[Note added 2010 by Michael Purcell.
In the previous email we reproduced a
letter, dated August 1919, from Algernon Coote, seeking
subscriptions for the erection of a Memorial to the Irishmen who
fought and died in the Great War. In November the following year the
Rev Chancellor Graham of Monasterevan was proposing that a
subscription list be opened to raise funds for the erection of a
Memorial to Algernon Coote who died in October 1920, and who, from
the time of writing his letter to the Nationalist 14 months
previously, had resigned his position as "His Majesty's Lieutenant
of Queen's County" in protest at the "unconstitutional manner of
government being administered in Ireland by the British
Parliament".]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nationalist. 26th October, 1920.
Sir Algernon Coote, Bart. (Born,14th
December 1847 - Died, 22nd October 1920)
We regret to announce the death of Sir
Algernon Charles Plumptre Coote, Bart., which occurred at his
residence, Ballyfin House, Mountrath, Queen's County, on Saturday
morning after a brief illness. Sir Algernon Coote, who was the
Premier Baronet of Ireland, was the son of the late Rev. Sir
Algernon Coote, Bart., and Cecillia only daughter of the late
J.P.Plumptre of Fredville Kent, he was educated at Eton and
Cambridge, where he took the degree of Master of Arts in 1875.
He studied originally for the engineering
profession, but subsequently interested himself in religious and
philanthropic work, and acted as lay deputation secretary to the
British and Foreign Bible Society for many years. On his succession
to the baronetcy in 1898, he continued to support the work of this
Society, and was also President of the Hibernian Church Missionary
Society, besides taking an active part in the Synods and Committees
of the Church of Ireland.
When he came to reside in Ballyfin on the
death of his father, he interested himself in the management of his
estate. He was appointed his Majesty's Lieutenant for Queen's County
in 1900, also held the Commission of the Peace. He had also held the
office of High Sheriff and on several occasions was foreman of the
Grand Jury. He was a member of the Management Committee of the
Queen's County Infirmary and of the Queen's County Committee of
Agriculture and Technical Instruction.
As President of the Queen's County
Agriculture Society he gave that body generous financial support.
His interest in the improvement of strains of cattle in Ireland is
well known, and he was a yearly and successful exhibitor at the
Royal Dublin Society's and other Agricultural Shows.
At all times he maintained friendly
relations with his tenantry, and gave a large amount of employment
in Ballyfin in agricultural work and afforestation. He was foremost
in the efforts made by Lady Aberdeen and others to combat the spread
of tuberculosis and in association with Lady Coote founded the
Maryborough Sanatorium for Consumptives.
He recently attached himself to the movement
associated with Sir Horace Plunkett, and declared himself in favour
of Dominion Home Rule for Ireland, and resigned his position as His
Majesty's Lieutenant of Queen's County.
He was principle mover in the recent Irish
Peace Conference. Religious and philanthropic societies will feel
his loss keenly. He was a governor of several hospitals, to all of
which he gave generous support.
Sir Algernon Coote was twice married. His
first wife, Jean, daughter of Captain Trotter, died in 1880. In 1882
he married Ellen Melesina, daughter of Philip Chenevix-Trench, of
Botley Hill, Hants. There are six sons and two daughters. The eldest
son, Captain Ralph Algernon Coote succeeds to the title and the
estate. Interment took place at Ballyfin on Tuesday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The above is a true and
accurate transcript of the original document.
- Transcribed by M. Purcell c2010.
- Old newspapers in the PPP.
- The information
contained in these pages is provided solely for the
purpose of sharing with others
researching their ancestors in Ireland.
- © 2001 Ireland Genealogy Projects,
IGP TM By Pre-emptive Copyright - All rights reserved
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