Sir John Esmonde, 14th Baronet facts for kids

Sir John Lymbrick Esmonde, 14th Baronet (born December 15, 1893 – died July 6, 1958) was an important Irish politician. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1915 to 1918. Later, he became a Teachta Dála (TD) in Dáil Éireann, which is the Irish parliament. He held this role from 1937 to 1944, and again from 1948 to 1951.

Early Life and Education

John Esmonde was born on December 15, 1893, in Pontesbury, Shropshire, England. He was the oldest of three sons and three daughters. His father, John Joseph Esmonde, was a doctor and also an MP.

John went to school in Germany and Belgium. He also studied at Clongowes Wood College in County Kildare, Ireland. From 1911 to 1914, he trained to be a marine engineer at Harland and Wolff in Belfast.

His Time in World War I

In 1915, John's father passed away while serving in World War I. John was then elected to take his father's place as an MP for North Tipperary. He was part of the Irish Parliamentary Party.

At the same time, John was also serving in the war. He was a Captain in the Leinster Regiment and later with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He was one of five Irish MPs who fought in World War I. John also served with forces during the 1916 Easter Rising.

Becoming a Lawyer

After the war, John Esmonde studied law at the King's Inns in Dublin. He became a barrister, which is a type of lawyer. In 1942, he became a Senior Counsel, a more experienced lawyer. He was also elected as a Bencher of the King's Inns in 1948.

His Political Journey

John Esmonde did not run for his MP seat again in the 1918 election. In 1943, he inherited the title of Esmonde Baronetcy.

He tried to win a seat in the Dáil in 1936 but was not successful. However, he was elected as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) for the Wexford area in 1937. He won again in 1938 and 1943. He lost his seat in the 1944 election but was re-elected in 1948.

In 1948, some people thought he might become Taoiseach, which is the head of the Irish government. This was because he had not taken sides in the Irish Civil War. However, John A. Costello became Taoiseach instead.

In 1950, John Esmonde left the Fine Gael party. He continued to support the government as an independent politician. He resigned from the Dáil in May 1951. John Esmonde was one of the few people who served as both a Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons and a Teachta Dála in the Irish Dáil Éireann.

Family Connections

John Esmonde had notable family members.

• His younger brother, Lt. Geoffrey Esmonde (1897–1916), died in World War I at age 19.
• His second younger brother was Sir Anthony Esmonde, 15th Baronet.
• His half-brother, Eugene Esmonde, was awarded a special medal called the Victoria Cross after he died in 1942 during World War II.

Later Years

John Esmonde married Eleanor Fitzharris in 1922. They did not have any children. He passed away on July 6, 1958, in a nursing home in Dublin.

See also

• Families in the Oireachtas