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Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan

1642 – 1678

Irish politician

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About Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan

Lived 1642 – 1678 (aged 35–36). Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan was a politician.

Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan, or Lord O'Brien (c. 1642 – 1 September 1678), styled Hon. Henry O'Brien until 1657, was an Irish nobleman and politician. He was the son of Henry O'Brien, 7th Earl of Thomond, and his first wife, and cousin, Anne O'Brien.

He married Katherine Stuart, 7th Baroness Clifton, daughter of George Stuart, 9th Seigneur d'Aubigny and Lady Katherine Howard: the Aubigny Stuarts were a junior branch of the reigning House of Stuart. They had six children (of whom three died young): Donough O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan (1663–1682), lost in the sinking of HMS Gloucester Hon. Henry O'Brien (b. & d. 1665) Hon. Charles O'Brien (b. & d. 1666) Hon. George O'Brien, died young Hon. Mary O'Brien (d. 1683), married John FitzGerald, 18th Earl of Kildare Katherine Hyde, 8th Baroness Clifton (d. 1706), married Edward Hyde, 3rd Earl of Clarendon

In 1661, he represented County Clare in the Parliament of Ireland, and from 1670 until his death in 1678, Northampton. In 1673, he was appointed to the Privy Council of Ireland. His wife's relationship with Charles II gave them a valuable opening at Court, where they already had a friend in Sir Joseph Williamson and they enjoyed high favour in the 1660s.

He died of disease while in camp with his regiment in Flanders. His courtesy title passed to his younger half-brother Henry Horatio O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan. Katherine within three months married their old friend, the statesman Sir Joseph Williamson. The speed of her remarriage gave rise to unkind rumours that the pair had been lovers, and the marriage was disapproved of, even by her children, since Williamson, the son of a country vicar, was not considered a suitable match for a connection of the King.

He is a major character in The Piccadilly Plot, the seventh in the Thomas Chaloner mystery novels by Susanna Gregory.

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Important facts

Born
1642
Birth century
Died
1678
Occupation
Positions held
Member of Parliament in the Parliament of Ireland, Member of Parliament in the Parliament of England, Member of the Privy Council of Ireland, Member of the 1661-79 Parliament

People in Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan?

Irish politician

When was Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan born?

Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan was born in 1642.

When did Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan die?

Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan died in 1678.

What was Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan's occupation?

Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan was a politician.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan

· Wikidata: Q5726440

· DBpedia: Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan. https://biography.guide/henry-o-brien-lord-ibrackan/

MLA: "Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/henry-o-brien-lord-ibrackan/.

Chicago: "Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/henry-o-brien-lord-ibrackan/.

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