Parsons, Lord, Richard, 1st Earl of Rosse

• Parsons, Lord, Richard, 2nd Viscount Rosse
• Parsons, Sir, Richard, 4th Baronet of Bellamont

Sir Richard Parsons, 1st Earl of Rosse, 2nd Viscount Rosse, Baron of Oxmantown, was the son of Lord Richard Parsons, 1st Viscount Rosse, and Lady Elizabeth Hamilton. In 1715, he married Lady Mary Paulet, and they had two sons and one daughter. Sir Richard Parsons was advanced to the Earldom of Rosse on 16 June 1718. Lady Mary died on 15 August 1718, and Sir Richard Parsons married Lady Frances Claxton. In 1725, he was elected the Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, and held the title until 1731. Sir Richard Parsons was also a founding member of the Hell-Fire Club, and wrote the book, Dionysus Rising, before founding the Sacred Sect of Dionysus. He died in 1741, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Lord Richard Parsons.

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.