Sir Ralph Gore, 4th Baronet
Sir Ralph Gore, 4th Baronet (c. 1675 – 23 February 1733) was a Speaker of the Irish House of Commons. He is now chiefly remembered for building Belle Isle Castle.
The Gore Baronetcy, of Magherabegg in the County of Donegal, was created in the Baronetage of Ireland on 2 February 1622 for Paul Gore (shown also as 1st baronet of Manor Gore, the Anglicized version). Ralph was the eldest son of Sir William Gore, 3rd Baronet and his wife Hannah Hamilton, daughter and co-heiress of James Hamilton of Manorhamilton and niece of Gustavus Hamilton, 1st Viscount Boyne. Ralph inherited the estate of Manorhamilton from his mother.
He married firstly Elizabeth Colville, daughter of Sir Robert Colville of Newtown, County Leitrim, and secondly, Elizabeth Ashe, daughter of St George Ashe, Bishop of Clogher. By his first wife he had two daughters. By his second wife he had seven children, including St George Gore-St George, who succeeded to the baronetcy, but died young without issue, and Ralph Gore, 1st Earl of Ross.
His grandfather had acquired Belle Island in Lough Erne: it was Ralph who built the castle, which was extended and improved by his son, the younger Ralph.
He was appointed High Sheriff of Leitrim for 1710.[1]
The fourth Baronet served as Chancellor of the Irish Exchequer and as Speaker of the Irish House of Commons. He represented Donegal Borough in the Irish House of Commons from 1703 until 1713 and then Donegal County from 1713 until 1727. Subsequently he sat for Clogher until his death in 1733.
The present holder of the baronetcy lives in Australia.
References
- ↑ "Estate Record: Gore (Woodford)". NUI Galway. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
| Parliament of Ireland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William Gore William Conolly |
Member of Parliament for Donegal Borough 1703–1713 With: Richard Jones |
Succeeded by George Macartney Sir Arthur Gore, 2nd Bt |
| Preceded by Frederick Hamilton Gustavus Hamilton |
Member of Parliament for Donegal County 1713–1727 With: Frederick Hamilton 1713–1716 Hon. Gustavus Hamilton 1716–1727 |
Succeeded by Hon. Gustavus Hamilton Alexander Montgomery |
| Preceded by Richard St George James Coghill |
Member of Parliament for Clogher 1727–1733 With: Silvester Cross 1727–1731 Walter Carey 1731–1733 |
Succeeded by Richard Vincent Walter Carey |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by William Conolly |
Speaker of the Irish House of Commons 1729–1733 |
Succeeded by Henry Boyle |
| Baronetage of Ireland | ||
| Preceded by William Gore |
Baronet (of Magherabegg) 1703–1733 |
Succeeded by St George Gore-St George |