Christopher St Lawrence, 2nd Baron Howth

The tomb of the St. Laurence family, in the Abbey of Howth, 1833, Dublin Penny Journal Christopher St Lawrence, 2nd Baron Howth (died 1462 or 1465) was an Irish nobleman. He was a key figure in fifteenth-century Irish politics, and one of the strongest supporters in Ireland of the House of York, who seized the English Crown in 1461. His tomb can still be seen in the family chapel in St. Mary's Church, Howth.

Background He was the son of Christopher (or Stephen) St Lawrence, 1st Baron Howth, and his wife Elizabeth Holywood, daughter of Sir Christopher Holywood (died 1416) of Artane Castle and Katherine Preston, and granddaughter of Sir Robert de Holywood, Chief Baron of the Exchequer.

As is often the case with Anglo-Irish titles, the precise date when the title Baron Howth was created is difficult to determine. A "lordship" or Irish feudal barony did not necessarily imply the creation of a hereditary peerage, nor did it automatically confer on the holder the right to sit in the Irish House of Lords. It is often said that the Crown recognised the elder Christopher as a hereditary baron around 1425, but Elrington Ball suggests that it was the younger Christopher who was recognised as the first hereditary Baron Howth in about 1461. In the Patent Roll for 1435 he is referred to as "Christopher Howth, Lord Howth".

As Lord of Howth He succeeded to his father's estates and title in either 1430 or 1435, and did homage to the English Crown for his lands in 1437.

Yorkist cause When Richard, Duke of York arrived in Ireland as Lord Lieutenant in 1449 (he was not at that stage claiming the English Crown), Lord Howth was one of his strongest allies.

Family He married, before 1435, Anne Plunkett of Ratoath, County Meath, a relative of Christopher Plunkett, 1st Baron Killeen. She survived him and remarried Anthony Percy, but is buried with her first husband at Howth Castle: the effigy of the couple survives. They had at least nine children: Robert St Lawrence, 3rd Baron Howth William, Admiral of Ireland (living 1485) Thomas Almeric, Clerk of the Rolls Lionel, precentor of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin Walter St. Lawrence, Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer (died 1504) Margaret, who married firstly Walter Marward, titular Baron Skryne (died 1487) and secondly Sir William Darcy of Platten two other daughters, whose first names are unknown.

Character Ball describes him as a man of "great qualities", who was intelligent, capable, courageous and determined.