Charles Coote KB (1738 - 1800)

Born 12 Apr 1738 in Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland

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Descendants

Died 20 Oct 1800 at age 62 in Dublin, Ireland

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Biography

Charles Coote, Earl of Bellamont, son of Charles Coote and Prudence Geering, was baptized on 12 April 1738, succeeded 1766 to the title of Lord Coloony, was 4 September 1767 created Earl of Bellamont, which title had become extinct at the death of Richard Coote, 3rd Earl of Bellamont. He married Emily Mary Margaretta Fitzgerald, second daughter of Lt. Gen. James FitzGerald, 1st Duke of Leinster and Lady Emilia Mary Lennox, on 20 August 1774 at Black Rock, County Dublin, and died 15 November 1800 from inflammation of the lungs, without legitimate surviving male issue. His will was proven (by probate) in 1802.

He held the office of Member of Parliament (MP) for County Cavan between 1761 and 1766. He was appointed Knight, Order of the Bath (KB) on 16 January 1764. He held the office of Deputy Quartermaster-General of the Forces between October 1766 and 1773. He was created 1st Earl of Bellomont, in our Kingdom of Ireland [Ireland] on 4 September 1767, but actually spelled Bellamont in the creation. In January 1771 he inherited the estates of Birtsmorton and Berrow. On 2 February 1773 he fought a duel with George Townshend, 1st Marquis Townshend, where he was badly wounded with a bullet in the groin. He was created 1st Baronet Coote Great Britain on 12 May 1774, with special remainder to Charles Coote of Donybrook, co. Dublin. He was appointed Privy Counsellor (PC.) [Ireland] on 19 December 1774. He succeeded as the 5th Lord Coote, Baron of Coloony, co. Sligo [I., 1660] on 10 February 1776. He held the office of Custos Rotulorum of County Cavan between 1780 and 1800. He held the office of Joint Postmaster-General [Ireland] between 1789 and 1797. He lived at Coote Hill, County Cavan, Ireland. He had eleven other children by five different women over and above the 2nd Baronet.       On his death, both of his peerages became extinct, although his baronetcy passed to illegitimate son, Charles Coote, of Dublin. Sketches of Irish political Characters describes him as "a man of gallantry and high spirits ... His Lordship is possessed of a strong mind, some reading and much observation: he opposes the Union, although a member of the Privy Council. As a speaker he is of little consideration; his manner is disgustingly pompous... His Lordship publishes his own speeches!" Gibbs writes that "one of his 'gallantries' appears to have been the seduction of a reputable tradesman's daughter under cover of a sham marriage, his servant performing the service disguised as a parson."

His son Charles died 1786, but the Earl had 18 May 1774 obtained an English baronetcy with remainder to an illegitimate son, also called Charles Coote, 2nd English Bart, born 1765, died 1857, who was succeeded by his son, 3rd English Bart, born 1847, died 1897 without issue. These were the Cootes of Donnybrooke, Dublin.

The property of Bellamont Forest the Earl bequeathed to his eldest son, also named Charles Coote (born from a private marriage). This son had Charles Coote, who died 7 December 1819, aged 18 and died himself 25 November 1842 at Coote-Hill, where there is in Drumgoon Parish Church a memorial with the following inscription:

Memorial Inscription of Charles Coote, 1842