lord deputy

lord deputy came into use as the term for the chief governor of Ireland during the reign of Henry VII. In some cases holders were nominally deputies to a lieutenant, often a royal prince; in other cases they held office directly under the monarch. The office retained immense patronage, which expanded as the whole country was taken under control, and considerable prestige as the monarch's representative.

At first lords deputy were local magnates, usually the earls of Kildare. After Poynings's intervention these were bound to consult their privy council and restricted in their interference with lands, pardons, parliaments, and coinage. However, the Kildares still enjoyed great power and patronage in exchange for using their own resources in the service of the crown. The 9th earl of Kildare was the last chief governor with authority to appoint his own deputy.

For a century or so after the Kildare rebellion only Englishmen were trusted. The post attracted ambitious politicians who sought not only personal enrichment in Ireland but also a political stepping stone to greatness in England. However, these chief governors depended on the confidence of the monarch and continual subvention from England, which was lost by the earl of Sussex (lord deputy 1556–8) and Sir Henry Sidney because of opposition from the Old English, and by Perrot and Viscount Falkland (lord deputy 1622–9) because of infighting with their privy councils. Ireland was a poisoned chalice which destroyed the careers of Gray, St Leger, Perrot, and Wentworth.

Although most early modern chief governors were lords deputy, the more prestigious title of lord lieutenant was kept alive: Sussex, having served as lord deputy 1556–8, was promoted to lord lieutenant in 1560; Mountjoy was likewise promoted in 1603, and Wentworth in 1640; Essex was appointed lord lieutenant from the start. All the chief governors in the quarter‐century following the Restoration, from Ormond to the earl of Clarendon (1685–7), held office as lords lieutenant. James II's decision to revive the title of lord deputy for Tyrconnell in 1687 was seen as a deliberate attempt to hold back from giving him too much power. The last lord deputy was Sir Henry Capel (1695–6); all subsequent chief governors were lords lieutenant.

HM/ and Hiram Morgan