Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hely-Hutchinson, John (1787-1851)
HELY-HUTCHINSON, JOHN, third Earl of Donoughmore (1787–1851), eldest son of Francis Hely-Hutchinson, the third son of John Hely-Hutchinson (1724–1794) [q. v.], was born at Wexford in 1787. He entered the army in September 1807, and served with the grenadier guards during the Peninsular war, receiving the war medal with one clasp for the battle of Corunna. He was raised to the rank of captain of the 1st grenadiers on 9 Nov. 1812, and was actively engaged at Waterloo. On the allied occupation of Paris he was quartered there, and obtained considerable notoriety from the share he took in effecting the escape of General Lavalette. Together with Lieutenant Bruce of his own regiment and Sir Robert Wilson, he was put on his trial in Paris. Public sympathy, however, was on the side of the accused, and the judge, taking a lenient view of their offence, merely condemned them to three months' imprisonment and the expenses of the trial. After undergoing his punishment, Hely-Hutchinson returned to England. For his offence he was deprived of his commission, but was soon restored to his regiment. In 1832 he succeeded his uncle, John Hely-Hutchinson (1757–1832) [q. v.], as second earl of Donoughmore; in 1834 he was created a knight of St. Patrick, and in 1842 was appointed one of the commissioners of charitable donations and bequests of Ireland. He died at his residence at Palmerstown, co. Dublin, on 14 Sept. 1851. He married twice: first, on 15 June 1821, the Hon. Margaret Gardiner, seventh daughter of, Luke, first viscount Mountjoy, who died 13 Oct. 1825, and by her had issue Richard John, who succeeded him, and Margaret, who died young; secondly, on 5 Sept. 1827, Barbara, second daughter of Lieutenant-colonel William Reynell of Castle Reynell, co. Westmeath, and by her had one son and three daughters. A memorial tablet recording his virtue was erected by his widow in Chapelizod Church, co. Dublin, which he had ordinarily attended.
[Biographie Nouvelle des Contemporains; Burke's Peerage; Ann. Rag. vol. xciii.; Gent. Mag. new ser. vol. xxxvi.; The trial at full length of Major-Genl. Sir Robert T. Wilson, Michael Bruce, Esq., and Captain Hely-Hutchinson for aiding and assisting in the escape of General Lavalette, London, 1816.]