Go To Section
BURGH, Sir Ulysses Bagenal (1788-1863), of Bert House, nr. Athy, co. Kildare.
Available from Boydell and Brewer
Biography Detail
Related Resources
Family and Education
b. 15 Aug. 1788, o.s. of Thomas Burgh, MP [I], 2nd s. and event. h. of Thomas Burgh, MP [I], of Bert by Anne, da. of David Aigoin. educ. Trinity, Dublin 1803. m. (1) 20 June 1815, Maria (d. 21 Aug. 1842), da. and h. of Walter Bagenal*, s.p.; (2) 4 Aug. 1846, Christopheria, da. of James Buchanan of Buchanan, wid. of John Willis Fleming† of Stoneham, Hants, s.p. KCB 2 Jan. 1815; suc. cos. as 2nd Baron Downes [I], 3 Mar. 1826, took name De Burgh 6 Mar. 1848; GCB 18 May 1860.
Offices Held
Surveyor gen. of Ordnance 1820-7; sec. to master gen. of Ordnance 1828-30; a.d.c. to the King 1825-37.
Rep. peer [I] 1833-d.
Ensign 54 Ft. 1804, lt. 1804; lt. 60 Ft. 1806; capt. 54 Ft. 1806, 92 Ft. 1808, brevet maj. 1811, lt.-col. 1812; lt.-col. 1 Ft. Gds. 1814, brevet col. 1825, maj.-gen. 1837; col. 54 Ft. 1845, lt.-gen. 1846; col. 29 Ft. 1850; gen. 1854.
Capt. Mount Leinster inf. 1816; gov. co. Carlow 1820.
Biography
After distinguished service in the Peninsular war, Burgh married the heiress of Walter Bagenal* and unsuccessfully offered himself at the county Carlow by-election of 1816. On 10 June 1817, informing Peel that he would try again, he claimed that he would be ‘a sturdy supporter of government and regular attender in Parliament particularly as my military duty will keep me constantly in London’. Doyle, professor of theology at Carlow college, had this to say to his Catholic flock of Burgh’s pretensions on the eve of the election of 1818:
connected ... with Bagenal, a name which should ever be dear to this county—professing also sentiments which entitle him to some confidence, but in the whole destitute of solid claims. Some of his family connections should excite our suspicions. Sneyd and Foster are his kinsfolk—the Duke of Wellington is his patron and friend. No Catholic should support him till Mr Bruen’s exclusion is ascertained, and Mr Latouche’s return placed beyond the reach of doubt.
Yet Burgh was successful and went on to give a silent support to government. He did not vote on the Catholic question, 3 May 1819. He was listed in January following as one of those ‘supporters of the late restrictions who stayed in town to the last’. He died 26 July 1863.
Add. 40266, f. 317; W. J. Fitzpatrick, Life and Times of Dr Doyle, i. 87; Morning Chron. 13 Jan. 1820.
