Richard Power, 1st Earl of Tyrone facts for kids

Richard Power, 1st Earl of Tyrone (1630–1690) was an important Irish nobleman who supported King James II.

Early Life and Family

Richard Power was the oldest son of John Power, 5th Baron Power, of Curraghmore, from County Waterford. His father became ill around the time Richard was born. When Richard was about twelve, his mother passed away. His grandmother helped protect the children, especially since their father was not involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1641.

When Oliver Cromwell came to Ireland in 1649, he ordered that Lord Power's family be protected. Even though the family was pardoned, the war had made them poor. They received weekly money to help them. They were almost forced to move to Connaught, but they were allowed to stay after an investigation. The family was known as recusants (people who refused to attend Church of Ireland services), but they did not lose their land.

In 1655, Richard's sister Catherine became his guardian. She later married John Fitzgerald. Richard became a Member of Parliament for County Waterford in 1660. When his father died the next year, Richard became Lord Power.

Becoming Baron Power

As the new Lord Power, Richard was put in charge of Waterford city and county. He also led a group of soldiers, though they were often not paid on time.

In 1666, there was a false rumor that an army was going to attack Limerick. Ormonde, a powerful leader, took steps to protect the area. Orrery, who was in charge of Munster, told Lord Power to get his local soldiers ready.

In 1669, Power received land that had been taken from other people named Power. He also bought more land in Dungarvan. In 1673, Power tried to join his family's lands with the Dromana estate. He arranged for his oldest son, John, to marry his niece, Catherine Fitzgerald. Catherine was about twelve years old, and John was about seven. A marriage ceremony took place.

Earl of Tyrone Title

In October 1673, Lord Power was given new important titles: Earl of Tyrone and Viscount Decies. These titles were part of the Peerage of Ireland.

In May 1675, Catherine Fitzgerald, who had been part of the arranged marriage, said she did not agree to it. Tyrone left Ireland without permission, which he needed to have. Catherine stayed for a while with Tyrone's father-in-law, Lord Anglesey. But in 1677, she left and married Edward Villiers. After this, legal action followed, and Tyrone had to give up the ownership papers for the Dromana estate.

In 1678, false information was given to the authorities, claiming that Tyrone was involved in a plot against the government. This was part of a bigger, made-up story called the "Popish Plot" in England. After an investigation, the charges were sent to court. Tyrone had to pay bail and was not allowed in Dublin Castle or the council. He was accused of a plot in Waterford in 1679 and again in 1680, but the juries did not find enough evidence.

Tyrone was then taken to England in 1680 and put in the Gatehouse Prison. The English Parliament decided to investigate him. In January 1681, he asked the House of Lords for help. Parliament was dissolved soon after, and the "plot" was shown to be false. Tyrone was released on bail in 1684.

Under King James II

Tyrone was allowed to go back to Ireland. When King James II came to power in 1685, Tyrone became a colonel leading a group of soldiers. He was made a special advisor to the king in 1686 and received a pension in 1687. He was also in charge of Waterford county and city. He became one of the twenty-four aldermen (city leaders) for Waterford when King James changed the city's rules.

Later Years and Death

Tyrone was a peer (a nobleman with a seat) in the Patriot Parliament in 1689. This parliament made laws that took land from many Protestant landowners.

In September 1690, Tyrone's soldiers were part of the group defending Cork when John Churchill attacked it. Tyrone helped negotiate the surrender, and the soldiers became prisoners on September 28.

Tyrone was accused of treason and sent to the Tower of London in October. He died there on October 14, 1690. On November 3, he was buried in Farnborough, Hampshire, where his father-in-law, Anglesey, was also buried. The legal charges against him in Ireland were later overturned by his son.

Family

In 1654, Tyrone married Dorothy Annesley, who was the oldest daughter of Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey. His oldest surviving son, John, became the next Earl. John died in 1693 at age 28. His brother James then became the third Earl. James had one daughter, Lady Catherine, who later married Sir Marcus Beresford.