| Married daughter of Sir William St Leger, lord president of Munster. Studied the art of war in the Spanish service in Italy. Returned 1639 and made vice-president of Munster 1640; fought against the rebels in 1641. Became governor of Munster after death of St Leger, July 1642. Approved of cessation of hostilities with the Confederates arranged by Ormonde at the king's command, 15 September 1643. Went to Oxford in February 1644 to obtain the king's commission as president of Munster, but this had already been promised to the Earl of Portland, and he was put off with fair words and a warrant for an earldom and came away discontented. Later that year he expelled nearly all the Catholics from Cork, Youghal, and Kinsale. The English Parliament made him president of Munster. He attacked the Rock of Cashel, piled turf against the wooden enclusure and set fire to it, then massacred the garrison, including priests. At Knockanoss near Kanturk he defeated Lord Taaffe's Catholic army in November 1647 and became master of the south. Subsequently he made a truce with the Confederates and allied himself with Ormande. After the arrival of Cromwell in 1649 with a large and efficient army the Munster garrisons fell away from him as the Protector took town after town. He left for Brittany in 1650 and joined the court of Charles II. In May 1654 he received the earldom he had spurned ten years before and became Roman Catholic. He was made governor of Catalunya, still subject to France, and then high steward to Henrietta Maria, the queen mother. Commanded an unsuccessful expeditionay force sent to help the Portuguese by Charles in 1662. He returned to England in 1663. His military career was now over and the presidency of Munster denied to him because of his religion and given to the Earl of Orrery, who made him vice-president in 1664. He was restored to all his honours and given an estate of ten thousand acres in Munster with £8,000 compensation for his losses and suffering. Lived quietly for the rest of his days at Rostellan, Cork Harbour, where he died 9 September 1674.
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