Family and Education

b. ?1762, 1st s. of John Thomas Waller, MP [I], of Castletown by Elizabeth, da.and h. of Edward Bolton of Clonrush, Queen's Co. educ. Harrow 1775-6; Trinity, Dublin 17 Apr. 1779, aged 17; L. Inn 1783, m. Isabella Sarah, da. of Silver Oliver, MP [I], of Castle Oliver, co. Limerick, 1s.

Offices Held

MP [I] 1790-1800.

Sheriff, co. Limerick 1792-3.

Biography

Waller was returned for county Limerick, an honour previously enjoyed by his father-in-law, in 1790, and again in the ensuing Parliament, after securing his election for the latter’s borough of Kilmallock. Although he opposed the Union, he was reckoned a friend of Lord Clare and a supporter of government, at least in retrospect. He had not taken his seat at Westminster by 25 Mar. 1801 and there is no evidence of parliamentary activity, but the Castle believed in March 1801 that he was amenable to them.1

In 1802 Waller declined a contest in which his brother-in-law was one of the candidates. He was one of Napoleon’s détenus at Verdun and in 1805 declined an unexpected offer of liberation instigated by his former fellow scholar Arthur O’Connor, informing the Emperor

that although private and family considerations made him extremely anxious to return to his native kingdom, yet that he would rather die a prisoner, than owe his liberty to a man who had proved himself a traitor to his King and an enemy to his country.

Privately, he wrote to O’Connor to acknowledge his ‘act of friendship’.2 Waller died 14 Nov. 1836.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: Arthur Aspinall

Notes

• 1. Wellington mss, Wellesley to Richmond, 19 Feb. 1808; PRO 30/9/13, pt. 2.
• 2. Walker’s Hibernian Mag. (1805), 382; Morning Chron. 16 May 1805.