Viscount Gormanston

Born on 3 June 1796, Edward Anthony John Preston was the eldest son of Jenico Preston, 12th Viscount Gormanston, the Premier Viscount of Ireland, and the Honourable Margaret née Southwell, daughter of Thomas Arthur Southwell, 2nd Viscount Southwell.

On 19 July 1836 at St Mary’s Byranston Square he married Lucretia Jerningham, eldest daughter of William Charles Jenrningham and niece of the eighth Lord Stafford. Their marriage produced two sons and three daughters.

He held the office of Sheriff of County Meath in 1831 and was Sheriff of County Dublin in 1845. He succeeded to his titles on 10 February 1860. On 8 December 1868 he was created 1st Baron Gormanston of Whitewood, County Meath.

Lord Gormanston died, aged 80, on 28 September 1876 at Gormanston Castle, Balbriggan, County Meath.

‘The late Baron Gormanston, so created in 1868, was greatly respected, and remarkable for his sound Conservative opinions’ (Dublin Evening Mail, 28 September 1876).

‘His lordship was formerly in the 60th Rifles, and served in the campaign in Rohilkund [India] in 1858, and was appointed Chamberlain to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in July, 1865’ (Morning Post, 29 September 1876).

Photographed by Ferdinand Joubert of London.