Sir Lucius O'Brien, 3rd Baronet facts for kids
Sir Lucius Henry O'Brien, 3rd Baronet (born September 2, 1731 – died January 15, 1795) was an important Irish politician. He held the title of Baronet, which is a special honor passed down through families. Sir Lucius was a politician for 34 years.
He was very different from his father. Sir Lucius was known for being smart and a great scholar. He studied Greek and Latin. He was also a very skilled politician. He started studying at Trinity College Dublin when he was 16 years old in 1748. He earned his degree in 1752. Later, in 1758, he became a lawyer. When his father passed away, Lucius became the 3rd Baronet of Dromoland. He also became a Privy Councillor and a Member of Parliament (MP).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sir Lucius O'Brien was the son of Sir Edward O'Brien, 2nd Baronet and Mary Hickman. He became a Baronet when his father died in 1765. He went to Trinity College Dublin for his education. In 1753, he joined the Middle Temple, which is a place where people train to become barristers. A barrister is a type of lawyer who speaks in court.
Political Career
Sir Lucius O'Brien had a long and active political career. He served in the Irish House of Commons, which was like the parliament of Ireland at the time.
Serving in Parliament
In 1761, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Ennis. He held this position until 1768. After that, he was elected to represent County Clare. This was a special seat because his father had held it before him. He served for County Clare until 1776.
Later, he was elected for Ennis again. However, when another MP, Hugh Dillon Massy, lost his seat for Clare, O'Brien returned to represent County Clare in 1778. In 1783, he became the MP for Tuam.
Key Roles and Honors
In 1786, Sir Lucius O'Brien was sworn into the Privy Council of Ireland. This meant he became a special advisor to the King or Queen. He continued to serve for Tuam until 1790. Then, he was re-elected for Ennis. He held this seat until he passed away in 1795.
He was also recognized for his intelligence and contributions to knowledge. In 1773, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group for scientists and thinkers. From 1788 to 1795, he held an important job called Clerk of the Crown and Hanaper in the Irish Chancery.
Family Life
Sir Lucius O'Brien married Anne French in 1768. Anne was the daughter of Robert French. They had seven children together: three sons and four daughters. His oldest son, Edward, took over his title as Baronet. Edward also took his father's seat in Parliament for Ennis.
Sir Lucius O'Brien's grandson, James FitzGerald, also became a well-known politician. James FitzGerald was important in New Zealand politics.
