Ralph Howard, 1st Viscount Wicklow
Ralph Howard, 1st Viscount Wicklow PC (I) (1726 – 26 June 1786) was an Anglo-Irish politician and nobleman.
Biography
Ralph Howard was born at Shelton Abbey, County Wicklow, the eldest son of the Rt. Rev. Robert Howard (1670–1740), Bishop of Elphin. Howard was High Sheriff of Wicklow in 1749, and of County Carlow in 1754. In 1761 and 1768 he was elected M.P. for both Wicklow County and the borough of St Johnstown, choosing to sit for the county.[1]
In May 1770, he was appointed to the Privy Council of Ireland and on 12 July 1776 Howard was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Clonmore of Clonmore Castle, County Carlow. In June 1785 he was further honoured as Viscount Wicklow, and died a year later on 26 June 1786. His widow, Alice, daughter and sole heiress of William Forward of Castle Forward, co. Donegal, was created Countess of Wicklow in her own right on the 20 December 1793. She died 7 March 1807. Their son, Robert Howard, succeeded her as Earl of Wicklow.[1] Their great-grandnephew Ralph Howard became the seventh Earl of Wicklow.
References
- 1 2
"Howard, Ralph". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
| Parliament of Ireland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Anthony Brabazon Richard Chapel Whaley |
Member of Parliament for County Wicklow 1761–1776 With: Hon. Richard Wingfield 1761–1765 William Brabazon 1765–1776 |
Succeeded by William Brabazon Hon. John Stratford |
| Preceded by William Forward Hon. George Hamilton |
Member of Parliament for St Johnstown 1761 With: William Forward |
Succeeded by William Forward William Talbot |
| Preceded by William Forward William Talbot |
Member of Parliament for St Johnstown 1768–1769 With: William Talbot |
Succeeded by William Talbot Hugh Howard |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| New creation | Viscount Wicklow 1785–1786 |
Succeeded by Robert Howard |
| Baron Clonmore 1776–1786 | ||