Richard Nugent, Lord Delvin
Richard Nugent, Lord Delvin (1742 – 6 August 1761) was an Irish duellist and Member of Parliament.
Nugent was the eldest son and heir of Thomas Nugent, 6th Earl of Westmeath and adopted the courtesy title of Lord Delvin in 1754 when his father acceded to the earldom.
In 1759, he was elected Member of Parliament for Fore, although he was underage. He was also commissioned a cornet in the 1st Regiment of Dragoons.[1]
In July 1761, the drunken Lord Delvin accosted a female acquaintance of Capt. George Reilly, and was challenged to a duel.[2] The two crossed swords in the music room at Marlborough Bowling Green, and Delvin was mortally wounded.[3] The incident led to the abandonment of Marlborough Green as a fashionable resort.[2]
Further reading
- Irish Varieties A more detailed account of the circumstances preceding the duel which ended Delvin's life.
References
- ^ Peter, A. (1907). Sketches of Old Dublin. Dublin: Sealy, Bryers & Walker. pp. 78–79.
- ^ a b Gerard, Frances A. (1898). Picturesque Dublin Old and New. London: Hutchinson & Co. p. 361.
- ^ "Wilmot-Horton correspondence". National Archives (UK). Retrieved 14 December 2008.
Categories:
- 1742 births
- 1761 deaths
- Irish soldiers in the British Army
- Irish duellists
- 1st The Royal Dragoons officers
- British courtesy barons and lords of Parliament
- Duelling fatalities
- Heirs apparent who never acceded
- Irish MPs 1727–1760
- Politicians from County Westmeath
- Members of the Parliament of Ireland (pre-1801) for County Westmeath constituencies