John Damer (25 June 1744 – 15 August 1776) was an Anglo-Irish Whig politician.
John Damer | |
|---|---|
 portrait by Pompeo Batoni | |
| Member of Parliament for Gatton | |
| In office 21 March 1768 – 7 October 1774 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 June 1744 Shronell, County Tipperary |
| Died | 15 August 1776 (aged 32) Covent Garden, London |
| Political party | Whig |
| Spouse | Anne Seymour Conway (m. 14 June 1767, d. 1828) |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
Family
editJohn was the first of three sons of Joseph Damer, 1st Earl of Dorchester by the Lady Caroline Sackville. His mother was the daughter of Lionel Cranfield Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset and his wife Elizabeth Colyear. His maternal grandmother was the daughter of Lieutenant-General Walter Philip Colyear, and the niece of David Colyear, 1st Earl of Portmore.[1] His younger brothers were the Hon. Lionel Damer and the George Damer, 2nd Earl of Dorchester.
Education
editDamer was educated at Eton (1755–61) and Trinity College, Cambridge (1762).[2]
Marriage
editHe married the future sculptor Anne Seymour Conway, daughter of Field Marshal Rt. Hon. Henry Seymour Conway and Lady Caroline Campbell, on 14 June 1767. She separated from him seven years later.
Political career
editDamer was the Member of Parliament for Gatton (1768–1774).[3]
Death
editDamer got heavily into debt and his father refused to help him financially. He shot himself on 15 August 1776 at the Bedford Arms, Covent Garden.[4][5]
Legacy
editDamer is mentioned in the lyrics of the traditional Irish song "Limerick Rake".[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003.
- ^ "Damer, the Hon. John (DMR762J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
- ^ "DAMER, Hon. John (1744-76)". historyofparliamentonline.org. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ Thornbury, Walter. "Covent Garden: Part 2 of 3.", Old and New London: Volume 3. London: Cassell, Petter & Galpin, 1878, pp. 255-269. British History Online. Accessed 25 January 2023.
- ^ Alison Yarrington, "Damer, Anne Seymour (1749–1828)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, January 2008 Subscription site