Francis Aungier, 1st Baron Aungier of Longford

Francis Aungier, 1st Baron Aungier of Longford (1558–1632), also known as Lord Aungier, was the progenitor of the Earldom of Longford, member of the House of Lords, Privy Councillor for Ireland, and Master of the Rolls in Ireland under James I and Charles I.

Early life

Francis was born in 1558 in Cambridge, England, the eldest son of Richard Aungier, Esq., and Rose Steward. His father was a barrister and a member of Gray's Inn. Francis attended Westminster School, and Trinity College, University of Cambridge, before entering Gray's Inn in 1577. He became a member of several jurisdictions, and was the reader of the Inn in 1602.^[1] His father was murdered in his chambers in 1597, soon after his third election as Treasurer of Gray's Inn, and his body thrown into the Thames: the brother of Francis, Richard Aungier, was hanged for the crime at Tyburn on 25 January 1598.^[2]

Later years

In 1609, King James I appointed Aungier to the Irish Privy Council, as well as to the position of Master of the Rolls for Ireland. He was also knighted at Greenwich the King that same year.^[3] He was re-appointed Master of the Rolls for Ireland by King Charles I in 1625.^[4]

Aungier attended the House of Lords in 1614 and served as commissioner of the plantations at Munster in 1616 and Longford in 1620. In 1619, he was appointed as a commissioner of the Great Seal following the death of Archbishop Thomas Jones.^[1] In 1621, he was created Lord Aungier, Baron of Longford by patent, which stated that he descended from the Counts of Aungier.^[4] He purchased the lands of the White Friars Monastery where he resided in Dublin, where in 1677, Aungier Street was dedicated in his honor of family.^[1]

Marriage and issue

Aungier was married three times, and had several children through his marriages.^[5]

He married first Douglas Fitzgerald, and had five children:

• Gerald Aungier, 2nd Baron Aungier of Longford, who married Jane Onslow, daughter of Sir Edward Onslow
• Ambrose Aungier, Chancellor of St. Patrick's Cathredal, who married Grisel Bulkeley, daughter of Archbishop of Dublin, Lancelot Bulkeley, and was the father of Francis Aungier, 1st Earl of Longford, Gerald Aungier, and Ambrose Aungier, 2nd Earl of Longford
• Elizabeth Aungier, who married Simon Caryll, Richard Barne, and John Machell
• Lettice Aungier, who married Edward Cherry, Sir William Danvers, and Sir Henry Holcroft
• Thomas Aungier
• Francis Aungier (died young)

He married secondly Anne Barne, daughter of Sir George Barne III, and had two children:

• George Aungier
• Frances Aungier

He married thirdly Margaret Cave, daughter of Sir Thomas Cave, with whom he had no issue.

References