Thomas Nugent, 6th Earl of Westmeath

Thomas Nugent, 6th Earl of Westmeath KP PC (Ire) (April 1714 – 7 September 1792), styled Lord Delvin from 1752 to 1754[1] was an Irish peer and freemason.[2]

He gained the title Earl of Westmeath in 1754 on the death of his father John Nugent, 5th Earl of Westmeath. His mother was Marguerite Jeanne Molza of Modena, daughter of Count Carlo Molza, who was Gentleman Usher to Queen Mary of Modena, and his wife Veronique Angelotti. His father was a professional soldier who spent most of his adult life on the Continent and died at Nivelles.

In 1758, he was sworn of the Privy Council of Ireland. Nugent was appointed Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland in 1763, a post he held for the following four years. Unlike his father, and their predecessors, he conformed, at least publicly, to the Church of Ireland.[3]

By his first wife, Mary Stapleton, daughter of Walter Stapleton, he had one son:[1]

• Richard Nugent, Lord Delvin (1742–1761)

By his second wife, Catherine White, daughter of Henry White of County Kildare he had three sons and one daughter:[1]

• Thomas Nugent, Lord Delvin (died young)
• George Frederick Nugent, 7th Earl of Westmeath (1760–1814)
• Hon. Henry Nugent (24 November 1762 – May 1770)
• Lady Catharine Nugent (6 April 1766 – 26 February 1794), married Hon. John Rodney

Westmeath was made a Founding Knight of the Order of St Patrick on 11 March 1783. He died in 1792 and was succeeded by his son George.

References

1. "Thepeerage.com - Person Page 5065". Retrieved 13 December 2008.
2. Conlon, Larry. "A History of Freemasonry in Meath". Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
3. Waite, Arthur Edward (2007). A New Encyclopedia of Freemasonry. vol. I. Cosimo, Inc. p. 400. ISBN 978-1-60206-641-0.