Administration and Diplomacy

Browne, Sir Valentine (d. 1589), English official and settler in Ireland, was the son of Sir Valentine Browne (d. 1568), of Crofts, Lincolnshire. In a career spanning at least forty years he served three monarchs as an auditor. He audited the accounts of the royal castle at Berwick…

Brun, Fromund le (d. 1283), chancellor of Ireland and papal chaplain, may have been related to William le Brun, another clerk in royal service. He first appears in Ireland in 1248 as a clerk of the justiciar, John FitzGeoffrey (qv…

Bryskett, Lodowick (1546?–1612?), writer and official, was born possibly in Hackney, Middlesex, third son of Antonio Bruschetto of Genoa (a London merchant since the 1520s) and his wife Elizabeth, also Italian. Educated at Tonbridge and Trinity College, Cambridge, he entered the…

Bulfin, Éamonn (Edmond) (1892–1968), republican activist and civil servant, was born in Buenos Aires on 22 September 1892, the eldest of five children of the journalist William Bulfin (qv), editor of the Southern Cross, and his wife…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Bulger, Lawrence Quinlivan ('Larry'). View the original entry.

Burgess, Henry Givens (1859–1937), transport administrator, was born 6 April 1859 at Finnoe House, near Borrisokane, Co. Tipperary, son of George Burgess, land steward of the Waller family; his mother's maiden name was Givens. His father farmed in an area so ‘troubled’ by…

Burgh, Richard de (c.1193–1243), magnate, justiciar, and lord of Connacht, was eldest son of William de Burgh (qv) and a daughter of Domnall Mór Ua Briain (qv), and nephew…

Burgh, Thomas (1744–1810), MP and administrator, was born in May 1744, second son among eight children of Thomas Burgh (1696–1758) of Bert, Co. Kildare, landowner and MP for Lanesborough, Co. Longford (1727–58), and his wife Anne, daughter of Dive Downes, bishop of Cork and Ross (…

Burgh, William de (1312–33), 3rd earlof Ulster , lieutenant of Ireland, was born in 1312, the eldest son of John de Burgh (d. 1313) and Elizabeth de Clare (qv), sister of Gilbert de Clare, earl of Gloucester. His uncle…

Burgh, William Liath de (d. 1324), deputy justiciar of Ireland, was the son of William de Burgh (d. 1270), younger brother of Walter de Burgh (qv), 1st earl of Ulster, and was probably brought up in Connacht where he spent much of his…

Burgoyne, Sir John Fox (1782–1871), engineer and administrator, was born 24 July 1782, eldest of the four illegitimate children of Lt-gen. ‘Gentleman’ John Burgoyne and Susan Caulfield, singer. Educated at Eton and Woolwich military academy, he joined the Royal Engineers at 16; saw…

Burke, Oliver (c.1598–1672), Dominican priest and ecclesiastical administrator in Rome and Connacht, was born in Co. Galway, a member of the Clanricard Burke family. He studied at Burgos and was listed as a priest in Spain in 1627. In that year he became an honours…

Burke, Thomas Henry (1829–82), under-secretary for Ireland, was born 29 May 1829, second among seven sons of William Burke (1794?–1877), a catholic landed gentleman of Knocknagur, Co. Galway, and Fanny Xaviera Burke (née Tucker) of Brook Lodge, Sussex, England. He was a grand-…

Burnham, John (d. c.1362), clerk and treasurer of Ireland, was the son of William Burnham. In 1333, styled ‘magister’, he was presented to a church in Lincoln. By 1338 he was designated as a king's clerk and in 1340 was assigned to assess taxation in Bedford and…

Bury, Sir William (1604/1605–1669), administrator, was the only son of William Bury of Grantham, Lincolnshire, and his wife, Emma, youngest daughter of John Dryden of Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire. He was baptised at Grantham on 3 June 1605 (or 1604), and had three elder sisters.…

Bushe, Gervase Parker (1744–93), politician and revenue commissioner, was born probably in December 1744, the only son of Amyas Bushe (d. 1773) of Kilfane, near Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, and his wife, Elizabeth, daughter and heir of General Gervase Parker, commander-in-chief in…

Butler, Edmund (c.1431–1499), 8th lord of Dunboyne and seneschal of Tipperary, was second of five sons of James, 6th lord, and his wife Morina, an Ó Briain of Thomond, and succeeded to his father's lands in 1459, on the death of his brother William. Previously, he had…

Butler, James (a.1360–1405), 3rd earl of Ormond, second son of James Butler (qv), 2nd earl of Ormond, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Darcy (qv), succeeded to his lands…

Butler, James (‘Sir James Ormond’; ‘Black James’) (c.1462–97), treasurer and joint governor of Ireland, was illegitimate son of John Butler (qv), 6th earl of Ormond, and Reynalda, daughter of Toirdhealbhach Bog Ó Briain. He rose…

Butler (le Botiller), Edmund (d. 1321), justiciar of Ireland and magnate, was the second son of Theobald Butler (qv) (d. 1285) and Joan, daughter of John FitzGeoffrey (qv),…

Butler (le Botiller, fitz Walter, Pincerna, Walter), Theobald (c.1200–1230), magnate, 2nd chief butler of Ireland, was only son and heir of Theobald Butler (qv) and Maud, daughter of Robert le Vavasour. After his father'…

Butler (le Botiller, Pincerna), Theobald (c.1223–1248), magnate and 3rd chief butler of Ireland, was only son of Theobald Butler (qv) and his first wife, Joan de Marisco. Immediately on…

Butler (le Botiller), Theobald (1242–85), magnate and 4th chief butler of Ireland, was only son of Theobald Butler (qv) and Margery, daughter of Richard de Burgh (qv…

Butler (le Botiller), Theobald (1269–99), magnate and fifth chief butler of Ireland, was born 22 February 1269, eldest son of Theobald Butler (qv), fourth chief butler of Ireland, and Joan, youngest daughter of…

Butler, Thomas (d. 1419), prior of Kilmainham and deputy lieutenant of Ireland, was the illegitimate son of James Butler (qv), 3rd earl of Ormond, and an unknown woman. He rose to the position of prior of the Hospitallers of Kilmainham,…