St John Brodrick (died 1728) facts for kids
St John Brodrick (born around 1685 – died 21 February 1728) was an important politician in both Ireland and Great Britain. He was known as an Anglo-Irish politician, meaning he was from an English family living in Ireland. He served in the Irish House of Commons from 1709 until he died in 1728. He also served in the British House of Commons from 1721 to 1727.
Contents
Early Life and Family
St John Brodrick was the son of Alan Brodrick, 1st Viscount Midleton. His mother was Catherine Barry. He was also the brother of Alan Brodrick, 2nd Viscount Midleton. Sadly, St John passed away a few months before his father did.
He married Anne Hill, who was the daughter of Michael Hill. Anne was also the sister of Trevor Hill, 1st Viscount Hillsborough and Arthur Hill-Trevor, 1st Viscount Dungannon. St John and Anne had at least four daughters together. One of their daughters, Anne, married James Jefferyes. Another daughter, Mary, married Sir John Redmond Freke, 3rd Baronet.
A Career in Politics
St John Brodrick had a busy career in politics, serving in both the Irish and British parliaments.
Serving in Ireland
In Ireland, St John Brodrick represented different areas in the Irish House of Commons.
- From 1709 to 1713, he represented Castlemartyr.
- From 1713 to 1715, he represented Cork City.
- From 1715 until his death, he represented County Cork.
On 9 June 1724, he was given a special role in the Irish Privy Council. This was a group of important advisors to the King in Ireland.
Serving in Great Britain
St John Brodrick also became a Member of Parliament (MP) in Great Britain. An MP is a person elected to represent a group of people in the government.
- On 6 June 1721, he became the MP for Bere Alston after a special election called a by-election.
- He was re-elected without anyone running against him in the 1722 general election.
Standing Up for His Beliefs
As an MP, St John Brodrick was known for voting against the government often. This was sometimes difficult for his father, Lord Midleton, who was also a powerful figure. His father would explain that St John was a strong-willed young man who was not easily controlled, even by his father. This showed that St John was determined to vote based on his own beliefs.
