John Walsh, 1st Baron Ormathwaite

For other people named John Walsh, see John Walsh (disambiguation).

John Benn Walsh, 1st Baron Ormathwaite (9 December 1798 – 3 April 1881), known as Sir John Walsh, Bt, between 1825 and 1868, was a British politician.

Early life

He was born at Warfield Park, Berkshire, the only son of Sir John Walsh, 1st Baronet, and Margaret, daughter of Joseph Fowke, of Bexley, Kent, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Walsh. His father was originally named John Benn but had assumed the surname of Walsh in lieu of his patronymic in 1795, in accordance with the will of his wife's uncle Sir John Walsh (1726–1795).

He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, matriculating in 1816.

Political career

Ormathwaite sat as Member of Parliament for Sudbury between 1830 and 1835 and 1838 and 1840 and for Radnorshire between 1840 and 1868. He also served as Lord Lieutenant of Radnorshire from 1842 to 1875. In 1868 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Ormathwaite, of Ormathwaite in the County of Cumberland.

He was a Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for Berkshire and served as High Sheriff of Berkshire for 1825. He was made Lord-Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of Radnorshire in 1842.

Family

Lord Ormathwaite married Jane, daughter of George Grey, 6th Earl of Stamford, in 1825. They had two sons and two daughters. He died in April 1881, aged 82, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son, Arthur.

References

• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
• History of the Walsh family at berkshirehistory.com
• Information on the Walsh family

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by John Walsh