Daniel O'Brien, 1st Viscount Clare

Daniel O'Brien
Viscount Clare
A painted portrait, reproduced in grey tones, of a clean-shaven young man with long curly dark hair or such a wig, wearing armour covering his breast and arms
Tenure1662–1666
SuccessorConnor, 2nd Viscount Clare
Bornc. 1577
Died1666
Spouse(s)Catherine FitzGerald
Issue
Detail		Connor, & others
FatherConnor, 3rd Earl of Thomond
MotherUna O'Brien-Ara

Sir Daniel O'Brien, 1st Viscount Clare also called Donal (c. 1577 – 1666) was an Irish politician and soldier. He was born a younger son of Connor O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Thomond. He fought against the insurgents at Tyrone's Rebellion, but for the insurgents in the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and the Irish Confederate Wars. He resisted the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. He joined Charles II of England in exile and was in his eighties made a viscount at the Restoration.

Birth and origins

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Family tree
Daniel O'Brien with wife, parents, and other selected relatives.[a]
Donough
2nd Earl
d. 1553		Helen
Butler
Connor
3rd Earl
c. 1534 – 1581		Una
O'Brien
d. 1589		Gerald
14th Earl
of Desmond
c. 1533 – 1583
Rebel Earl
Donogh
4th Earl
d. 1624		Elizabeth
FitzGerald
d. 1617		Daniel
1st Viscount
1577–1666		Catherine
FitzGerald
Henry
5th Earl
c. 1588 – 1639		Barnabas
6th Earl
c. 1590 – 1657		Connor
2nd Viscount
1605–1670		Honora
O'Brien
Henry
7th Earl
1620–1691		Daniel
3rd Viscount
d. 1691
Legend
XXXSubject of
the article		XXXViscounts
Clare		XXXEarls of
Thomond		XXXEarls of
Desmond

Daniel or Donal[5][6] was born about 1577, the third and youngest son of Connor O'Brien and his second wife, Una O'Brien.[7] or in 1666 and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Connor.[8][9] His father was the 3rd Earl of Thomond.

His mother was a daughter of Turlough Mac-i-Brien-Ara. His parents were from different branches of the O'Briens, an important Gaelic Irish dynasty that descended from Brian Boru, medieval high king of Ireland.[10] His father was from the branch of the Earls of Thomond. His mother was from the branch of the O'Briens of Ara in County Tipperary. She was a sister of Murtogh O'Brien-Arra, Anglican bishop of Killaloe.

Daniel was one of at least seven siblings, who are listed in his father's article. His eldest brother, Donogh, would become the 4th Earl of Thomond.

Early life

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Whereas Donough, the eldest brother and heir apparent to the earldom of Thomond, was educated as a Protestant in England, the younger brothers Teige and Daniel were educated as Catholics. The father died in 1581 and was succeeded by Daniel's eldest brother as the 4th Earl of Thomond. His mother died in 1589 at Clare Castle.[11]

Nine Years' War

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In 1598 during the Nine Years' War, also known as Tyrone's Rebellion, the insurgents led by Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone and his ally Hugh Roe O'Donnell marched south to relieve the siege of Kinsale. O'Donnell invaded Clare, ravaging the country and capturing most of the castles. O'Brien had been left by his brother Donough O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond, absent in England, to defend his lands. In February 1599 O'Brien was attacked in his castle of Ibrickane, wounded, and taken prisoner by O'Donnell.[12][13]

Marriage and children

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In 1600 O'Brien married Catherine FitzGerald, widow of Maurice Roche, 6th Viscount Fermoy, and the third daughter of Gerald FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Desmond,[14][15] the rebel earl, and his second wife, Eleanor Butler.

Daniel and Catherine had four sons:

  1. Donogh (died 1638), married Elizabeth Dowdall but died predeceasing his father.[16]
  2. Connor (1605–1670), succeeded as 2nd Viscount Clare[17]
  3. Morrough, died childless[18]
  4. Teige[19]

—and seven daughters of which nothing seems to be known.[20]

Knight and Parliaments

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On 1 July 1604 in Leixlip, County Kildare, O'Brien was knighted and became Sir Daniel O'Brien.[21] He was elected as one of the two "knights of the shire", as county MPs were then called,[22] for County Clare in the Irish House of Commons 1613 to 1614.[23] At the election of the speaker O'Brien supported the Catholic candidate John Everard.

In the Irish Parliament of 1634–1635 he replaced his nephew Barnabas O'Brien, the future 6th Earl of Thomond, who had absented himself to England.[24]

Irish Rebellion and Confederate Wars

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O'Brien was a member of the Supreme Council of the Catholic Confederates. In 1649 he fought the Cromwellians in Clare. He surrendered Clare Castle on 5 November and Carrigaholt Castle on 9 November.

In June 1652, at Ross Castle near Killarney, O'Brien together with Lord Muskerry surrendered to Ludlow. O'Brien served as a hostage to guarantee Muskerry's compliance with the terms.[25][26]

Restoration, Viscount Clare, and death

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At the Restoration O'Brien returned to Ireeland. On 11 July 1662 Charles II created him Baron Moyarta and Viscount Clare.[27] The honour was intended for his grandson Daniel,[28] into whose hands the estate was directly conveyed.[29] Lord Clare, as he now was, attended the House of Lords during the Irish Parliament 1661–1666. He died in 1663[7] or in 1666 and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Connor.[8]

Timeline
Age Date Event
0 1577, about Born
11–12 1589 Mother died at Clare Castle.[11]
20–21 1598, 14 Aug Battle of the Yellow Ford won by Hugh Roe O'Donnell over Henry Bagenal.[30]
21–22 1599 Tried to defend Ibrickane Castle against Hugh Roe O'Donnell but was wounded and taken captive.[12]
22–23 1600 Married Catherine FitzGerald, widow of the 6th Viscount Fermoy, and the 3rd daughter of the 14th Earl of Desmond,[14]
25–26 1603, 24 Mar Accession of King James I, succeeding Queen Elizabeth I[31]
26–27 1604, 1 July Knighted[21]
18–19 1613, 2 April Elected MP for County Clare for the Parliament of 1613–1614.[23]
47–48 1625, 27 Mar Accession of King Charles I, succeeding King James I[32]
54–55 1632, 12 Jan Thomas Wentworth, later Earl of Stafford, appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland[33]
39–40 1634, Nov Elected MP for County Clare for the Irish Parliament of 1634–1635.[24]
43–44 1638, 6 Aug Eldest son Donogh died.[16]
63–64 1641, 23 Oct Outbreak of the Rebellion[34]
65–66 1643, Nov James Butler, 1st Marquess of Ormond appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland[35]
71–72 1649, 30 Jan King Charles I beheaded.[36]
71–72 1649, 15 Aug Oliver Cromwell landed in Dublin[37]
73–74 1651, 27 Oct Fall of Limerick[38]
74–75 1652, 12 May Fall of Galway[39]
74–75 1652, 27 Jun Gave his grandson as hostage at the surrender of Ross Castle by Muskerry.[25]
82–83 1660, 29 May Restoration of King Charles II[40]
84–85 1662, 11 July Created Viscount Clare[27]
88–89 1666 Died.[8]

Notes and references

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Notes

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  1. ^ This family tree is based on a pedigree of the viscounts Clare,[1] as well as genealogies of the viscounts of Clare[2] and the Earls of Thomond.[3][4] Also see the lists of siblings and children in the text.

Citations

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  1. ^ O'Brien 1949, p. 82. Pedigree of the Viscounts Clare
  2. ^ Cokayne 1913, p. 251Genealogy of the viscountss of Clare
  3. ^ Burke 1883, pp. 405–406Genealogy of the earls of Thomond
  4. ^ Cokayne 1896, p. 392Genealogy of the earls of Thomond
  5. ^ Burke 1883, p. 206, left column. "III. Catherine m. 1st Maurice, Lord Roch, who d.s.p.; and 2ndly Sir Donal O'Brien, of Carrigichouly, brother of Donogh Earl of Thomond, and ancestor to the Viscount Clare ..."
  6. ^ O'Hart 1892, p. [archive.org/details/irishpedigrees00unkngoog/page/167/ 167, left column, line 4]. "124. Sir Donal, son of Connor; Lord of Moyarta and Carrignoulta (now Carrigaholt) ..."
  7. ^ a b Ohlmeyer 2004, p. 358. "O'Brien, Daniel, first viscount Clare (1577?–1663)"
  8. ^ a b c Ó Siochrú 2009, 3rd paragraph, 3rd sentence. "He died in 1666 and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son Conor, and then in 1670 by Daniel, his grandson."
  9. ^ Cokayne 1913, p. 251, line 29. "Daniel O'Brien, of Moyarta and of Carrigaholt, co. Clare, 3rd and ygst s. [youngest son] of Connor (O'Brien), 2nd Earl of Thomond [I. [Ireland] ], by his 2nd wife, Ownye, da. [daughter] of Turlogh Mac-i-Brien-Ara ..."
  10. ^ Cokayne 1896, p. 391, Note b. "They were descended from the celebrated Brien Boroihme, principal king of Ireland (1002–1004) through his grandson Turlogh ..."
  11. ^ a b Cunningham 2009, last paragraph, last sentence. "Úna, who died at Clare castle, Co. Clare, in 1589."
  12. ^ a b Pollard 1895a, p. 310, right column, line 9. "Daniel was attacked in the castle of Ibrickan on which a treacherous assault was made on 1 Feb. 1599. The castle surrendered and O'Brien was wounded and made prisoner;"
  13. ^ Pollard 1895b, p. 313, left column, line 46. "In 1599 O'Donnell invaded Clare, ravaging the country, capturing most of the castles, and making a prisoner of Thomond's youngest brother, Daniel O'Brien, afterwards first Viscount Clare, who had been left to defend it."
  14. ^ a b Ohlmeyer 2004, p. 358, right column, line 22. "In 1600 he married Lady Catherine, third daughter of Gerald FitzGerald, sixteenth earl of Desmond;"
  15. ^ Ó Siochrú 2009, 1st paragraph, 4th sentence. "O'Brien married Catherine, widow of Maurice, Viscount Roche of Fermoy, and third daughter of Gerald Fitzgerald ..."
  16. ^ a b Lodge 1789, p. 33. "... Donough [O'Brien], his heir who married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Thomas Southwell, of Polylong in the county of Cork, Knt. widow of Sir John Dowdall of Kilfinny, and dying at Limerick 6 August 1638, was buried in St Mary's church in the tomb of his ancestors;"
  17. ^ Burke 1883, p. 406, right column, line 68. "II. Connor, 2nd viscount."
  18. ^ Burke 1883, p. 406, right column, line 69. "III. Murough, m. Eleanore, dau. of Richard Wingfield, Esq. and d.s.p."]
  19. ^ Burke 1883, p. 406, right column, line 71. "IV. Teigueh, m. [married] Honora, dau. [daughter] of Gerald Fitzgerald Esq. of Ballyglagiane ..."]
  20. ^ Ohlmeyer 2004, p. 358, right column, line 24. "... they had four sons and seven daughters."
  21. ^ a b Cokayne 1913, p. 251, line 32. "... was knighted at Leixlip 1 July 1604;"
  22. ^ Harris 1930, p. 1193, left column, line . "k. [knight] of the shire, in England, one of the representatives of a shire or county in Parliament, in distinction from the representatives of cities and boroughs."
  23. ^ a b House of Commons 1878, p. 608, row 15. "1613 / 2 " [April] / Hon. Sir Daniel O'Brien (knt.) / Carigcowlie / ditto [Clare County]"
  24. ^ a b House of Commons 1878, p. 608, row 17. "1634 / - Nov. / Sir Daniel O'Bryen (knt.) vice Brien absent in England / Carigencoltie / ditto [Clare County]"
  25. ^ a b Ó Siochrú 2009, End of 2nd paragraph. "... he submitted to the English parliament under the articles agreed the following year by Donogh MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry. O'Brien was one of the hostages ..."
  26. ^ Firth 1894, p. 322, line 4. "... his son together with Daniel Obryan were delivered to me [Edmund Ludlow] as hostages ..."
  27. ^ a b Cokayne 1913, p. 252, line 1. "At the age of 80 or upwards he was cr. [created] 11 July 1662, Baron Morarta and Viscount Clare [or O'Brien of Clare], co Clare [I.[Ireland] ]."
  28. ^ Cokayne 1913, p. 252. "[Daniel, his grandson] was in attendance on Charles II during his exile, and through his influence the peerage for his grandfather was obtained."
  29. ^ O'Donoghue 1860, p. 323. "... set out and allotted onto Daniel O'Brien, Esq., son and heir to Conor ..."
  30. ^ Hayes-McCoy 1976, p. 124. "The earl, O'Donnell, and Maguire attacked Bagenal on the march at the Yellow Ford, between Armagh and the Blackwater, on 14 August [1598], and defeated him ..."
  31. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 44, line 1. "James I ... acc. 24 Mar. 1603 ..."
  32. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 44, line 16. "Charles I. ... acc. 27 Mar. 1625 ..."
  33. ^ Asch 2004, p. 146, right column, line 23. "Wentworth was appointed lord deputy on 12 January 1632 ..."
  34. ^ Warner 1768, p. 6. "... the twenty-third October [1641] ... seized all the towns, castles, and houses belonging to the Protestants which they had force enough to possess;"
  35. ^ Cokayne 1895, p. 149, line 29. "Viceroy of Ireland, as Lord Lieutenant 1643–47 ..."
  36. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 44, line 17. "Charles I. ... exec. 30 Jan. 1649 ..."
  37. ^ Coffey 1914, p. 213. "Cromwell landed in Dublin on August 15th [1649]."
  38. ^ Coffey 1914, p. 222, line 17. "The siege lasted until October 27th, when the town surrendered."
  39. ^ Cusack 1871, p. 320. "The town [Galway] surrendered on the 12th of May 1652."
  40. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 44, line 39. "Charles II. ... acc. 29 May 1660 ..."

Sources

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Parliament of Ireland
Preceded by
Sir Turlogh O'Brien
Boetius Clancy
 Member of Parliament for Clare County
1613–1614
With: Sir Boetius Clancy 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Clare County
1634–1635
With: Sir Boetius Clancy 		Succeeded by
Dermot O'Brien
Donough O'Brien
Peerage of Ireland
New creation Viscount Clare
1662–1663 		Succeeded by
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