Sir Hutcheson Poë, 1st Baronet

Sir William Hutcheson Poë, 1st Baronet (20 September 1848 – 30 November 1934) was an Irish soldier and politician.

Early life He was born the younger son of William T. Poë in Donaghadee, County Down. His younger brother was Sir Edmund Poë, who would become an Admiral in the Royal Navy. An older brother, George Leslie Poë, became a Royal Navy Captain.

Military career William Poë joined the Royal Marines in 1867. From 1878 to 1881, he commanded the Royal Marine detachment on Ascension Island. He served in the Mahdist War with the rank of major in 1884 and was wounded at the Second Battle of El Teb on February 29 1884. He commanding a unit of the Egyptian Camel Transport Corps in the Relief of Khartoum in 1885. However, he was hit in the thigh by a bullet at the Battle of Metammeh on the 19 January, requiring the leg to be amputated Subsequently he served in the Naval Intelligence Department and was prompted to lieutenant-colonel.

Later career After leaving military service, Poë settled in Ireland, living at Heywood House, Ballinakill. In Ireland, he owned 10,000 acres of land in County Tyrone and 1,500 acres in Queen's County. He was created a baronet on 2 July 1912 by George V.

During World War I, he served in Egypt from 1915 to 1916; from 1916 to 1919, he served was with the Red Cross in France. He resigned from the Seanad on 9 December 1924, on age and health grounds. Douglas Hyde was elected at a by-election to replace him.

Interests During his lifetime, Poë collected art. One of the works he owned, a portrait of John Musters by Sir Joshua Reynolds, is now in the collection of the United States National Gallery of Art In 1904, Poë became a governor of the National Gallery of Ireland.

One of Poë's recreations was grouse shooting, though he was obliged to do this while seated on a pony due to the loss of his leg.

Family In 1886, Poë married Mary Adelaide Domvile, only surviving daughter of Sir William Compton Domvile, 3rd Baronet. They had one daughter, Isabel-May (b. 1893), and one son, Hugo (1889–1959), who became the 2nd and last Baronet.