Chichester, Sir Arthur

Chichester, Sir Arthur (1563–1625), created Lord Belfast 1613, founder of the Donegall family. A younger son of a minor Devon landowner, Chichester came to Ireland as a professional soldier during the Nine Years War. As governor of Carrickfergus, he implemented the scorched earth policy in a ferocious raid on east Tyrone in 1601. In 1603 he was granted Belfast Castle and surrounding lands. To this was later added further lands in Antrim and Down and the peninsula of Inishowen in Co. Donegal. As lord deputy (1605–15), Chichester declared the Ulster Irish free from their lords, promoted the common law with regular assize circuits, and established freeholders. Cahir O'Doherty's revolt meant that his original Ulster plantation plan to consolidate the freeholders and reward the military servitors for their wartime services was overtaken by more radical schemes. Elsewhere Chichester experimented with transplantation, shifting the Grahams from the Scots borders to Roscommon and attempting to move the O'Mores from the midlands to Kerry.

Winning hearts and minds was more difficult. Chichester banished Catholic priests, launched the mandates, and used the court of Castle Chamber against recalcitrant leaders. He had the Book of Common Prayer translated into Irish (1608). Bishop O'Devany was executed as an example, but the intended showdown with Catholics in the 1613–15 parliament proved more of a stand‐off. Chichester's imposing tomb in Carrickfergus church disguises a lifelong struggle with debt accumulated in public service and in the attempted development of his hastily acquired Irish estates.

Hiram Morgan