William Gregory (civil servant)
William Gregory
Lords Lieutenant of Ireland.[1]
Biography
Gregory was the youngest of three sons of
English bar in 1788, although he does not appear to have practised law.[1]
After a period managing his father's estates at
Member of Parliament for Portarlington between January and August 1800, where he was firm supporter of the Acts of Union 1800. In 1800 he was also appointed secretary to the board of inland navigation. Gregory succeeded to his father's extensive estates and property in 1810 and continued with minor roles in the Irish administration until 1812.[1]
Under-Secretary for Ireland
On 5 October 1812, Gregory was made
Sir Robert Peel, soon became accustomed to delegating important decisions to Gregory, who was recognised for both his ability and immaculate manners. As Under-Secretary, Gregory handled much of the business of government. By 1819, he had become known for his ultra-Tory policies, including a ruthless approach to maintaining law and order and virulent anti-Catholicism. Under the early years of Lord Liverpool's premiership, Gregory's influence at Dublin Castle was supreme.[2] He formed a close friendship with Peel, which continued after Peel became Home Secretary in England in 1822, and Gregory assisted Peel's plans for police reform.[1]
Gregory was an uncompromising opponent of
baronetcy if he left.[2] Gregory fell out with Peel when he allowed the passage of the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 and Gregory was finally dismissed from office on 27 December 1830. Daniel O'Connell had called for Gregory's removal since 1828, describing him as "the real ruler of Ireland".[1]
Personal life
On 1 October 1789, Gregory married Anne Trench, the daughter of William Trench, 1st Earl of Clancarty. They had two sons and one daughter. The elder son, Robert, was the father of Sir William Henry Gregory.[1][4]
After his dismissal from the Castle in 1830, Gregory retired from public life. In 1835 he was appointed to the Privy Council of Ireland, having twice rejected an hereditary title. He died on 13 April 1840 at his Phoenix Park residence, which he had occupied since 1812 as the Ranger of the Park.[1][2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Geoghegan, Patrick M. (2009). "Gregory, William". dib.ie. Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
- ^ Falkiner, Cæsar Litton (1901). . Dictionary of National Biography(1st supplement). Vol. 2. p. 354-355.
- ^ "Public Record Office of Northern Ireland – Talbot/Gregory Papers" (PDF). Retrieved 22 December 2009.
- JSTOR 30098666. Retrieved 23 September 2023.