William Trench, 1st Earl of Clancarty

William Power Keating Trench, 1st Earl of Clancarty (23 June 1741 – 27 April 1805) was an Irish aristocrat and politician and later United Kingdom statesman at the time of the Act of Union. His family, through his son Richard, became prominent and hereditary members of the Netherlands' nobility.

Early life Trench was born on 23 June 1741. He was one of six sons and five daughters born to Frances ( Power) Trench and Richard Trench.

His paternal grandparents were Elizabeth ( Eyre) Trench and Frederick Trench, who represented Banagher and County Galway in the Irish House of Commons. His maternal grandparents were David Power and Elizabeth ( Keating) Power.

Career William was a Member of Parliament in the Irish House of Commons, and supported the Whigs. He represented County Galway from 1768 until 1797 and served as High Sheriff of County Kilkenny in 1777.

He was advanced to the Irish House of Lords as Baron Kilconnel (created 25November 1797), and to the position of Viscount Dunlo (created 3January 1801) as a reward for his continuing support of the Whig Party. On 12February 1803 he became Earl of Clancarty. His choice of the title is derived from his descent from Elena MacCarty, wife of John Power, daughter of Cormac Oge MacCarty, Viscount Muskerry, and sister of Donough MacCarty, 1st Earl of Clancarty. He therefore became the first Earl of Clancarty in its second creation.

Personal life On 30 October 1762, Trench married Anne Gardiner, daughter of Florinda ( Norman) Gardiner and Charles Gardiner of Dublin, MP for Taghmon. Anne's brother was Luke Gardiner, 1st Viscount Mountjoy. The Trench family seat was at Garbally in Ballinasloe. William and Anne had nineteen children:

Ancestry