Rory Maguire (soldier) facts for kids

Rory Maguire (born in 1619 – died on November 13, 1648) was an important Irish leader, a politician, and a soldier. He played a big part in starting the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and later fought as a high-ranking commander in the Irish Confederate Wars. These were major conflicts in Irish history during the 1600s.

Rory Maguire's Early Life and Family

Rory Maguire was the second son of Bryan Maguire, who was the first Baron of Enniskillen. His mother was Rose, the daughter of Art MacBaron O'Neill.

In 1639, Rory Maguire was chosen to be a Member of Parliament for County Fermanagh. This meant he was a representative in the Irish House of Commons, which was like a government meeting place. In 1640, he joined King Charles I of England's army in Ireland.

In May 1640, Rory Maguire married Deborah. She was the daughter of Sir Henry Mervyn and had been married before. Through this marriage, Rory Maguire became the owner of Crevenish Castle. Rory and Deborah had a son named Roger Maguire, who also became a politician later on.

The Start of the Rebellion

Rory Maguire and his older brother, Connor Maguire, were key figures in planning the big rebellion that began in Ireland on October 23, 1641.

Rory Maguire was given the job of taking control of County Fermanagh for the rebels. He had some success, but not all of it. Some important forts in the county, like Enniskillen Castle, stayed under the control of Protestant settlers.

Before the rebellion officially started, Rory Maguire tried to capture Sir William Cole, but he failed. However, another landowner named Arthur Champion was killed. This was one of the first actions of the rebellion.

In November 1641, Rory Maguire joined Felim O'Neill of Kinard in Newry. They issued a special message, called a proclamation. In this message, the rebels said they were fighting to protect King Charles and their Catholic faith.

In December 1641, the Fermanagh army, led by Maguire, attacked Tully Castle. Many of the soldiers and people hiding inside the castle were killed. This happened after a castle belonging to the Maguires had been taken by force a few days earlier. Rory Maguire also destroyed Castle Archdale and a nearby village. He was involved in the killing of eight Protestant settlers at Monea castle.

In early 1642, Rory Maguire was removed from the Irish Parliament. Later that year, he became a colonel in Owen Roe O'Neill's army in Ulster.

Fighting in the Confederate Wars

The new government of Confederate Ireland appointed Rory Maguire as the Governor of Fermanagh. He was a commander in the rebel army.

In June 1646, Maguire led the reserve troops in the Battle of Benburb. He also led attacks into areas of eastern Ulster that were controlled by Protestants. Later in 1646, he joined Owen Roe O'Neill in his military campaigns in Leinster. After that, he raided lands in Connaught that were controlled by a Royalist commander, Ulick Burke, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde.

In August 1647, O'Neill and Maguire moved their army to Leinster. Here, Maguire had a big disagreement with O'Neill about paying the soldiers. The argument was so strong that O'Neill ordered Maguire's arrest and put him on trial in a military court. After the trial, Maguire and his supporters, who were about five or six groups of soldiers, prepared to leave the army. However, this disagreement soon ended, and Maguire remained loyal to O'Neill.

Final Years and Death

In 1648, Rory Maguire joined Owen Roe O'Neill in disagreeing with a peace agreement between the Confederates and the Royalists. He played an important role in the small battles and clever movements that happened between the two sides in central Ireland.

In the winter of 1648, Rory Maguire moved his forces north. On November 13, 1648, he was killed while leading an attack on a fort near Carrick-on-Shannon.