John Bourke, 1st Earl of Mayo (English: /bɜːrk/;
BURK; circa 1705 – 1790), styled Lord Naas (/neɪs/;
NAYSS) from 1775 to 1781 and Viscount Mayo from 1781 to 1785, was an Irish politician and peer who was
MP for
Naas (1727–60, 1768–72) and
Old Leighlin (1760–68) and was created Earl of Mayo (1785).
Early life
He was the son of Richard Bourke (d.1727) and Catherine Minchin, daughter of Charles Minchin of Ballynakill, County Tipperary. He was descended from Gaelic nobles, and shared a common ancestor with
Tibbot ne Long Bourke, 1st Viscount Mayo. He was educated at
Trinity College, Dublin.[1][2]
Career
In 1727, he was elected as the
Member of Parliament for
Naas, representing the seat in the
Irish House of Commons until 1760. Between 1761 and 1768 he served as MP for
Old Leighlin. He was re-elected for Naas in 1768, and held the seat until his elevation to the
peerage in 1776. That year was created Baron Naas, of Naas in the County of Kildare, in the
Peerage of Ireland.[3] He assumed his seat in the
Irish House of Lords, and on 13 January 1781 he was made Viscount Mayo, a title which had previously been held by his distant relations. On 24 June 1785 Bourke was made Earl of Mayo.[3]
Family
Bourke married Mary Deane (d.1774), daughter of
Joseph Deane and Margaret Boyle, in 1726.[3] Together they had three children. The Naas constituency was also represented by Bourke's son and grandson, the
second and
fourth earls.
Arms
Coat of arms of John Bourke, 1st Earl of Mayo
Crest
A Cat-a-Mountain sejant guardant proper, collared and chained Or.
Escutcheon
Party per fess Or and Ermine, a cross gules the first quarter charged with a lion rampant sable and the second with a dexter hand couped at the wrist and erect gules
Supporters
On either side a Chevalier in complete Armour, holding in the exterior hand a Pole-Axe, all proper.[4][5]