William Cole, 3rd Earl of Enniskillen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Enniskillen
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| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 1840–1886 Hereditary Peerage |
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| Preceded by | John Cole |
| Succeeded by | Lowry Cole |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Willoughby Cole
25 January 1807 |
| Died | 26 November 1886 (aged 79) |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouses |
Jane Casamaijor
(m. 1844; died 1855)The Hon. Mary Emma Brodrick
(m. 1865) |
| Children |
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| Parents | John Cole, 2nd Earl of Enniskillen (father) Lady Charlotte Paget (mother) |
| Education | Harrow School Christ Church, Oxford |
William Willoughby Cole, 3rd Earl of Enniskillen (born January 25, 1807 – died November 12, 1886) was an important person in Irish and British history. He was known as a palaeontologist, which is a scientist who studies fossils. He was also a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP), meaning he helped make laws in the British government.
Before he became the Earl of Enniskillen, he was known by a special title called Viscount Cole until 1840. He was also a leader of the Orange Order, a Protestant organization, serving as its first Imperial Grand Master. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), a group for top scientists.
Early Life and Learning
William Willoughby Cole grew up in a powerful, land-owning family in Ulster, Ireland. His father was John Cole, 2nd Earl of Enniskillen, and his mother was Lady Charlotte Paget.
He went to two well-known schools: Harrow School and Christ Church, Oxford University. From a young age, he loved studying and collecting fossil fish. He did this with his friend, Sir Philip Grey Egerton.
A Famous Fossil Collection
Lord Cole built up a huge and impressive collection of fossil fish at his home, Florence Court, near Enniskillen. Many of these fossils were studied and drawn by famous scientists like Louis Agassiz. Later, his entire collection was bought by the British Museum. Today, you can see these amazing fossils at the Natural History Museum, London.
Political Career
Besides his scientific interests, Lord Enniskillen was also involved in politics. From 1831 to 1840, he was a Member of Parliament for Fermanagh. This meant he represented the people of Fermanagh in the House of Commons, which is one part of the UK Parliament.
In 1840, his father passed away. William then inherited the title of the 3rd Earl of Enniskillen. This also meant he became a member of the House of Lords, the other part of the UK Parliament, as Baron Grinstead.
Family Life
Lord Enniskillen was married twice. His first wife was Jane Casamaijor, whom he married in 1844. They had seven children together:
- *John Willoughby Michael Cole, Viscount Cole* (1844–1850)
- *Lowry Egerton Cole, 4th Earl of Enniskillen* (1845–1924)
- *Lady Charlotte June Cole* (1847–1933)
- *Lady Florence Mary Cole* (1849–1924)
- *The Hon. Arthur Edward Casamaijor Cole* (1851–1908)
- *Lady Alice Elizabeth Cole* (1853–1931)
- *Lady Jane Evelyn Cole* (1855–1941)
Sadly, Jane Casamaijor died in 1855. Ten years later, in 1865, Lord Enniskillen married his second wife, The Hon. Mary Emma Brodrick.
He passed away in November 1886 at the age of 79. His second son, Lowry, became the 4th Earl of Enniskillen. His second wife, the Dowager Countess of Enniskillen, died in 1896.
