Richard Wingfield, 1st Viscount Powerscourt (1550 – 9 September 1634) was an English nobleman.
The son of Sir Richard Wingfield, who was descended from an old Suffolk family, Wingfield was the step-son of Sir George Delves, thanks to his mother's remarriage. He came to Ireland as a military adventurer in the latter part of the 16th century and afterwards fought in Flanders, France and Portugal, gaining the military rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Returning to Ireland, Wingfield distinguished himself and was wounded in an expedition against Tyrone, and was knighted in Christ Church Cathedral on 9 November 1595. He served as a Colonel in the expedition against Calais, and in 1600 was advanced to the office of Marshal of Ireland, with a retinue of fifty horse and a company of foot. In 1601 he led a force at the reduction of Kinsale, and was one of those who signed the articles of capitulation made between the Lord Deputy of Ireland and Don Juan d'Aguila, Commander of the Spanish troops made prisoners on that occasion.
In May 1608 he marched into Ulster against Sir Cahir O'Doherty, who had burnt Derry, killing him and dispersing his followers. For this success Sir Richard was on 29 June 1609 rewarded by a grant of the Powerscourt estate in County Wicklow.
On 19 February 1618 he was created Viscount Powerscourt, and he subsequently enjoyed several important offices under the Crown. Dying without issue from his wife Frances Rugge, also known as Repps (d. bef. 30 November 1631), daughter of William Rugge, also known as Repps, of Felmingham, Norfolk, and Thomasine Townshend, and widow of Edward Cromwell, 3rd Baron Cromwell, on 9 September 1634, the title became extinct, and the estates passed to a cousin.
The title was revived in 1665 in the person of Folliott Wingfield, who died without issue in 1717; and again in 1743 in the person of Richard Wingfield.[1]