Sir John Esmonde, 10th Baronet

Sir John Esmonde, 10th Baronet (16 May 1826 – 9 December 1876) was an Irish nationalist politician. He sat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1852 until his death 25 years later.

Early life and family Esmonde was the son of Royal Navy officer James Esmonde and his wife Anna Maria ( Murphy).

He was educated at Clongowes Wood College and at Trinity College Dublin, where he graduated in 1850 with an honours degree in classics.

He was called to the bar of Ireland in the same year.

In 1868, he inherited the baronetcy and estates of his uncle Thomas.

Career He was elected at the 1852 general election as one of the two members of parliament (MPs) for County Waterford. Both Esmonde and his fellow Waterford MP Nicholas Mahon Power were elected as candidates of the Irish Liberal Party, which had been in alliance with nationalists. Power was accused of acting "selfishly and parsimoniously" towards Esmonde, who was described at the time as hoisting "free trade and liberal colours". Esmonde's election was the subject of a petition by the defeated Conservative candidate Richard Hely-Hutchinson, who alleged personation and intimidation. The names of people who were not entitled to vote were struck off the return, but Esmonde's election was upheld.

The alliance of nationalists and liberals faltered after the election, and Esmonde was one of 40 Irish Liberals who transferred their support to the new Independent Irish Party. The new party foundered, and Esmonde was re-elected as a Liberal at the next 4 general elections.

In January 1866, Esmonde was appointed as High Sheriff of Wexford. On 2 June, he was appointed by as a Junior Lord of the Treasury in the Liberal Government of Earl Russell. As an office of profit under the Crown, the Parliamentary rules of the time required him to seek re-election, and on 9 June he was returned unopposed. Described by The Times newspaper of London as a "zealous and attached member of the Roman Catholic communion", He was one of the speakers at a rally in Dublin in November 1870 to protest at the loss of the temporal power of the Pope.

At the 1874 general election, he was returned again for Waterford, this time as a candidate of the newly reconstituted Home Rule Party.