Andrew Armstrong

Who was Andrew Armstrong?

Sir Andrew Armstrong, 1st Baronet DL was an Irish baronet and politician.

Born at Gallen Priory in County Offaly, he was the son of Edmund Armstrong and his wife Elizabeth, third daughter of Frederick Trench and sister of Frederick Trench, 1st Baron Ashtown.

He served as captain in the King's County Militia. and was appointed High Sheriff of King's County in 1811 and again in 1836 and served as Deputy Lieutenant of that county. He became Receiver General of Stamps in Ireland in 1831, an office he held until its abolition in 1841, when he was created a baronet, of Gallen Priory, in King's County as compensation.

In February of the same year, he entered the British House of Commons in a by-election, sitting for King's County until 1852. While in Parliament he argued against the laws restricting commerce in Ireland ...'I never can be satisfied that my country should be bound in calfskin'..., for the establishment of ship manufacturing in Ireland, and for provisions to be made for the Catholic Clergy.

In 1835, he married Frances, daughter of George Alexander Fullerton, and had by her six sons. Armstrong died aged 76 at Chester and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son Edmund.