Thomas Barnwall Martin

Thomas Barnwall Martin (1784 – April 1847) was an Irish landowner and politician.

Martin was the eldest surviving son of Richard Martin, humanitarian and Member of Parliament for Galway County, by his first wife. Following an unhappy conclusion to a love affair with the daughter of a local chandler, by whom he appears to have had an illegitimate son, Thomas left home to join the army. He served at the siege of Badajoz, Spain in 1812, where he was wounded severely.

Despite a personal commendation by the Duke of Wellington himself, Martin returned to Ireland where he later married, inherited the family estate centered at Ballynahinch Castle in Connemara, and successfully campaigned for his father's former seat in Parliament in 1832 and served in this position until his death, by famine fever, during 1847.

He was married to Julia Kirwan, daughter of Patrick Kirwan of Dalgan Park. She had a dowry of £15,000. They had one daughter, Mary Letitia Martin (d. 30 October 1850), an author who married Arthur G. Bell.

References

• Humanity Dick, Shevawn Lynam, 1975.
• The Tribes of Galway, by Adrian James Martyn, Galway, 2001.
• The Parish church of St. Mary, Oughterard:The Background to Its Construction, with an Account of the Dispute Concerning Title to its Site, James Mitchell, J.G.A.& H.S., Volume 54, 2002, pp. 35–54
• The Eccentric Member for Galway, Peter Phillips, 2003.
• The Battle fo Rushveala:Origin and outcome of a faction fight at Oughterard, Co. Galway, on 8 December 1837, James Mitchell, J.G.A.& H.S., Volume 55, 2003, pp. 72–85.

See also

• Peter Martin (STP)
• Francis Martin
• Harriet Letitia Martin
• Mary Letitia Martin
• Richard Martin (M.P.)
• Rychard Martin
• Violet Florence Martin
• Wylliam Martin
• Adrian James Martyn
• Andrew H. Martyn
• Edward Martyn
• Mary Gabriel Martyn
• Oliver Óge Martyn
• Richard Óge Martyn
• Thomas Óge Martyn
• William Óge Martyn