Thomas Mullins, 1st Baron Ventry (25 October 1736 – 11 January 1824) was an
Anglo-Irish politician and peer.[1]
Biography
Mullins was the son of William Mullins and Mary Rowan.[2] His great-grandfather had settled in
County Kerry in 1666, purchasing land at Burnham, near
Dingle, and had served as a Member of the
Irish House of Commons.[2] Mullins was educated at
Trinity College, Dublin, graduating in 1754.
He served as
High Sheriff of Kerry in 1759, and in 1760 was made a member of the
Privy Council of Ireland. In 1790 he built a new
stately home for his family overlooking Dingle harbour, called Burnham Manor. On 18 June 1793, over 4,000 people marched in Dingle to protest against high rents and the establishment of a local militia. Mullins, who assumed responsibility for the town on behalf of the Crown, brought in 70 soldiers from
Limerick to break up the demonstration. The riot was quelled when soldiers were ordered to shoot at the crowd, and 14 farmers were killed with many others being injured.[3]
In 1795, Mullins bought
Castle Conway from his relation,
Harman Blennerhassett. On 7 December 1797, he was created a
baronet, of Burnham in the County of Kerry, in the
Baronetage of Ireland. He was further honoured when, on 31 July 1800, he was created
Baron Ventry of Burnham, in the
Peerage of Ireland.[4] This was largely due to the help he and his son, William, had given to
Lord Castlereagh in securing the passage of the
Irish Act of Union of 1800. Mullins died in 1824, and was succeeded by his eldest son, William Townsend Mullins, 2nd Baron Ventry.[5]
On 7 October 1755, Mullins married Elizabeth Gunn. They had twelve children:[5][6]
Hon. Theodora Mullins, married Edward Bruce, of Kilroot, in 1772
Hon. Elizabeth Mullins, married Richard Blennerhasset in June 1780
Hon. Arabella Mullins (d. December 1821), married Richard
McGillycuddy of the Reeks in February 1780, childless
Hon. Charlotte Mullins (d. 29 April 1816), married Richard Pierse Mahoney on 2 May 1792
Hon. Catharine Mullins, married James Hozier on 28 December 1784