Parsons, Lord, Richard, 2nd Earl of Rosse

• Parsons, Lord, Richard, 3rd Viscount Rosse
• Parsons, Lord, Richard, Baron of Oxmantown

Lord Richard Parsons, 2nd Earl of Rosse, was born around the year 1716 to Lord Richard Parsons, 1st Earl of Rosse, 2nd Viscount Rosse, Baron of Oxmantown, and his wife Lady Mary Paulet. He succeeded his father in 1741 as the 2nd Earl of Rosse. Lord Richard Parsons died on 27 August 1764 with no children, ending the line of the Parsons of Bellamont. Representation of the family then fell to Sir William Parsons, 4th Baronet of Birr Castle.

Sir William Parsons (d.1650) married Lady Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Mr. Alderman John Lany, of Dublin, and niece of Sir Geoffrey Fenton. He received the honour of knighthood, and was created Baronet of Bellamont, co. Dublin in 1611. He was succeeded by his grandson, Sir William Parsons (d.1658), who married Lady Catherine, daughter of Lord Arthur, Viscount of Ranelagh. He was succeeded by his son Lord Richard Parsons (d.1702, created Baron of Oxmantown and Viscount Rosse 1681), who married firstly Lady Anne Walsingham, secondly Lady Catharine Brydges, daughter of George, Lord Chandos, and thirdly in 1685 Lady Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir George Hamilton, and niece of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. His eldest son Lord Richard Parsons (d.1741, created Earl of Rosse 1718) succeeded to his father’s viscountcy, and was created the first Earl of Rosse in 1718. He married Lady Mary, eldest daughter of Lord William Paulet. His eldest son, Lord Richard Parsons (d.1764) succeeded his father as the 2nd Earl of Rosse, and died without issue, causing all honours to expire, and the Sir William Parsons, 4th Baronet of Birr Castle, became head of the Parsons family.

ISAAR (CPF): International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families, 2nd edition (2011).

Jennifer Lee, May 2018.

Burke, John Bernard. A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage of the British Empire. London: Henry Colburn, 1851.