William St Lawrence, 12th Baron Howth (1628-1671) was an Irish nobleman of the Restoration period. He was an intelligent and popular man who would no doubt have played an influential role in Irish politics but for his premature death.
Though some sources refer to him as the nephew of the 11th baron, the balance of evidence is that he was the only surviving son of Nicholas St Lawrence, 11th Baron Howth and Jane Montgomery, daughter of the Bishop of Derry.[1] He was born in 1628. The St Lawrence family had inherited estates near Colchester through William's grandmother Elizabeth Wentworth, which presumably explains why he was sent to Colchester Grammar School, which he entered in 1639.
His father died at the height of the English Civil War; as a strong loyalist his property had suffered considerably from Parliamentary forces. William himself however is said to have been left in peace after his father's death, despite having served briefly with the Royalist forces. In 1660 he used his influence in favour of the restoration of Charles II, and was recommended to the KIng by the Duke of Ormond as a possible military commander.[2]
He was appointed Custos Rotulorum for Dublin in 1661, and in the Irish House of Lords sat on several committees including the committee for grievances. In 1665 he is found acting in a judicial capacity at the general sessions in KIlmainham. He was on good terms with Ormond's successor as Lord Lieutenant, Lord Robartes, and entertained him at Howth Castle in 1669.
He fell ill in 1671 and died in June. His last will dated May 14 is evidence of a wide circle of gifted friends including the Earl of Ossory, John Keating (judge), the future Chief Justice, and the leading physician Nicholas Henshaw. He was buried, by his own direction in a new vault in St. Mary's Church.[3]
He married his cousin Elizabeth St Lawrence, widow of Colonel Fitzwilliam.[4] Their children were: