Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Nugent, Richard (d.1684)
NUGENT, RICHARD, second Earl of Westmeath (d. 1684), was the only son of Christopher Nugent, and grandson of Richard Nugent, first earl of Westmeath, whom he succeeded in 1642. He was in England at the time of his grandfather's death, but, returning to Ireland, he took his seat in parliament on 15 April 1644. By warrant of the Earl of Ormonde, on 24 July 1645, he raised a troop of horse and a regiment of foot for the king's service; but, being shortly afterwards constrained to take the oath of association, he laboured to effect a reconciliation between the council and the nuncio. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Dangan Hill on 7 Aug. 1647, but subsequently was exchanged for the Earl of Montgomery. He took the oath of association to the confederates directed against the nuncio on 27 June 1648, was appointed a commissioner to treat with Ormonde for the settlement of a peace on 18 Oct., was created a field-marshal by the supreme council on 31 Jan. 1649, and was one of the council of war that voted for the defence of Drogheda on 23 Aug. After Ormonde's withdrawal to France he co-operated with the Earl of Clanricarde, and in 1650 was appointed general of all the forces in Leinster. Owing to his moderation he incurred the censure of the extreme party. ‘A man,’ says the author of the ‘Aphorismical Discovery,’ ‘that never gathered an army into the field since he was appointed general, nor any party did stick unto himself that did act worth 6d.; rather worked all the means possible for faction, dispersion, rent, and division.’ He was blamed for not taking proper measures for the defence of Finagh, for not relieving Ballynacargy, co. Cavan, and for not supporting Owen Roe O'Neill [q. v.] He submitted to the commissioners of the parliament on 12 May 1652, on conditions known as the Articles of Kilkenny. He was excluded from pardon for life and estate by the Act for Settling Ireland on 12 Aug.; but, by virtue of the Articles of Kilkenny, permission was granted him to raise soldiers for the service of Spain. On 13 April 1653 he obtained an order to enjoy such parts of his estate as lay waste and undisposed of, and on 16 Nov. the order was extended to the enjoyment of a full third of his estate. Having raised his regiment for the Spanish service, he obtained a pass permitting him to transport himself and two servants, with travelling arms and necessaries, into Flanders, and to return without let or molestation, provided he gave notice of his arrival to the governor of the place where he should first land. He appears to have taken advantage of this permission; but on the apprehension of fresh disturbances in the summer of 1659 he was, with other leading royalists, placed under arrest. He recovered his liberty and his estates at the Restoration, but seems to have taken no further interest in politics. In 1680 he rebuilt the chapel of Fore, to be a place of burial for himself and his posterity, and, dying in 1684, was interred there.
He married Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Nugent of Moyrath, by whom he had issue, besides two sons who died in infancy: (1) Christopher, lord Delvin, who married Mary, eldest daughter of Richard Butler of Kilcash, co. Tipperary, and, predeceasing his father, left issue by her: Richard, third earl of Westmeath, who died in holy orders in 1714, Thomas, fourth earl of Westmeath [q. v.], and John, fifth earl of Westmeath [q. v.]; (2) Thomas, created baron Nugent of Riverstown [q. v.]; (3) Joseph, a captain in the service of France; (4) William, M.P. for co. Westmeath in 1689, and killed at Cavan in 1690; (5) Mary, who married Henry, second viscount Kingsland; (6) Anne, who married, first, Lucas, sixth viscount Dillon, and, secondly, Sir William Talbot of Cartown, co. Meath; (7) Alison, who married Henry Dowdall of Brownstown, co. Meath; (8) Elizabeth, who died young; (9) Jane, who married Alexander MacDonell, called Macgregor of Dromersnaw, co. Leitrim.
[Lodge's Peerage, ed. Archdall, i. 241–5; Carte's Life of Ormonde, i. 590, 595, ii. 5, 60, 157; Gilbert's Hist. of the Confederation, iv. 357, v. 260, vi. 80, 262, 289, vii. 133, 241, 349; Contemporary Hist. of Affairs in Ireland (Irish Archæolog. Soc.), ed. Gilbert, passim; Commonwealth State Papers (P. R. O. Dublin); Ludlow's Memoirs, ed. C. H. Firth; Wood-Martin's Hist. of Sligo; Piers's Hist. of Westmeath in Vallancey's Collectanea.]