Name William 3rd Role Palaeontologist | Died November 21, 1886 | |
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Spouse The Hon. Mary Emma Brodrick (m. 1865–1886), Jane Casamaijor (m. 1844–1855) Children Lowry Cole, 4th Earl of Enniskillen Parents John Cole, 2nd Earl of Enniskillen, Charlotte Paget Siblings Hon. John Lowry Cole, Hon. Lowry Balfour Cole, Lady Jane Anne Louisa Florence Cole, Henry Cole Education Christ Church, Oxford, Harrow School | ||
The Rt. Hon. William Willoughby Cole, 3rd Earl of Enniskillen, FRS (25 January 1807 – 21 November 1886), known by his courtesy title of Viscount Cole from 1807 to 1840, was an Irish palaeontologist and Conservative Member of Parliament. He also served as the first Imperial Grand Master of the Orange Order from 1866 until his death. He was Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland from 1846 until his death.
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Background and education
Cole was born into the Ulster branch of 'the Ascendancy', the Anglo-Irish aristocracy. He was the son of John Willoughby Cole, 2nd Earl of Enniskillen and his wife, Lady Charlotte Paget. The young Lord Cole was educated at Harrow and Christ Church, Oxford. In his youth he began to devote his leisure to the study and collection of fossil fishes, with his friend Sir Philip Grey Egerton, and he amassed a fine collection at Florence Court, his home just south-west of Enniskillen. This included many specimens that were described and figured by Agassiz and Egerton. This collection was subsequently acquired by the British Museum.
Political career
Lord Enniskillen was also involved in politics and represented (as Lord Cole) Fermanagh in the House of Commons between 1831 and 1840, when he succeeded his father, to become the third Earl, and entered the House of Lords as Baron Grinstead. In Dublin, he was a member of the Kildare Street Club.
Family
Lord Enniskillen married, firstly, Jane Casamaijor, daughter of James Casamaijor, in 1844, by whom he had seven children:
After her death in 1855 he married, secondly, The Hon. Mary Emma Brodrick, daughter of The 6th Viscount Midleton, in 1865. He died in November 1886, aged 79, and was succeeded in his titles by his second but eldest surviving son from his first marriage, Lowry. The Countess of Enniskillen died in 1896.