Harcourt Lees

Sir Harcourt Lees (29 November 1776 7 March 1852 in Blackrock, near Dublin) was an Irish clergyman and political pamphleteer on behalf of Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland. He is best known for his strongly worded pamphlets attacking Roman Catholicism.[1][2]

Life

Harcourt Lees was the eldest son of Sir John Lees, Bt. (created 1804), by Mary, eldest daughter of Robert Cathcart of Glandusk, Ayrshire. He graduated B.A. at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1799, and proceeded M.A. in 1802.[1] His father saw service in Germany under the Marquis of Granby, and had been private secretary to Lord Townshend during his administration of Ireland, where he was secretary to the post-office from 1784 until his death in 1811.[3]

Sir Harcourt Lees took holy orders, and was preferred to the rectory and vicarage of Killaney, County Down, was collated to the prebend of Fennor in the church of Cashel 21 November. 1800, and to that of Tullycorbet in the church of Clogher in 1801. He resigned both stalls in July 1806. He died at Blackrock, near Dublin, on 7 March 1852.[3]

Harcourt Lees succeeded his father as second Baronet in 1811.[1] He married, in or about October 1812, Sophia, daughter of Colonel Lyster of Grange, co. Roscommon, by whom he had four sons and four daughters. His fourth son was William Nassau Lees. Lees was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir John Lees, who died 19 June 1892, and whose eldest son, Harcourt James, was the fourth baronet.[3]

Works

Lees published several pamphlets, chiefly in support of Protestant ascendency. They are distinguished by extreme animation of style.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Lees, Harcourt (LS796H)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  2. Jessica Harland-Jacobs (2008). ""Maintaining the connexion": Orangeism in the British North Atlantic World, 1795-1844". Atlantic Studies. 5 (1): 27–49. doi:10.1080/14788810701878317.
  3. 1 2 3 Rigg 1892.
Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rigg, James McMullen (1892). "Lees, Harcourt". In Lee, Sidney. Dictionary of National Biography. 32. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 

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