Sir Gregory Byrne, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir Gregory Byrne (born around 1640, died March 1712) was an important Irish figure. He was a soldier and a politician who supported James II of England, a king who lost his throne. People who supported King James II were called Jacobites. Sir Gregory was also the first person in his family to be given the special title of Baronet.
Early Life and Becoming a Baronet
Gregory Byrne was the son of Daniel Byrne, who was a very successful cloth merchant. His mother was Anne Taylor. In 1662, Gregory started studying law at a place called Gray's Inn.
In 1671, something big happened for Gregory. His father bought him the title of baronet. This meant Gregory became "Sir Gregory Byrne, 1st Baronet." A baronet is a special title, like a knight, but it can be passed down in the family. In 1684, he also inherited important lands from his father.
Supporting King James II
Sir Gregory Byrne was a strong supporter of James II of England. After the Glorious Revolution in 1688, King James II lost his throne. But Sir Gregory continued to support him.
In 1689, Sir Gregory was given an important job. He became the High Sheriff of Queen's County. This role was like a chief law enforcement officer for the area. The same year, he joined the Jacobite army as a captain. He was part of the Siege of Derry, a famous battle.
Sir Gregory also became a Member of Parliament for Ballynakill. This was in the special Irish Parliament called by King James II. In 1690, he was put in charge of collecting taxes for Queen's County.
Battles and Pardons
Sir Gregory fought in the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690. This was a very important battle in Irish history. After the battle, he was accused of treason because he supported the losing side.
However, things changed for him. In 1693, he was among a group of officers who received a pardon from the new king, William III of England. He was briefly held in Dublin during a time when people worried about a French invasion. But later that year, he was released. He finally received a full pardon in 1694. This pardon was part of the Treaty of Limerick, which ended a major conflict.
Family Life
In 1669, Sir Gregory Byrne married Margaret Copley. She was the daughter of Colonel Christopher Copley. Sir Gregory's son, Daniel Byrne, later inherited his father's title and became the next Baronet.
