William Brabazon, 1st Earl of Meath facts for kids
William Brabazon, 1st Earl of Meath (born around 1580, died 18 December 1651) was an important person in Ireland with English family roots. He held a special title called a "peer," which meant he was part of the nobility.
Early Life and Family History
William Brabazon came from an English family. His family moved to Ireland in the 1530s. They had lived in a place called Leicestershire in England since the time of King Henry III.
William was the second son of Edward Brabazon. However, he was the oldest son who lived to adulthood. His mother was Mary Smythe. William's father, Edward Brabazon, was given the title of Baron Ardee in 1616.
William's grandfather, also named William Brabazon, was a very important official in Ireland. He worked as the Vice-Treasurer for 23 years. During this time, the family gained a lot of land and became very wealthy in Ireland.
Becoming an Earl
In 1604, King James I made William Brabazon a knight. This was an honor given to important people.
When his father died on 7 August 1625, William took over his father's title and became the new Baron Ardee.
In 1627, William became a member of the Privy Council of Ireland. This was a group of trusted advisors to the King in Ireland. He also held several other important jobs in the Irish government. He was also the Custos Rotulorum for County Dublin, which meant he was the chief keeper of the county's records.
On 16 April 1627, William Brabazon was given an even higher title. He was made the Earl of Meath in the Peerage of Ireland. This meant he was one of the highest-ranking nobles in Ireland. If he didn't have any sons, the title would pass to his brother, Sir Anthony Brabazon.
Family and Later Years
In 1631, William hosted a special event at Kilruddery House. This house is still the family home today. He hosted the wedding of his sister, Elizabeth, to Sir John Bramston. Sir John Bramston was a very important judge in England, known as the Lord Chief Justice. William's father had not allowed this marriage years before, but William approved of it.
Later, during a time of big conflicts called the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, William Brabazon was sent on a mission. In 1644, the Irish Parliament sent him to meet King Charles I. The King was with his supporters, known as the Royalists, in Oxford.
After this meeting, William was captured by the King's opponents, called the Parliamentarians. He was held prisoner in the Tower of London for 11 months.
Marriage and Heir
William Brabazon married Jane Bingley, who passed away in 1644. Jane was the daughter of Sir John Bingley, who was also an important official.
William and Jane had one son together, named Edward. When William died in 1651, Edward took over his father's titles and became the 2nd Earl of Meath.
