William Annesley, 1st Viscount Glerawly (1710 – 2 September 1770) was an Irish politician and noble.

Early life

Annesley was born in 1710. He was the sixth of seven sons, and two daughters, born to Elizabeth ( Martin) Annesley and Francis Annesley, MP. His maternal grandfather was London merchant Sir Joseph Martin. His paternal grandparents were the former Deborah Jones (a daughter of Henry Jones, Bishop of Meath) and Hon. Francis Annesley (the eldest son, by his second wife, of Francis Annesley, 1st Viscount Valentia, and thus his descendants are in the remainder to the title Viscount Valentia).

Career

In 1738, he was a barrister at Dublin. Though not heir male, Annesley succeeded his father in the estate of Castlewellan upon his death in 1750. Annesley sat as Member of Parliament (MP) in the Irish House of Commons for Midleton between 1741 and 1758. He served as High Sheriff of Down in 1750. In 1758 he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Annesley, and assumed his seat in the Irish House of Lords. He was further honoured when he was made Viscount Glerawly in 1766.

Personal life

On 16 August 1738, Lord Glerawly married Lady Anne Beresford, a daughter of Marcus Beresford, 1st Earl of Tyrone and the former Lady Catherine Power (only daughter of James Power, 3rd Earl of Tyrone). Among her siblings were George Beresford, 1st Marquess of Waterford, John Beresford, and William Beresford, 1st Baron Decies. Together, they were the parents of five children: Lord Glerawly died on 2 September 1770 at Clontarf, Dublin. He was succeeded in the viscountcy by his eldest son Francis, who was created Earl Annesley in 1789 with special remainder to his brother, Richard.