Sir John Parnell, 2nd Baronet

For his father, seeSir John Parnell, 1st Baronet.

Painting of Sir John Parnell, around 1770, byPompeo Batoni.

Sir John Parnell, 2nd Baronet(25 December 1744 – December 1801) was anAnglo-IrishMember of Parliament.

Biography

AChurch of Irelandlandowner, his family had originally migrated to Ireland fromCongletoninCheshire.Although not from a Roman Catholic Irish background, Parnell is renowned in Irish history for his efforts to bring about a more emancipated country and was the great-grandfather ofCharles Stewart Parnell,leader of theIrish Home Rulecampaign.

Parnell first served in theParliament of Irelandas one of the members forBangor,from 1767 to 1768.He later sat forQueen's Countyfrom 1783 until the Union withGreat Britaincreated theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Irelandin 1801.After the Union, he gained a seat in theParliament of the United Kingdomfor a short time as member forQueen's County,but died in December of the same year.

From a line of politically astute ancestors who had moved to Ireland in the 17th century, Parnell rose to the highest positions in Irish politics as Commissioner of the Revenue (1780),Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland(1787), and Lord of the Treasury (1793).

He died suddenly in London in 1801.

Opposers

Sir John's great-grandson, the legendary land-reformer Charles Stewart Parnell

The only son ofSir John Parnell, 1st Baronetand Anne Ward, daughter ofMichael Ward,justice of theCourt of King's Bench (Ireland),Parnell was the great-grandfather ofCharles Stewart Parnell,known asthe uncrowned king of Irelandand was best known for opposing (with his son Henry)theAct of Unionbetween the two kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801. Before this, Parnell was a Commander ofIrish Volunteersand had been instrumental in winning the right for Irish Roman Catholics to vote and to be elected to Parliament.However, the latter faltered when the parliament of Ireland was dissolved in 1800.

Henry Grattandescribed Parnell as "an honest, straightforward, independent man, possessed of considerable ability and much public spirit; as Chancellor of the Exchequer he was not deficient, and he served his country by his plan to reduce the interest of money. He was amiable in private, mild in disposition, but firm in mind and purpose. His conduct at the Union did him honour, and proved how warmly he was attached to the interests of his country, and on this account he was dismissed".

Family

Parnell married Laetitia Charlotte Brooke, younger daughter ofSir Arthur Brooke, 1st Baronetand his first wife Margaret Fortescue in 1774,and together they had four children. Their eldest son John Augustus was a deaf-mute who was housed in a large walled garden for most of his life, while their second sonHenry Brooke Parnellwould go on to inherit the baronetcy and follow his own political career, becoming anIrish peerand also a member of parliament for Queen's County in theHouse of Commons at Westminster.

Sir John Parnell, 2nd Baronet, left another son William, who in turn had a son,John Henry Parnell.The fourth son of John Henry Parnell wasCharles Stewart Parnell.