The Seven Earls of Mountrath

By Frank Meehan
Extracted from "Laois Yearbook" 1989

Charles 1st Earl of Mountrath

Sir Charles was born in 1610 the eldest son of Sir Charles Coote, 1st Baronet and M.P. for Queens County by Dorothy daughter of Hugh Caffe of Cuffes Wood, Co Cork. He was knighted in 1626. Elected M.P. for Leitrim 1639 and held the seat till 1649. He opposed the Confederation of Kilkenny 1641 to 1643. In 1644 he joined the Cromwellians and was appointed by them Lord President of Connaught. He held Derry for the Cromwellians in 1650 and defeated in Battle near Derry an Irish Army under the Command of the Most Rev Dr Heber Mac Mahon Lord Bishop of Clogher and General in command of the Confederate Army and the Army of King Charles 1st in Ulster and had the Bishop executed.

He next attacked Galway and captured it after a long siege in 1652. He then captured the towns of Sligo, Ballyshannon, Ballymote and Donegal. He was appointed first Commonwealth Commissioner for the Affairs of Ireland by Cromwell. he was elected M.P. for the United Counties of Galway and Mayo in Cromwell's Parliament of Westminster in 1654, re-elected 1656, 1659. Voted against Oliver Cromwell being made King. In 1659 he joined the Royalist Party and the following year he seized Dublin Castle in the name of King Charles II. The King on his restoration the same year made him one of the five Commissioners for the Government of Ireland, President of Connaught and keeper of the Castle of Athlone. On 6th September 1660 King Charles II created him Baron Coote of Castle Cuffe in Kings County, Viscount Coote of Castle Coote, in Co Roscommon and Earl of Mountrath in Queens County in the peerage of Ireland. He married twice, his first wife was Mary, daughter of Sir Francis Rushe, M.P. for Kings County of Castle Jordan, Co Meath. On her death he married Jane, daughter of Sir Robert Hannay. He built Rush Hall, a magnificent mansion between Borris-in-Ossory and Castletown and remained the family seat till it was accidently burnt about 1790. He died from smallpox 18th December 1661 and was buried in Christ Church Cathedral.

Charles 2nd Earl of Mountrath

Charles Coote was born in 1630. He was knighted by King Charles II, 17th June, 1660. Became M.P. for Roscommon, April to December 1661 and used the title Viscount Castle Coote after his father had been created an Earl. He succeeded his father as 2nd Earl of Mountrath in December 1661. Was granted a pardon for all offences he committed against the Royalist during the reign of Cromwell. He and his brother Richard were appointed Collectors and Receiver-Generals for Connaught and Thomand by King Charles II. In February 1662 became Captain of a Foot Company and became Provost Marshall of Connaught and in 1664 became Lord Lieutenant for Queens County. He married in 1653 Alice, daughter of Sir Robert Meredith, Chancellor of the Exchequer. He died 30th August 1672 and was buried in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.

Charles 3rd Earl of Mountrath

Charles Coote, son and heir of the preceding was born in 1655, stayed Viscount Castlecoote till he succeeded his father as 3rd Earl in 1672.

He refused to back King James II and take his seat in the House of Lords and his estates were sequested by King James II Parliament in May 1689, he having fled from the country. They were restored to him by King William III and he took his seat in the House of Lords 10th October 1692. He carried the banner of Ireland at the funeral of Queen Mary II, 5th March, 1694. Was made a Privy Councillor for Ireland in 1695. Between 29th July 1696 and 23rd April 1697 he acted as one Lord Justices (Regents) of Ireland. He was appointed Governor of the Queens county by King William III. He married the Lady Anabella Herbert, daughter of Charles Earl of Carnarvon in 1684. He died in England 29th May, 1709.

Charles 4th Earl of Mountrath

Charles Viscount Castlecoote, son of the proceeding, was born in 1680. Succeeded as Earl of Mountrath on the death of his father in 1709. Was appointed a Privy Councillor for Ireland in April 1711 and took his seat in the House of Lords on August 10th 1711. He opposed 2nd Duke of Ormond, Viceroy of Ireland. A Jacobite, he fled to France and died in Bordeaux 29th May 1715. His body was brought to London and buried in St James Church, Westminster.

Henry 5th Earl of Mountrath

Brother of the proceeding, was born in 1683. He was M.P. in the English Parliament as a Wig for Knaresborough 1715-1720. Succeeded his brother as 5th Earl of Mountrath and became a Privy Councillor for Ireland in 1718. He died unmarried in Bath 27th March 1720 and was buried with his brother in St James, Westminster.

Algernon 6th Earl of Mountrath

Brother of the proceeding was born in 1689 educated at St Pauls School, London from 1697 till he went to Trinity College, Cambridge. Matriculated 1706. Succeeded his brother as 6th Earl in 1720. Became a Privy Councillor for Ireland 1723 and took his seat in the Irish House of Lords 29th August, 1723. Appointed Governor of the Queens County. Elected M.P. at Westminster for Castle Riding as anti-Welfare Whig. Held the seat till 1734. Elected M.P. for Hendon York 1742 and held the seat till 1744. He married Diana, daughter of Sir Thomas Wilbraham, 3rd Baronet. He died 7th September 1744 and was buried in Holles Chapel, Westminster Abbey.

Charles Henry 7th Earl of Mountrath

Charles Henry Viscount Castlecoote was born 1625. He succeeded his father as 8th Baronet and last Earl of Mountrath in 1744. He took his seat in the Irish House of Lords 19th December 1753. Became a Privey Councillor for Ireland 4th July, 1761. He never married. He got King George III to grant him a new title of Baron Castle Coote in the Peerage of Ireland on 31st July, 1800 with a special reminder that on his death it would pass to his cousin Charles Henry Coote, M.P. for Queens County. The Earl died in Devon 2nd March 1802 and all his titles became extinct except the new Barony which passed to Charles Henry Coote who succeeded 2nd Baron Castle Coote and the Baronetcy devolved to another cousin also Charles, who became 9th Baronet and was M.P. for Queens County 1821-1847, and 1852-1859. The Earl of Mountrath was paid £15,000 as compensation for loss of his interest in the Borough of Maryborough as result of it been disfranchised by the Act of Union. He left his Irish Estates between Charles Henry, 2nd Baron Castlecoote and Sir Charles Coote, 9th Baronet but his English Estates went to his first cousin, Henry Newport, 1st Earl of Bradford.

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