Baron Rossmore

Baron Rossmore, of Monaghan in the County of Monaghan, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland.[1] It was created in 1796 for the soldier Robert Cuninghame, with remainder to his wife Elizabeth's nephews Henry Alexander Jones (the son of Theophilus Jones and Anne Murray, eldest sister of Elizabeth; Henry Alexander Jones died childless before his uncle Lord Rossmore) and Warner William Westenra, son of Henry Westenra and Harriet Murray, youngest sister of Elizabeth. Cuninghame was a General in the Army and served as Commander-in-Chief of Ireland. From January to August 1801 he also sat in the House of Lords as an Irish Representative Peer.

Rossmore Castle, seat of the Barons Rossmore.

Lord Rossmore died childless and was succeeded according to the special remainder by his nephew Warner William Westenra, the second Baron. He represented Monaghan in the British House of Commons and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Monaghan from 1831 to 1842. In 1838 he was created Baron Rossmore, of the County of Monaghan, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.[2] This gave the barons an automatic seat in the House of Lords. His eldest son, Henry Robert Westenra, the third Baron, represented Monaghan in Parliament as a Whig and was Lord Lieutenant of Monaghan from 1843 to 1852. Henry's younger son, the fifth Baron (who succeeded his elder unmarried brother), was Lord Lieutenant of Monaghan from 1897 to 1921. As of 2014 the titles are held by the latter's grandson, the seventh Baron, who succeeded his father in 1958.

The Westenra family is of Dutch descent. Warner Westenra (died 1676) emigrated to Dublin and became an Irish subject. The seat of the Barons Rossmore was Rossmore Castle, County Monaghan. Warner Westenra, grandfather of the second Baron, represented Maryborough in the Irish Parliament. Henry Westenra, father of the second Baron, represented County Monaghan in the Irish Parliament. The Honourable John Westenra, third son of the second Baron, was Member of Parliament for King's County.

The family seat was Rossmore Park, near Monaghan, County Monaghan, in Ireland.

Barons Rossmore (1796)
L to R: Mr. and Mrs. Dick Westenra, Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Sinton, Lord and Lady Rossmore, Dr. Hall, Canon O'Connor, Major Sterling and Denis Rushe at Rossmore Castle, 1927.

The heir apparent is the present holder's only son, The Hon. Benedict William Westenra (born 1983).

References
  1. "No. 13944". The London Gazette. 25 October 1796. p. 1017.
  2. "No. 19629". The London Gazette. 26 June 1838. p. 1445.
  • Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
  • Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages

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