Sir Lucius O'Brien

Alfred Webb

A Compendium of Irish Biography

1878

O'Brien, Sir Lucius, Bart., (of the Dromoland O'Briens), descended from a younger son of the 1st Baron Inchiquin, was born in the first half of the 18th century. On the death of his father, Sir Edward, in 1765, he entered the Irish Parliament as member for Clare. He sided with the popular party in their efforts for the advancement and independence of Ireland; and "pursuing an independent parliamentary career, which extended over the administrations of thirteen viceroys, from the Duke of Bedford to the Earl of Westmoreland, a period of six-and-thirty years, he has left to his country and his posterity the character of a high-minded patriot and statesman, as zealous for the interests of his country as he was thoroughly acquainted with its wants, and ready to assert its rights. The appreciation of his high and independent character, his public spirit, and his illustrious lineage, by the House of Commons, was frequently testified by the deference paid to his opinions whenever questions of importance or difficulty happened to engage their attention." He was a Privy-Councillor, and Clerk of the Crown and Hanaper. Sir Lucius died 15th January 1795.

Sources

54. Burke, Sir Bernard: Peerage and Baronetage.

263. O'Briens, Historical Memoir of the: John O'Donoghue. Dublin, 1860.

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