Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde facts for kids

Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde (also known as Richard de Burgh) was an important Irish nobleman and politician. He lived from 1572 to 1635.

He was the son of Ulick Burke, 3rd Earl of Clanricarde. Richard became a knight in 1602 for leading English cavalry during the Battle of Kinsale. Later, he served as the Governor of Connaught from 1604 to 1616. He was also a member of the Privy Council of Ireland, which was a group of advisors to the ruler. Richard became the biggest and most powerful landowner in Connacht. Later in his life, he had many disagreements with the government in Dublin, which was becoming more demanding.

Early Life and Family Roots

Richard Burke was born in 1572. He was the second son of Ulick Burke and his wife, Honora Burke. Richard's father was the 3rd Earl of Clanricarde.

His father's family, the Burkes, were known as "Old English." This means they were descendants of Normans who came to Ireland a long time ago. Their ancestor, William de Burgh, arrived in Ireland during the time of King Henry II of England.

Richard's mother, Honora Burke, was from a related branch of the same Burke family. Richard also had other brothers and sisters.

Education and Military Service

Richard Burke studied at Christ Church, Oxford university from 1584 to 1598. He earned a Master of Arts degree there.

After his studies, Burke fought for Queen Elizabeth I of England. He helped her fight against Irish rebel leaders and their Spanish allies. This happened during a major conflict called the Nine Years' War.

Becoming the Earl

On May 20, 1601, Richard Burke took over his father's title. He became the 4th Earl of Clanricarde. This made him a very important person in Ireland.

Marriage and Children

In 1603, Earl Richard married Frances Walsingham. She was the daughter of Francis Walsingham and the widow of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex.

Richard and Frances had one son and two daughters:

• Ulick: He was their only son and later became the next Earl.
• Mary: She married Edward Butler.
• Honora (died 1661): She married Garrat McCloghlan first, and then John Paulet, 5th Marquis of Winchester.

Challenges in Later Life

By 1633, Richard Burke was one of the wealthiest landowners in Ireland. He had a lot of power in County Galway. This made the Dublin government unhappy. They wanted to take back some of his land for the English Crown.

The government tried to use a method where juries would "find" problems with land ownership. This would allow the Crown to claim the land. In 1634, a government official named Thomas Wentworth held such a jury meeting at Portumna Castle. However, the jury refused to give the verdict the government wanted.

Portumna Castle was built by Richard Burke and finished in 1617.

Death and Legacy

Some people believed that the harsh treatment Richard Burke received from Thomas Wentworth, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, made him die sooner. Richard passed away in November 1635.

Wentworth, however, said that Richard was simply getting old. He joked that he couldn't be blamed for a man being over sixty. The conflict between Burke and Wentworth continued even after Richard's death, with his son taking up the fight. This feud ended up causing a lot of trouble for Wentworth later on.

Family Coat of Arms

Arms of Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde

Crest A Cat-a-Mountain sejant guardant proper, collared and chained Or. Escutcheon Or, a cross gules in the first quarter a lion rampant sable. Supporters Two Cats-a-Mountain sejant guardant proper, collared and chained Or. Motto UNG ROY, UNG FOY, UNG LOY (One king, one faith, one law)