James Stopford, 1st Earl of Courtown

James Stopford, 1st Earl of Courtown (1700 – 12 January 1770) was an Irish politician.

Courtown was the son of James Stopford, of Courtown, County Wexford, who represented Wexford County in the Irish House of Commons, and his wife Frances (née Jones). He succeeded his father as Member of Parliament for Wexford County in 1721, a seat he held until 1727, and then represented Fethard (County Wexford) from 1727 to 1758. In 1756 he was appointed High Sheriff of Wexford. In 1758 he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Courtown, of Courtown in the County of Wexford. Four years later he was further honoured when he was made Viscount Stopford and Earl of Courtown, in the County of Wexford, also in the Peerage of Ireland.

Lord Courtown married Elizabeth, daughter of the Right Reverend Edward Smyth, Bishop of Down and Connor, in 1727. He died in January 1770 and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son James, who became a prominent Tory politician. His second son the Hon. Edward Stopford (1732–1794) was a Lieutenant-General in the Army. Another son. the Hon Thomas Stopford, became Bishop of Cork and Ross.

Lady Courtown survived her husband by 18 years and died in September 1788.

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    References

    Parliament of Ireland
    Preceded by
    James Stopford
    Nicholas Loftus
    Member of Parliament for Wexford County
    1721–1727
    Served alongside: Nicholas Loftus
    Succeeded by
    Caesar Colclough
    Nicholas Loftus
    Preceded by
    Henry Ponsonby
    Thomas Palliser
    Member of Parliament for
    Fethard (County Wexford)

    1727–1758
    Served alongside: George Houghton 1727–1733
    Philip Doyne 1733–1755
    Charles Tottenham 1755–1758
    Succeeded by
    Nicholas Hume-Loftus
    Charles Tottenham
    Peerage of Ireland
    New creation Earl of Courtown
    1762 – 1770
    Succeeded by
    James Stopford
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