Vere Essex Cromwell, 4th Earl of Ardglass

Vere Essex Cromwell, 4th Earl of Ardglass PC (I), (2 October 1625 – 26 November 1687) was an English nobleman, son of Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Ardglass and Elizabeth Meverell.^[1] He was the last direct male descendant of Henry VIII's chief minister, and key architect of the English reformation, Thomas Cromwell.

Vere Essex Cromwell, 4th Earl of Ardglass
Arms of Cromwell, Earl of Ardglass: Quarterly, per fess, indented, azure and or, four lions passant
Tenure	1682–1687
Successor	All titles extinct
Other titles	4th Viscount Lecale 7th Baron Cromwell
Known for	English nobleman
Born	Vere Essex Cromwell 2 October 1625 Ilam, Staffordshire, England
Died	26 November 1687(1687-11-26) (aged 62) Booncastle, County Down
Buried	Down Cathedral, Downpatrick 54.327061°N 5.722547°W / 54.327061; -5.722547
Nationality	English
Spouse(s)	Catherine Hamilton ​ (m. 1672)​
Issue	Elizabeth
Parents	Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Ardglass Elizabeth Meverell

Life

Vere Essex Cromwell was born at Throwleigh, Staffordshire and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin.^[2] He succeeded his nephew Thomas Cromwell as Earl of Ardglass and Viscount Lecale in the Peerage of Ireland in 1682, as well as Baron Cromwell in the Peerage of England. He died 26 November 1687 at his home in Booncastle, County Down and was buried 29 November at Downpatrick Abbey, County Down. On his death without male issue, all of his titles became extinct.^[3][4]

Marriage and issue

He married in 1672 Catherine Hamilton, widow of Richard Price, of, Greencastle, Kilkeel, County Down, daughter of James Hamilton, of Newcastle Kilcoo, County Down and Margaret Kynaston, of Saul, County Down, and by her, had an only daughter:^[3]

• Elizabeth Cromwell (c. 3 December 1674 – 31 March 1709) married Edward Southwell, (c. 1667 – 4 Dec 1730) and had a son, Edward (1 Jun 1705 – 16 Mar 1755)^[3][5]