William Burton Conyngham

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William Burton Conyngham
portrait by Anton Raphael Mengs (1754/1755)
Member of the Parliament of Ireland
In office
1761–1796
Personal details
Born1733
Died31 May 1796
Parent

William Burton Conyngham (1733 – 31 May 1796) was an Irish politician and improver.

Life

He was born William Burton, the second son of Francis Burton and Mary Conyngham, sister of Henry Conyngham, 1st Earl Conyngham.[1] In 1781, his name was changed by Royal Licence to inherit the estates of his uncle.

Conyngham was a longtime

Member of Parliament. From 1761 to 1777 he represented Newtown Limavady,[1] from 1776 to 1777 as well as from 1783 to 1790 Killybegs. Between 1776 and 1783 and again between 1790 and 1796, he sat in the Irish House of Commons for Ennis
.

by Gilbert Stuart circa 1792

Conyngham planned a settlement on the previously unpopulated island of

Rutland, Ireland, having installed, from 1784, a street of residences and business premises, post office, school house and a fish landing and processing facility. The island remained inhabited into the 1960s. The village which developed around the mainland pier which served Rutland, Burtonport, still bears his name.[2]

Slane Castle, County Meath

In 1785 Conyngham commenced the building of Slane Castle, assisted by his nephew the 1st Marquess Conyngham, on a site overlooking the River Boyne just a few kilometres upstream from the site of the Battle of the Boyne.

From 1793 Conyngham was one of the Commissioners of the Treasury for Ireland.

Conyngham is most famous today for having presented the

Trinity College Harp to Trinity College Dublin; from 1922 the harp was used as the model for the insignia of the Irish Free State and the Republic of Ireland. An image was also registered as a Guinness trade mark in 1876.[3]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/67005. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  2. ^ "Burtonport".
  3. ISBN 9781859181751
    .
Parliament of Ireland
Preceded by
Member of Parliament for Newtown Limavady
1761–1777
With: Edmond Leslie-Corry 1761–1765
John Staples 1765–1768
Richard Jones 1768–1776
Alexander Murray
1776–1777 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Member of Parliament for Killybegs
1776–1777
With: Sir Henry Hamilton, 1st Bt
 Succeeded by
Preceded by
Member of Parliament for Ennis
1776–1783
With: Sir Lucius O'Brien, 3rd Bt 1776–1778
Francis Bernard
1778–1783 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Member of Parliament for Killybegs
1783–1790
With: James FitzGerald 1783
William Colvill
1783–1790 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Member of Parliament for Ennis
1790–1796
With: Sir Lucius O'Brien, 3rd Bt 1790–1795
Sir Edward O'Brien, 4th Bt
1795–1796 		Succeeded by


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