Perrot, Sir John

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Perrot, Sir John (c.1527–92). Lord deputy of Ireland. Perrot was one of many who came to grief in the bogs of Tudor Irish politics. A Pembrokeshire man, he established his reputation as a jouster and was knighted at Edward VI's coronation. As a protestant he was in some difficulty during Mary's reign but Elizabeth chose him to help carry the canopy of state at her coronation. From 1570 to 1573 he was governor of Munster, spending most of his time dealing with James Fitzgerald. After some years mainly employed as vice-admiral of the Welsh seas, he was sent back to Ireland in 1584 as lord deputy. His first action was to subdue the Macdonnells in Ulster. But he found the Dublin Parliament difficult to deal with, quarrelled violently with colleagues, and was recalled in 1588. In 1591 he was sent to the Tower on a charge of treason, accused of speaking against Elizabeth and plotting with Philip of Spain. He died while under sentence of death.

J. A. Cannon

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