Joseph Leeson, 1st Earl of Milltown
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Joseph Leeson was born on 11 March 1701. He was the son of Joseph Leeson who was a brewer in Dublin and Mary Brice. He gained the title of 1st Earl of Milltown in 1722.
His father came to Ireland about 1680, made a fortune as a brewer and acquired much property in the area around what is now Dawson Street. The name Leeson is found in Ireland before 1680, four Leesons occurred in the lists of army personnel in the Ormond Manuscripts, the earliest in 1644. The name seems to originate in Cornwall where it is quite common.
He had one known sibling - a sister Joyce Leeson who married Sir Robert Blackwood who was created 1st Baronet Blackwood, of Ballyliddy, co. Down [Ireland] on 1 July 1763.
He was married on 20 January 1729 to Cecilia Leigh, daughter of Francis Leigh. They had three children. Joseph Leeson (later 2nd Earl of Milltown) born 1730 - died 1801) Mary Leeson married John Bouke, 2nd Earl of Mayo born ???? - died 1794 Bruce Leeson, (later 3rd Earl of Milltown born 1735 - died 1807)
Cecilia is supposed to have died on 29 October 1731. Given she gave birth to Bruce (or possibly Brice in 1735 this seems unlikely) It seems safe to assume that she had died by 1738 as Joseph was married to Anne Preston, daughter of Nathaniel Preston, on 20 October 1738. Anne died on 17 January 1766. They had one daughter Anne Leeson who married Mr Hugh Henry.
His third marriage was to Elizabeth French, the daughter of Very Rev. William French on 10 February 1768. She died on 23 January 1842 having lived 55 years past his death. They had one child Frances Arabella Leeson. Arabella married Marcus Beresford, son of Rt. Hon. John de la Poer Beresford and Anne Constantia Ligondes, on 25 February 1791. She died on 9 May 1840. She was also known as Florence.
He died on 2 October 1783 at age 82.
In 1728 Suesey Street was renamed to Leeson Street - presumably in his honour.
He commissioned Russborough House a particularly fine example of Palladian architecture, designed by Richard Cassels and built between 1741 and 1755. The interior of the house contrasts with the austere exterior by way of some ornate plasterwork on the ceilings by the Lafranchini brothers. It is the longest house in Ireland, with a frontage measuring 210 m/700 ft, and is considered by some the most beautiful.
Genealogic Information obtained from The Complete Baronetage, 5 volumes (no date (c. 1900); reprint, Gloucester, UK: Alan Sutton Publishing, 1983), volume V, page 370 editor George Edward Cokayne via www.thepeerage.com
