Lawless, Valentine Brown, 2nd Baron Cloncurry (1773 -1853)

Valentine Lawless was born in Dublin, the son of Nicholas Lawless, a wool merchant and banker, and Margaret Browne, daughter of Valentine Browne. Nicholas Lawless was created a baronet in 1776 and elevated to the peerage as Baron Cloncurry in 1789. Valentine was educated at Portarlington, and at Dr. Burrowes' school at Blackrock, and graduated at Trinity College in 1791. After a tour on the Continent he entered the Middle Temple in 1795. In 1803 he married Eliza Georgiana Morgan, daughter of Major-General George Morgan (divorced in 1811); and secondly Emily, the widow of Joseph Leeson, and daughter of Archibald Douglas. Valentine has been cited as chief organiser of the United Irish Movement in London, but downplayed this aspect of his life. He was imprisoned in June 1798 on suspicion of treason in London, released, re-arrested and held in the Tower of London until March 1801. During his imprisonment his grandfather, his father, and the lady to whom he was engaged all died. On his release Lawless went to Paris and then Rome. He was there during Robert Emmet's rebellion, and is believed to have been a member of the new Republican Government in waiting. Lawless returned to Ireland in 1804 to oversee Richard Morrison's refurbishment of Lyons House in County Kildare, and the reorganisation of his extensive estates. After 1828 he became a member of the private cabinet of Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey, and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1828 to 1834. Lawless was granted a British peerage in September 1831 a few days after the coronation of William IV. He died 28th October 1853, aged 80, and was buried in the family mausoleum at Lyons House.
Seat / Residence(s): Lyons House
Stamp(s) Stamp Information
Title: Lawless, Valentine Brown, Cloncurry (1773 - 1853) (Stamp 1)
Arms: On an escutcheon a sinister hand gules on a chief indented sable three garbs or (Lawless) impaling Argent a man’s heart imperially crowned gules on a chief azure three mullets argent (Douglas)
Motto: Virtute et numine
Supporters: Dexter A bull sable armed and unguled Sinister A ram argent armed and unguled or
Dimensions (height x width): 22mm x 30mm
Coronet: Baron
Heraldic Charges: chief indented, on a, Heraldic Charges: crown, imperial, Heraldic Charges: escutcheon, on a, Heraldic Charges: garbs (3), Heraldic Charges: hand, Heraldic Charges: heart, Heraldic Charges: mullets (3)
Title: Lawless, Valentine Brown, Cloncurry (1773 - 1853) (Stamp 2)
Crest: Out of a ducal coronet a demi-man in armor visor closed holding in his dexter hand a sword palewise
Motto: Virtute et numine
Dimensions (height x width): 28mm x 19mm
Coronet: Baron
Heraldic Charges: coronet, ducal, out of a, Heraldic Charges: man, demi-, Heraldic Charges: sword