Marcus Beresford, 1st Earl of Tyrone (16 July 1694 – 4 April 1763), known as Sir Marcus Beresford, 4th Baronet, until 1720 and subsequently as The Viscount Tyrone until 1746, was an Anglo-Irish peer and politician.

Early life

He was the only son of Sir Tristram Beresford, 3rd Baronet, and his wife Nichola Sophia Hamilton, youngest daughter of Hugh Hamilton, 1st Viscount of Glenawly and his second wife Susanna Balfour. In 1701 his father died and Beresford, aged only five, succeeded to the baronetcy. His guardian was The 3rd Viscount Dungannon (1669-1706). After Lord Dungannon's death in 1706, his widow (Beresford's maternal aunt), Arabella, Viscountess Dungannon, served as Beresford's guardian.

Career

In 1715, he entered the Irish House of Commons, sitting for Coleraine until 1720, when he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland with the titles Baron Beresford, of Beresford, in the County of Cavan, and Viscount Tyrone by King George I of Great Britain. A year later, he joined the Irish House of Lords. In 1736, he became Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, serving for the next two years. Beresford was further honoured in 1746, when he was created Earl of Tyrone.

Personal life

On 18 July 1717, he married Lady Catherine Power, only daughter of James Power, 3rd Earl of Tyrone (who was also the 8th Baron Power) and the former Anne Rickard (eldest daughter and co-heiress of Andrew Rickard, of Dangan-Spidoge). Together, they were the parents of seven sons and eight daughters, including: Lord Beresford died at Tyrone House in Dublin and was succeeded in his titles by his fourth and oldest surviving son George. In 1767, four years after the earl's death, his widow claimed the title Baron La Poer and was shortly thereafter confirmed. She died in 1769.