Thomas Barnwall Martin (1784 – April 1847) was an Irish landowner and politician. Martin was the eldest surviving son of Richard Martin, humanitarian and member of parliament for

County Galway County Galway ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Northern and Western Region, taking up the south of the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht. The county population was 276,451 at the 20 ...

, by his first wife Elizabeth Vesey. Following an unhappy conclusion to a love affair with the daughter of a local chandler, Thomas left home to join the army. He served at the

Siege of Badajoz (1812) In the siege of Badajoz (16 March – 6 April 1812), also called the third siege of Badajoz, an Anglo-Portuguese Army under the command of the Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, the Earl of Wellington (who was la ...

, Spain in 1812, where he was wounded severely. Despite a personal commendation by the

Duke of Wellington Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and above sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they ar ...

himself, Martin returned to Ireland where he later married, inherited the family estate centred at Ballynahinch Castle in

Connemara Connemara ( ; ) is a region on the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast of western County Galway, in the west of Ireland. The area has a strong association with traditional Irish culture and contains much of the Connacht Irish-speaking Gaeltacht, ...

, and successfully campaigned for his father's former seat in Parliament in 1832 and served in this position until his death. Martin died as a result of famine fever, contracted while trying to save his tenants from the effects of the famine. His final words were "My God! What will become of my people?" He was married to Julia Kirwan, daughter of Patrick Kirwan of Dalgan Park. She had a dowry of £15,000. They had one daughter,

Mary Letitia Martin Mary Letitia Martin (1815–1850) was an Irish writer who was known as the "Princess of Connemara". Educated at home in the upper-class style, she was fluent in numerous languages. She published two books in her lifetime, and a third was published ...

(d. 30 October 1850), an author who married Arthur G. Bell.

References

* ''Humanity Dick'', Shevawn Lynam, 1975. * ''The Tribes of Galway'', by Adrian James Martyn,

Galway Galway ( ; , ) is a City status in Ireland, city in (and the county town of) County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. It is the most populous settlement in the province of Connacht, the List of settleme ...

, 2001. * ''The Parish church of St. Mary, Oughterard: The Background to Its Construction, with an Account of the Dispute Concerning Title to its Site'', James Mitchell, J.G.A.& H.S., Volume 54, 2002, pp. 35–54 * ''The Eccentric Member for Galway'', Peter Phillips, 2003. * ''The Battle of Rushveala: Origin and outcome of a faction fight at Oughterard, Co. Galway, on 8 December 1837'', James Mitchell, J.G.A.& H.S., Volume 55, 2003, pp. 72–85.

External links

* 1784 births 1847 deaths British Army officers British Army personnel of the Peninsular War Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for County Galway constituencies (1801–1922) Politicians from County Galway UK MPs 1832–1835 UK MPs 1835–1837 UK MPs 1837–1841 UK MPs 1841–1847 Irish duellists Irish officers in the British Army Deaths from typhus Infectious disease deaths in Ireland Whig (British political party) MPs for Irish constituencies Military personnel from County Galway 19th-century Irish landowners {{Ireland-UK-MP-stub

See also

References

External links