James Desmond, 13th Earl

Alfred Webb

A Compendium of Irish Biography

1878

Desmond, James, 13th Earl, grandson of 12th Earl, called the "Court Page," having been hostage for his grandfather at the court of Windsor. On the earldom becoming vacant in 1534, "the King loaded him with honours, and fitted out ships to accompany him to the Irish shores, and provided him with a number of men who were ready to stand by him against those who were inclined to dispute his title to the patrimonial honours and inheritance." His title to the earldom was disputed by his grand-uncle, Sir John, who being supported by a large faction, was de facto 13th Earl. This Sir John died about Christmas 1536. The "Court Page" did not long enjoy his honours, for he was murdered at Leacan Sgail in Kerry, by his cousin, Maurice an Totane, son of his late opponent, 19th March 1540. He married a daughter of his grand-uncle, Cormac Oge MacCarthy.

Sources

52. Burke, Sir Bernard: Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited, and Extinct Peerages. London, 1866.

147. Geraldine Documents: Edited by Rev. James Graves: in Journal of the Archaeological Association of Ireland, October, 1869.

147a. Gillespie, Major-General Sir Robert R., Memoir. London, 1816.

216. Lodge's Peerage of Ireland, Revised and Enlarged by Mervyn Archdall. 7 vols. Dublin, 1789.

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