Harcourt Lees
Encyclopedia
Sir Harcourt Lees was an Irish clergyman and political pamphleteer
on behalf of Protestant Ascendancy
in Ireland. He is best known for his strongly worded pamphlets attacking Roman Catholicism.
. He graduated B.A.
at Trinity College
, Cambridge
, in 1799, and proceeded M.A.
in 1802. His father saw service in Germany under the Marquis of Granby
, and had been private secretary to Lord Townshend
during his administration of Ireland, where he was secretary to the post-office from 1784 until his death in 1811.
Sir Harcourt Lees took holy orders
, and was preferred to the rectory and vicarage of Killaney, County Down
, was collated to the prebend of Fennor in the church of Cashel 21 November. 1800, and to that of Tullycorbet in the church of Clogher in 1801. He resigned both stalls in July 1806. He died at Blackrock, near Dublin, on 7 March 1852.
Harcourt Lees succeeded his father as second Baronet in 1811. He married, in or about October 1812, Sophia, daughter of Colonel Lyster of Grange, co. Roscommon, by whom he had four sons and four daughters. His fourth son William Nassau is separately noticed. Lees was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir John Lees, who died 19 June 1892, and whose eldest son, Harcourt James, was the fourth baronet.
Pamphleteer
A pamphleteer is a historical term for someone who creates or distributes pamphlets. Pamphlets were used to broadcast the writer's opinions on an issue, for example, in order to get people to vote for their favorite politician or to articulate a particular political ideology.A famous pamphleteer...
on behalf of Protestant Ascendancy
Protestant Ascendancy
The Protestant Ascendancy, usually known in Ireland simply as the Ascendancy, is a phrase used when referring to the political, economic, and social domination of Ireland by a minority of great landowners, Protestant clergy, and professionals, all members of the Established Church during the 17th...
in Ireland. He is best known for his strongly worded pamphlets attacking Roman Catholicism.
Life
Harcourt Lees was the eldest son of Sir John Lees, Bart. (created 1804), by Mary, eldest daughter of Robert Cathcart of Glandusk, AyrshireAyrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
. He graduated B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
at Trinity College
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, in 1799, and proceeded M.A.
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
in 1802. His father saw service in Germany under the Marquis of Granby
John Manners, Marquess of Granby
General John Manners, Marquess of Granby PC, , British soldier, was the eldest son of the 3rd Duke of Rutland. As he did not outlive his father, he was known by his father's subsidiary title, Marquess of Granby...
, and had been private secretary to Lord Townshend
George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend
Field Marshal George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend, PC , known as The Viscount Townshend from 1764 to 1787, was a British soldier who reached the rank of field marshal.-Early life:...
during his administration of Ireland, where he was secretary to the post-office from 1784 until his death in 1811.
Sir Harcourt Lees took holy orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
, and was preferred to the rectory and vicarage of Killaney, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, was collated to the prebend of Fennor in the church of Cashel 21 November. 1800, and to that of Tullycorbet in the church of Clogher in 1801. He resigned both stalls in July 1806. He died at Blackrock, near Dublin, on 7 March 1852.
Harcourt Lees succeeded his father as second Baronet in 1811. He married, in or about October 1812, Sophia, daughter of Colonel Lyster of Grange, co. Roscommon, by whom he had four sons and four daughters. His fourth son William Nassau is separately noticed. Lees was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir John Lees, who died 19 June 1892, and whose eldest son, Harcourt James, was the fourth baronet.
Works
Lees published several pamphlets, chiefly in support of Protestant ascendency. They are distinguished by extreme animation of style.- The Antidote, or Nouvelles à la Main. Recommended to the serious attention of the Right Hon. W. C. Plunket and other advocates of unrestricted civil and religious liberty, Dublin, 1819, 8vo; reprinted with a supplement entitled ‘L’Abeja, or a Bee among the Evangelicals,’ Dublin, 1820, 8vo.
- Strictures on the Rev. Lieutenant Stennett’s Hints to Sir Harcourt Lees by the Anti-Jacobin British Review for September; to which is prefixed A Short Introduction, containing a most important Letter from a Gentleman educated and intended for the Popish Priesthood, Dublin, 1820, 8vo.
- The Mystery: being a short but decisive counter-reply to the few friendly hints of the Rev. Charles B. Stennett, at present an officiating priest in the Religious College of Maynooth, and late a lieutenant of grenadiers in the North York Regiment of Militia, Dublin, 1820, 8vo; 14th edit. 1821.
- A Letter to Mr. Wilberforce, containing some Reflections on a late Address of Lord John Russell’s and the Past and Present Conduct of the Whigs, Dublin, 1820.
- An Address to the King’s Friends throughout the British Empire on the present Awful and Critical State of Great Britain, containing just and necessary Strictures on a late Speech of Henry Brougham, esq., in the House of Lords in defence of the Queen, Dublin, 1820, 8vo; 11th edit. 1821.
- A Cursory View of the Present State of Ireland, Dublin, 1821, 8vo.
- Nineteen Pages of Advice to the Protestant Freemen and Freeholders of the City of Dublin, containing Observations on the Speeches and Conduct of a late Aggregate Meeting in Liffey St. Chapel, the first of June; recommended to the deep and serious consideration of every Protestant in Ireland, Dublin, 1821, 8vo.
- Most Important. Trial of Sir Harcourt Lees, Bart. Before Chief Justice B4 and Serjeant Flummery on Saturday, the 11 January 1823, by a jury of Special-Dust Churchmen, on charges of Barratry and Eavesdropping, Dublin, 8vo.
- Theological Extracts selected from a late Letter written by a Popish Prelate to his Grace the Archbishop of Dublin, with Observations on the same, and a well-merited and equally well-applied literary flagellation of the titular shoulders of this mild and humble Minister of the Gospel; with a complete exposure of his friend the Pope and the entire body of holy impostors, Dublin, n.d.