Nicholas Plunkett
Sir Nicholas Plunkett | |
---|---|
Chairman of the Confederate Assembly | |
In office 1642–1652 | |
Monarch | Charles I |
Preceded by | Office created |
Succeeded by | Office abolished |
Member of Parliament for County Meath | |
In office 1634–1635 | |
Preceded by | Robert Barnewall |
Succeeded by | Richard Barnewall |
Personal details | |
Born | 1602 Killeen, County Meath, Ireland |
Died | 1680 (aged 77-78) Balrath, County Meath, Ireland |
Spouse | Catherine Turner |
Children | Jane Plunkett |
Alma mater | Gray's Inn, London (1622) King's Inns, Dublin (1628) |
Occupation | Lawyer |
Sir Nicholas Plunkett (1602–1680) was an Anglo-Irish lawyer and politician. He was a younger son of Christopher Plunkett, 9th
At the outbreak of the
In 1644 Plunkett was a member of a Confederate delegation sent to negotiate a treaty with King Charles I. The first Ormond Peace was eventually arranged in 1646, but despite Plunkett's efforts, the Catholic Clergy of Ireland rejected the treaty.
Plunkett was a deeply religious man, who impressed the Papal Nuncio, Rinuccini after his arrival in Ireland in late 1645. Even so, Plunkett was a moderate by disposition, and he thus became a leader of the moderate Confederate faction, attempting in 1647 to reconcile the supporters of Ormond and those of Rinuccini. In 1648 he once again took part in a Confederate delegation, this time to Rome, in an attempt to gain further Papal support. The Pope made Plunkett a knight of the Golden Spur, but the mission to Rome was largely a failure.
While he was in Rome a Civil War broke out in the Confederation over the Inchiquin truce of 1648. When Plunkett returned, the clerical faction of the Confederates had lost influence, and so Plunkett became involved in negotiations for a second Ormond Peace, eventually signed in early 1649.
Only six months later the
After the conquest of Ireland Plunkett had his lands confiscated and was transported to
He married Catherine Turner, daughter of William Turner, an Alderman of Dublin; their daughter Jane married Valentine Browne, 1st Viscount Kenmare.
Nicholas Plunkett's brother, Patrick, was also prominent in Confederate politics, becoming Bishop of Ardagh in 1647 largely thanks to the backing of Rinuccini.[3]
References
- ^ Meehan 1882, p. 45, line 27: "For Leinster—The archbishop of Dublin, lord Viscount Gormanstown, Nicholas Plunket "
- ^ Meehan 1882, p. 47, line 25: "Mr Nicholas Plunket was appointed Muster-Master General "
- ^ Ó hAnnracháin 2001, p. 277.
Sources
- Ó hAnnracháin, Tadhg (2001). "Reformation and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms in Ireland: the Mission of Rinuccini, 1645-49".
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(help) - Meehan, Rev. Charles Patrick (1882). The Confederation of Kilkenny (New revised and enlarged ed.). Dublin: OCLC 224157081.