Sir Henry Hartstonge, 3rd Baronet

Sir Henry Hartstonge, 3rd Baronet (c. 1725 – 1797 ) was an Irish politician and landowner who sat in the Irish House of Commons for Limerick; he was a close associate of his powerful brother-in-law Edmund Pery, 1st Viscount Pery. He gave his name to Hartstonge Street, Limerick.

Family

He was born at Bruff, County Limerick, only son of Price Hartstonge, MP for Charleville, and Alice Widenham.[1] Price was the eldest surviving son of Sir Standish Hartstonge, 2nd Baronet but died before his father, so that Henry inherited the title on his grandfather's death in 1751. [2] The Hartstonges, who were originally from Norfolk, inherited Bruff from the Standish family[3] and over the course of a century became substantial landowners in Limerick, Cork and Tipperary. Henry was educated at Trinity College, Dublin of which he was later a benefactor.

Marriage and career

Henry married Lucy Pery, sister of Edmund Pery, 1st Viscount Pery and of the 1st Baron Glentworth. Edmund Pery, who was Speaker of the Irish House of Commons 1771–1785, was one of the most influential politicians in Ireland of his day and Henry was always closely associated with the Pery interest. He sat in the House of Commons as member for Limerick 1776–1790.[4]

Personality

He has been described as a popular and convivial character, who rather resembled the celebrated Irish "character" Sir Boyle Roche in personality. He was accused of being an absentee landlord who spent most of his time in England and neglected his estates in Ireland. This however may be unfair since there is evidence that he worked closely with the Perys in the development of Limerick City, particularly the laying out of Newtown Pery and the building of the new Bishop's Palace.[5] His wife Lucy, was renowned for her charitable work in Limerick; the couple gave their name to Hartstonge Street.

Inheritance

Henry had no children and the baronetcy died with him. The bulk of the Hartstonge estates passed at his death to his niece Mary Alice Ormsby. She married Lucy Hartstonge's nephew Edmund, 2nd Baron Glentworth who as his reward for supporting the Act of Union was created Earl of Limerick in 1803.

References

  1. ↑ Cokayne, George Edward Complete Baronetage Reprinted Gloucester 1983 Vol. IV p.214
  2. ↑ Cokayne p.214
  3. ↑ Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221–1921 John Murray London 1926
  4. ↑ National Library of Ireland Collection List No. 121 Papers of the Pery Family, Earls of Limerick
  5. ↑ Papers of the Pery family
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