Men of Kent and Kentishmen/Richard Boyle
Richard Boyle,
EARL OF CORK; STATESMAN,
Usually known as the great Earl of Cork, was the second and youngest son of Roger Boyle, of Preston, near Faversham. He was born at Canterbury, Oct. 3, 1566, and educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where "he rose early, studied hard, and lived temperately." He then became a student of Law at the Middle Temple, and clerk to Sir Richard Manwood, Chief Baron of the Exchequer, but to improve his fortune he went to Ireland, landing at Dublin, June 23, 1588. His worldly goods then consisted of "a diamond ring, a bracelet of gold, his clothes, rapier and dagger, and £27 3s. in cash," but being in the prime of life (22), graceful and accomplished, he soon won his way, first to the heart of a rich heiress, and subsequently, in spite of the machinations of numerous and powerful enemies, who charged him with being in league with the king of Spain, to the favour of Queen Elizabeth, who appointed him clerk to the Council of Munster. He was present at the memorable siege of Kinsale, and was sent to convey the news of its fall to the court. This obtained for him fresh favour, and he was knighted on the day of his marriage to his second wife, Catherine, only daughter of Sir Jeffrey Fenton, Chief Secretary in Ireland. On March 12, 1606, he was sworn in a privy councillor to James I, for Munster, and on Feb. 15, 1612, for the kingdom of Ireland; in 1616, he was made Lord Boyle, in 1620 Lord Viscount Dungarvon, and Earl of Cork; and in 1629 he became one of the Lord Justices for the Government of Ireland. In 1631 he was made Lord Treasurer, and the office declared hereditary in his family. In 1641, when the great rebellion in Ireland broke out, he distinguished himself by his great activity, energy and military skill, and contributed greatly to its suppression. He died Sept. 15, 1644, leaving behind him a reputation for valour, loyalty, generosity, and patriotism recognised alike by friend and foe. Though not a peer cf England, he was for his transcendent services, admitted to sit in the House of Lords, "ut consiliarius."
[He left memoirs of his own life, published in Dr. Birch's "Life of the Hon. Mr. Boyle." See also Budgell's "History of the Boyles," "Biographia Britannica," etc.]