in the Irish House of Commons, which was like the main law-making body in Ireland at the time. Later, he became a noble, earning important titles and a seat in the Irish House of Lords.
His Family and Early Years
Nicholas Loftus was born around 1687. His parents were Henry Loftus and Anne Crewkern. In April 1706, he married Hon. Anne Ponsonby. Her father was William Ponsonby, 1st Viscount Duncannon. Nicholas and Anne had five children together:
- Hon. Mary Loftus (who passed away in 1779)
- Hon. Anne Loftus (who passed away in 1768)
- Hon. Elizabeth Loftus (who passed away in 1747). She married Sir John Tottenham, 1st Baronet. Their son was Charles Loftus, 1st Marquess of Ely.
- Nicholas Hume-Loftus, 1st Earl of Ely (1708 – 1766)
- Henry Loftus, 1st Earl of Ely (1709 – 1783)
Nicholas Loftus also had two other children, Edward and Nicholas, with his housekeeper, May Hernon.
A Career in Parliament
Nicholas Loftus began his political journey as a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is a person chosen to represent a group of people in a parliament. He represented different areas in Ireland:
- From 1710 to 1713, he was the MP for Fethard in County Wexford.
- From 1713 to 1715, he represented Clonmines.
- From 1715 to 1751, he was the MP for County Wexford. This was a long time, showing he was a trusted representative.
Becoming a Noble: Baron and Viscount
After many years as an MP, Nicholas Loftus was given special honors. In 1751, he was made a Baron Loftus. This meant he became a member of the peerage, a group of nobles with special titles. He then moved from the House of Commons to the Irish House of Lords, which was the upper house of the Irish Parliament.
In 1753, he became a member of the Privy Council of Ireland. This was a group of important advisors to the monarch.
His honors continued to grow. In 1756, he was given an even higher title: Viscount Loftus. He was known as the 1st Viscount Loftus. He held these important titles until his death in 1763.
