James O'Brien (1695–1771)
Encyclopedia
Hon. James O'Brien was an Irish
nobleman and politician.
, and his wife, Mary Villiers. He was born in 1695 at Inchiquin, County Clare
. Not long after his birth, his family relocated to Charleville, County Cork
. He married Mary Jephson, the daughter of the Very Reverend
William Jephson, Dean of Kilmore, and Anne Barry.
From 1725 to 1727, O'Brien sat as a Member of the Irish House of Commons
for Charleville
. In 1727, he was elected to the Irish House of Commons for Youghal
. He held this seat until his retirement in 1761. While serving in Parliament, O'Brien and his family lived in Drogheda
, where he held the position of Collector of Customs for the Port of Drogheda. He retired to his brother's estate at Rostellan
, County Cork. During his residency there, O'Brien served as Collector of Customs for the Port of Cork until 1767. He died at Rostellan Estate in 1771.
O'Brien also served time as Grand Master
of the Freemasons
of Munster
. He was unanimously elected in 1727. In the army, he held the rank of Captain of Foot.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
nobleman and politician.
Life
James O'Brien was the son of William O'Brien, 3rd Earl of InchiquinWilliam O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Inchiquin
William McWilliam O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Inchiquin PC was an Irish nobleman.-Life:William O'Brien was the son of William O'Brien, 2nd Earl of Inchiquin and Lady Margareth Boyle...
, and his wife, Mary Villiers. He was born in 1695 at Inchiquin, County Clare
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
. Not long after his birth, his family relocated to Charleville, County Cork
Charleville, County Cork
Charleville or Ráth Luirc is a town in north County Cork, Ireland, situated in Ireland's Golden Vale, near the border with County Limerick. It is located on the "Glen" tributary river, which flows into the Maigue River in Co. Limerick...
. He married Mary Jephson, the daughter of the Very Reverend
Very Reverend
The Very Reverend is a style given to certain religious figures.*In the Roman Catholic Church, by custom, priests who hold positions of particular note: e.g...
William Jephson, Dean of Kilmore, and Anne Barry.
From 1725 to 1727, O'Brien sat as a Member of the Irish House of Commons
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
for Charleville
Charleville (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Charleville was a constituency in County Cork represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1800.-History:The town it represented was named after Charles II. It was enfranchised in 1673, a sovereign, 12 burgesses and freemen. It belonged to the Earl of Orrery, a branch of the Boyle family...
. In 1727, he was elected to the Irish House of Commons for Youghal
Youghal (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Youghal was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1800. It was a corporation with burgesses and freemen under the patronage of the Earl of Shannon...
. He held this seat until his retirement in 1761. While serving in Parliament, O'Brien and his family lived in Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
, where he held the position of Collector of Customs for the Port of Drogheda. He retired to his brother's estate at Rostellan
Rostellan
Rostellan is a townland in the civil parish of the same name in County Cork, Ireland.-References:*...
, County Cork. During his residency there, O'Brien served as Collector of Customs for the Port of Cork until 1767. He died at Rostellan Estate in 1771.
O'Brien also served time as Grand Master
Grand Master (Masonic)
In Freemasonry a Grand Master is the leader of the lodges within his Masonic jurisdiction. He presides over a Grand Lodge, and has certain rights in the constituent lodges that form his jurisdiction....
of the Freemasons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
. He was unanimously elected in 1727. In the army, he held the rank of Captain of Foot.
Family
Children of James O'Brien and Mary Jephson:- Anne O'Brien (1724 - 19 Jan 1745) Married the Most Reverend Michael Cox, Archbishop of CashelArchbishop of CashelThe Archbishop of Cashel is an archiepiscopal title which takes its name after the town of Cashel, County Tipperary in Ireland. The title is still in use in the Roman Catholic Church, but in the Church of Ireland it was downgraded to a bishopric in 1838....
. - Murrough O'Brien, 1st Marquess of ThomondMurrough O'Brien, 1st Marquess of ThomondMurrough O'Brien, 1st Marquess of Thomond KP, PC , known from 1777 to 1800 as the 5th Earl of Inchiquin, was an Irish peer, soldier and politician.-Life:Murrough O'Brien was born in 1726 to Hon...
(1726 - 10 Feb 1808) - Lieut Hon. John O'Brien RNRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
(1728-1788) - Capt. Edward Dominic O'BrienEdward Dominic O'BrienCaptain Edward Dominic O'Brien was an Irish law enforcement official and British Army officer.-Life:Edward Dominic O'Brien was the son of Capt. James O'Brien, M.P. for Youghal, and Mary Jephson. He was born in 1735 at Drogheda, while his father was serving in Parliament...
(1735 - 1 Mar 1801) Married Mary Carrick, had five sons and two daughters. - Henrietta O'Brien (1737 - 17 Nov 1797) Married first to Terence O'Loughlin. Married second to Sir William Vigors Burdett, 2nd Baronet Burdett of DunmoreWeldon BaronetsThe Burdett, later Weldon Baronetcy, of Dunmore in the County of Carlow, is a title in the Baronetage of Ireland. It was created on 11 July 1723 for Thomas Burdett, who represented Carlow County and Carlow Borough in the Irish House of Commons, with remainder, in default of male issue of his own,...
, son of Sir Thomas Burdett, 1st BaronetSir Thomas Burdett, 1st BaronetSir Thomas Burdett, 1st Baronet was an Irish politician and baronet.Born at Garrahill in County Carlow, he was the son of Thomas Burdett and his wife Catherine Kennedy, daughter of Sir Robert Kennedy, 1st Baronet...
and Martha Vigors. They had one son.