William Conyngham

Portrait (1756), oil on canvas, of William Burton Conyngham (1733–1796) by Anton Raphael Mengs (1728–1779)

William Burton Conyngham (1733 31 May 1796) was an Irish politician and improver.

Life

He was born William Burton, the second son of Francis Burton and Mary Conyngham, sister of Henry Conyngham, 1st Earl Conyngham.[1] In 1781, his name was changed by Royal Licence to inherit the estates of his uncle.

Conyngham was a longtime Member of Parliament. From 1761 to 1777 he represented Newtown Limavady,[1] from 1776 to 1777 as well as from 1783 to 1790 Killybegs. Between 1776 and 1783 and again between 1790 and 1796, he sat in the Irish House of Commons for Ennis.

Conyngham planned a settlement on the previously unpopulated island of Rutland, Ireland, having installed, from 1784, a street of residences and business premises, post office, school house and a fish landing and processing facility. The island remained inhabited into the 1960s.

From 1793 Conyngham was one of the Commissioners of the Treasury for Ireland.

Conyngham is most famous today for having presented the Trinity College Harp to Trinity College Dublin; from 1922 the harp was used as the model for the insignia of the Irish Free State and the Republic of Ireland. An image was also registered as a Guinness trade mark in 1876.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Kelly, James. "Conyngham, William Burton". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/67005. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. Dennison, S.R. (Stanley Raymond); Oliver McDonagh (1998). Guinness 1886-1939: From Incorporation to the Second World War. Cork University Press. p. 9. ISBN 9781859181751.
Parliament of Ireland
Preceded by
Alexander Nesbitt
Edmond Leslie-Corry
Member of Parliament for Newtown Limavady
1761 1777
With: Edmond Leslie-Corry 1761–1765
John Staples 1765–1768
Richard Jones 1768–1776
Alexander Murray 1776–1777
Succeeded by
William Colvill
Alexander Murray
Preceded by
Thomas Allan
Sir Henry Hamilton, 1st Bt
Member of Parliament for Killybegs
1776 1777
With: Sir Henry Hamilton, 1st Bt
Succeeded by
John Knox
Sir Henry Hamilton, 1st Bt
Preceded by
Charles McDonnell
Crofton Vandeleur
Member of Parliament for Ennis
1776 1783
With: Sir Lucius O'Brien, 3rd Bt 1776–1778
Francis Bernard 1778–1783
Succeeded by
Stewart Weldon
John Thomas Foster
Preceded by
Hon. John Knox
Sir Henry Hamilton, 1st Bt
Member of Parliament for Killybegs
1783–1790
With: James FitzGerald 1783
William Colvill 1783–1790
Succeeded by
John Wolfe
Francis Nathaniel Burton
Preceded by
Stewart Weldon
John Thomas Foster
Member of Parliament for Ennis
1790–1796
With: Sir Lucius O'Brien, 3rd Bt 1790–1795
Sir Edward O'Brien, 4th Bt 1795–1796
Succeeded by
Sir Edward O'Brien, 4th Bt
Lodge Evans Morres


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