Sir William Gleadowe-Newcomen, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir William Gleadowe-Newcomen, 1st Baronet (born 1741 – died 1807) was an important Anglo-Irish person. He was a politician and a banker.
Contents
Who Was Sir William Gleadowe-Newcomen?
Sir William was born William Gleadowe. He changed his name after marrying Charlotte Newcomen in 1772. Charlotte was the only child of Edward Newcomen. When they married, William added "Newcomen" to his last name.
In 1781, he was given a special title: a baronet. This title was "of Carrickglass" in the Baronetage of Ireland.
His Work with the Royal Canal
Sir William was involved in a big project called the Royal Canal. This canal was built to help transport goods and people across Ireland.
In 1789, he became the Company Secretary for the Royal Canal Company. A bridge over the Royal Canal in Dublin is named after him. It's called Newcomen Bridge and was finished in 1793.
A Career in Banking
Sir William followed in his father's footsteps and became a banker. He ran his own bank, which was known as Newcomen's Bank.
The building where his bank used to be is in Dublin. It's considered one of the most beautiful buildings from the 1700s in the city. A famous architect named Thomas Ivory designed it in 1781.
Serving as a Member of Parliament
Sir William was also a politician. From 1790 to 1800, he was a Member of Parliament for County Longford. He served in the Irish House of Commons.
After the Acts of Union 1800 (when Ireland joined with Great Britain), he continued to serve. He represented Longford in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1802.
Family and Legacy
In 1800, Sir William's wife, Charlotte, received a special title too. She became Baroness Newcomen in the Peerage of Ireland. This was to honor her husband. Her title could be passed down to their male children.
Sir William Gleadowe-Newcomen passed away in 1807. His son, Thomas, took over his title. Sir William also had three daughters. His eldest daughter, Teresa, married Sir Charles Turner.
Sir William is buried in a family tomb at Drumcondra Churchyard. His son Thomas is also buried there.
