Robert Clements, 1st Earl of Leitrim

Robert Clements, later First Earl of Leitrim, by Pompeo Batoni, about 1753-1754

Robert Clements, 1st Earl of Leitrim (25 November 1732 – 27 July 1804) was an Irish nobleman and politician.

Son of Cavan Borough MP Nathaniel Clements, Deputy Vice Treasurer and Teller of the Irish Exchequer, Clements served as High Sheriff of Leitrim in 1759, having been the previous year appointed as Controller of the Great and Small Customs for the Port of Dublin.

In 1765, he was elected to the Irish House of Commons for Donegal County, exchanging this seat for that of Carrick in 1768. In the former year he also married Lady Elizabeth Skeffington, eldest daughter of Clotworthy Skeffington, 1st Earl of Massereene. He was subsequently Commissioner of the Revenue between 1772 and 1773, and three years later returned MP for Donegal County again.

Having been appointed governor of Counties Leitrim and Donegal in 1777 and 1781 respectively, Clements was ennobled as Baron Leitrim in 1783. He was subsequently advanced to a viscountcy in 1794, and the following year was created Earl of Leitrim. In 1801, he became one of the first Irish representative peers, and was admitted to the Irish Privy Council the following year.

Lord Leitrim died aged 71 in London, and was buried in Dublin.

References

    Parliament of Ireland
    Preceded by
    Sir Ralph Gore, 6th Bt
    Andrew Knox
    Member of Parliament for Donegal County
    1765–1768
    With: Andrew Knox
    Succeeded by
    John McCausland
    Alexander Montgomery
    Preceded by
    Robert French
    Dudley Cosby
    Member of Parliament for Carrick
    1768 1777
    With: Henry Sandford 1768–1776
    Nathaniel Clements 1767–1777
    Edward Sneyd 1777
    Succeeded by
    Edward Sneyd
    Robert Tighe
    Preceded by
    John McCausland
    Alexander Montgomery
    Member of Parliament for Donegal County
    1776–1783
    With: Alexander Montgomery
    Succeeded by
    Henry Vaughan Brooke
    Alexander Montgomery
    Political offices
    New title Representative Peer for Ireland
    1800 1804
    Succeeded by
    The Earl of Enniskillen
    Peerage of Ireland
    New creation Earl of Leitrim
    1795 1804
    Succeeded by
    Nathaniel Clements