Garret Colley Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington (19 July 1735 – 22 May 1781) was an Anglo-Irish politician and composer, best known today for fathering several distinguished British military commanders and politicians.
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He was born at the family estate of Dangan, near Summerhill, a village near Trim in County Meath, Ireland, to Richard Wesley, 1st Baron Mornington, and Elizabeth Sale. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and was elected its first Professor of Music in 1764. As a composer he is remembered chiefly for glees such as "Here in cool grot" (lyrics by William Shenstone) and for a double Anglican chant.
Wesley represented Trim in the Irish House of Commons from 1757 until 1758, when he succeeded his father as 2nd Baron Mornington. In 1760, in recognition of his musical and philanthropic achievements, he was created Viscount Wellesley, of Dangan Castle in the County of Meath, and Earl of Mornington. He was elected Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland in 1776, a post he held until the following year.[1]
He married The Hon. Anne Hill-Trevor, eldest daughter of the banker Arthur Hill-Trevor, 1st Viscount Dungannon, and wife Anne Stafford, in 1759. They had six children:
Four of Lord Mornington's five sons were created peers in the Peerages of Great Britain and the United Kingdom. The Barony of Wellesley (held by the Marquess Wellesley) and the Barony of Maryborough are now extinct, whilst the Dukedom of Wellington and Barony of Cowley are extant. The Earldom of Mornington is held by the Dukes of Wellington, and the Barons Cowley have since been elevated to be Earls Cowley. Garret Wesley, Lord Mornington, died in 1781. He is also a direct ancestor of Queen Elizabeth II of Britain through her late mother, Queen Elizabeth, the British Queen Mother.
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A Compendium of Irish Biography article Garrett Wellesley, Viscount Wellesley |
| Parliament of Ireland | ||
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| Preceded by Chichester Fortescue Joseph Ashe |
Member of Parliament for Trim 1757 – 1758 With: Joseph Ashe |
Succeeded by William Francis Crosbie Joseph Ashe |
| Masonic offices | ||
| Preceded by The Earl of Belvedere |
Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland 1776 – 1777 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Leinster |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| New creation | Earl of Mornington 1760 – 1781 |
Succeeded by Richard Wellesley |
| Preceded by Richard Wesley |
Baron Mornington 1758 – 1781 |
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