Murrough Boyle, 1st Viscount Blesington

Murrough Boyle, 1st Viscount Blesington

Murragh Boyle, 1st Viscount Blesington (c.1645–1718) was an Irish peer and member of the House of Lords.

Murrough (or Murragh) Boyle was born in Cork, Ireland, the son of The Most Reverend Michael Boyle, Archbishop Bishop of Armagh and Mary O'Brien. He married twice; firstly Mary Parker, daughter of Dr. John Parker, Archbishop of Dublin and secondly Lady Ann Coote, daughter of John Coote, 2nd Earl of Montrath. By his first wife he had a daughter Mary and by his second a son and heir, Charles and two daughters Amelia and Anne.

He matriculated at Trinity College, Dublin, on 8 August 1662. He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Kilmallock from 1665 to 1666. He was created 1st Viscount Blesington, co. Wicklow [Ireland] and 1st Baron Boyle, co. Wicklow [Ireland] on August 23, 1673, with a special remainder to the male heirs of his father. He was invested as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) [Ireland] in June 1675. He held the office of Constable of Limerick Castle between 1679 and 1692. He held the office of Governor of Limerick between 1679 and 1692. He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Law (LL.D.) in 1682. He held the office of Lord Justice [Ireland] in 1696, although he only held this office for a fortnight, and was never elected. He was a Commissioner of the Great Seal [Ireland] on December 21, 1697.

Murrough was author of a tragedy, entitled "The Lost Princess". Baker, a contemporary dramatic critic, characterised this production as "truly contemptible", and added that the "genius and abilities of the writer did no credit to the name of Boyle".

On his death in Dublin on April 26, 1718 he was buried at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. His title was inherited by his son Charles Boyle, 2nd Viscount Blesington

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Peerage of Ireland
New creation Viscount Blesington
1673–1718
Succeeded by
Charles Boyle