Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo

The Rt Hon. The Earl of Mayo

Richard Southwell Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo (21 February 1822–8 February 1872), known as Lord Naas between 1842 and 1867, was an Irish statesman and prominent member of the British Conservative Party.

He was born in Dublin and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. After travelling in Russia he entered parliament, and sat successively for Kildare, Coleraine and Cockermouth. Three times he was appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland - in 1852, 1858 and 1866 - and in 1869 he became Viceroy of India. He consolidated the frontiers of India and reorganised the country's finances; he also did much to promote irrigation, railways, forests and other useful public works. While visiting the convict settlement at Port Blair in the Andaman Islands, for the purpose of inspection, he was assassinated by Sher Ali, a muslim convict.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Richard O'Ferrall Robert Archbold	Member of Parliament for Kildare 1847–1852	Succeeded by Willian Cogan
Preceded by John Boyd	Member of Parliament for Coleraine 1852–1857	Succeeded by John Boyd
Preceded by Henry Wyndham	Member of Parliament for Cockermouth 1857–1868	Succeeded by Isaac Fletcher
Political offices
Preceded by William Meredyth Somerville	Chief Secretary for Ireland 1852	Succeeded by Sir John Young
Preceded by Henry Arthur Herbert	Chief Secretary for Ireland 1858–1859	Succeeded by Edward Cardwell
Preceded by Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue	Chief Secretary for Ireland 1866–1868	Succeeded by John Wilson-Patten
Preceded by Sir John Lawrence	Viceroy of India 1869–1872	Succeeded by The Lord Northbrook
Honorary Titles
Preceded by Robert Bourke	Earl of Mayo 1867–1872	Succeeded by Dermot Bourke