X-Nico

unusual facts about Valentine Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry



Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, 2nd Earl Talbot

Although an opponent of Catholic emancipation, Daniel O'Connell gave Talbot credit for his impartiality and Lord Cloncurry called him 'an honourable, high-minded gentleman'.

Manor of Kilmainham

After the Reformation, former lords (or chairmen, as they were later called) of this manor included Lord Cloncurry and Sir Edward Newenham.

Nicholas Lawless, 1st Baron Cloncurry

Lord Cloncurry died at Maretimo, Blackrock, County Dublin, in August 1799, aged 63, and was succeeded in his titles by his son, Valentine.

Valentine Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry

After 1828 he became a member of the private cabinet of Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey and kept horses ready at Lyons for impromptu meetings when Anglesey was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1828 to 1829 (when he was popular), and from 1830 to1834 (when he was less popular).

Valentine was imprisoned in June 1798 on suspicion of treason in London, released, re-arrested and held in the Tower of London until March 1801.

He is believed to have joined the United Irishmen in 1793, shortly before his father Nicholas Lawless, a wool-merchant turned banker who converted from Catholicism to the Church of Ireland and became the first Lord Cloncurry, took charge of Lyons House.


see also