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Boyle (RICHARD THE GREAT EARL OF CORK)

RICHARD, "THE GREAT EARL OF CORK," an English statesman, born in Canterbury in 1566. In 1588 he went to Dublin, with strong recommendations to persons in power, whose patronage he obtained. In 1595 he married a lady of fortune, whose death, a few years after, left him the possessor of a considerable income. The state of Ireland at that time made land cheap and he bought Sir Walter Raleigh's estate of 12,000 acres in Cork and Waterford counties. King James I. appointed him Privy Councilor for Munster, and afterward for the Kingdom of Ireland; in 1616 he was made a peer of that realm by the title Baron Boyle of Youghal, and in 1620 he was created Viscount Dungarvan and Earl of Cork. In 1629 he was made one of the Lord Justices of Ireland, and in 1631 Lord Treasurer of that kingdom. He built and fortified towns and castles, and introduced among the people arts and manufactures; but he also put in force the severe laws of Queen Elizabeth against the Roman Catholics.

In 1641 the Earl went to England as a witness against Lord Strafford, then under impeachment. Soon after his return home the insurrection of the Irish broke out, on which event he displayed his accustomed activity, enlisting his tenantry under the command of his sons. He died in 1643.