William Tonson, 1st Baron Riversdale facts for kids
William Tonson, 1st Baron Riversdale (born May 3, 1724 – died December 4, 1787) was an important person from Ireland. He owned a lot of land, was a soldier, and worked in politics. He was also known as a Lieutenant-Colonel, which is a high rank in the army.
Who Was William Tonson?
William Tonson was born in 1724. He was the son of Richard Tonson, who was also a politician. His mother was Peniel Gates. William grew up to become a soldier and later a politician, playing a part in Irish history.
Early Life and Military Service
William Tonson joined the army and became a lieutenant-colonel in the 53rd Regiment of Foot. This was a high-ranking position. In 1762, he served in the army during the Spanish invasion of Portugal. He fought under a famous general named William, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe.
A Career in Politics
After his time as a soldier, William Tonson entered politics. In 1768, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Irish House of Commons. This was like being a representative in the government. He represented the area of Tuam until 1776.
Later, he represented another area called Rathcormack until 1783. In that same year, he received a special title. He was made Baron Riversdale of Rathcormack. This meant he became a member of the Peerage of Ireland, which is a group of people with special noble titles.
Family Life
In 1773, Lord Riversdale married Rose Bernard. She was the daughter of James Bernard. William and Rose had a large family with eight sons and two daughters.
William Tonson passed away in December 1787 when he was 63 years old. His second son, also named William, took over his title as Baron Riversdale. One of his youngest sons, Ludlow, later became a bishop, a high-ranking church leader.
