Sir Richard Wingfield

Wingfield, Sir Richard, 1st Viscount Powerscourt, descended from an old Suffolk family, came to Ireland as a military adventurer, in the latter part of the 16th century. He afterwards fought in Flanders, France, and Portugal, and became a lieutenant-colonel. Returning to Ireland, he distinguished himself and was wounded in an expedition against Tyrone, and was knighted in Christ Church Cathedral, 9th November 1595. He served as a colonel in the expedition against Calais, and in 1600 was advanced to the office of Marshal of Ireland, with a retinue of fifty horse and a company of foot. In 1601 he led a force at the reduction of Kinsale, and was one of those who signed the articles of capitulation made between the Lord-Deputy and Don Juan D'Aguila, commander of the Spanish troops made prisoners on that occasion. In May 1608 he marched into Ulster against Sir Cahir O'Doherty, who had burnt Derry, killing him and dispersing his followers. For this success Sir Richard was (29th June 1609) rewarded by a grant of the Powerscourt estate in the County of Wicklow. In 1618 he was created Viscount Powerscourt, and he subsequently enjoyed several important offices under the Crown. Dying without issue, 9th September 1634, the title became extinct, and the estates passed to a cousin. The title was revived in 1665 in the person of Talbot Folliot, who died without issue in 1717; and again in 1743 in the person of Richard Wingfield. The present Viscount is the seventh of this last creation.

Sources

54. Burke, Sir Bernard: Peerage and Baronetage.

216. Lodge's Peerage of Ireland, Revised and Enlarged by Mervyn Archdall. 7 vols. Dublin, 1789.