Richard Hely Hely-Hutchinson, 1st Earl of Donoughmore (29 January 1756 – 22 August 1825), styled The Honourable Richard Hely-Hutchinson from 1783 to 1788, was an Irish peer and politician.
He was the son of Rt. Hon. John Hely-Hutchinson and Christiana Hely-Hutchinson, 1st Baroness Donoughmore. In 1776, he stood as Member of Parliament in the Irish House of Commons for two different constituencies. He sat for Dublin University to 1778 and Sligo Borough to 1783. Subsequently he represented Taghmon from 1783 until 1788, when he succeeded to his mother's title. In 1789, he was elected Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, a post he held until 1813.[1]
He was created Viscount Donoughmore, of Knocklofty, Co. Tipperary (Peerage of Ireland), on 20 November 1797, with a special remainder to his mother's male descendants and, in 1800, Earl of Donoughmore. He was one of the original 28 Irish Representative peers and an advocate of Roman Catholic emancipation. He was created, in 1821, Viscount Hutchinson (in the Peerage of the United Kingdom) and thus gained a hereditary seat in the House of Lords.
He held the office of Governor of County Tipperary and of Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer Court of Exchequer [Ireland]. He gained the rank of Lieutenant-General.
| Parliament of Ireland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Philip Tisdall Sir Capel Molyneux, 3rd Bt |
Member of Parliament for Dublin University 1776–1778 With: Walter Hussey-Burgh |
Succeeded by Walter Hussey-Burgh John FitzGibbon |
| Preceded by John Wynne William Ormsby |
Member of Parliament for Sligo Borough 1776–1783 With: Owen Wynne |
Succeeded by Owen Wynne John Foster |
| Preceded by Thomas Pigott William Alexander English |
Member of Parliament for Taghmon 1783–1788 With: Dudley Hussey 1783–1786 Robert Stubber 1786–1788 |
Succeeded by Robert Stubber Hon. John Hely-Hutchinson |
| Masonic offices | ||
| Preceded by The Viscount Glerawley |
Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland 1789–1813 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Leinster |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| New creation | Earl of Donoughmore 1800–1825 |
Succeeded by John Hely-Hutchinson |
| Viscount Donoughmore 1797–1825 |
||
| Preceded by Christiana Hely-Hutchinson |
Baron Donoughmore 1788–1825 |
|
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
| New creation | Viscount Hutchinson 1821–1825 |
Succeeded by John Hely-Hutchinson |