Arthur French, 1st Baron de Freyne

Arthur French, 1st Baron de Freyne and de Freyne (1786 – 29 September 1856), was an Anglo-Irish peer and Member of Parliament.

De Freyne was the eldest son of Arthur French, of French Park. The French family had been major landowners in County Sligo and County Roscommon for many years. He was elected to Parliament for Roscommon in 1821, a seat he held until 1832. In 1839 he was raised to the peerage as Baron de Freyne, of Artagh in the County of Roscommon, with remainder to heirs male. Twelve years later, in 1851, he was made Baron de Freyne, of Coolavin in the County of Sligo, with remainder to his three younger brothers John, Charles and Fitzstephen. He later served as Lord Lieutenant of County Roscommon from 1855 until his death the following year.

Lord de Freyne married Mary (d. 7 September 1843), daughter of Christopher McDermott, in 1818. The marriage was childless. He died in September 1856 when the barony of 1839 became extinct. However, he was succeeded in the barony of 1851 according to the special remainder by his younger brother John French.

References

*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). "Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage" (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
* [http://www.angeltowns.com/town/peerage/ Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page]
* [http://website.lineone.net/~david.beamish/index.htm David Beamish's Peerage Page]