KING, Edward, Visct. Kingborough (1795-1837), of Mitchelstown Castle, co. Cork.

In April 1817 Viscount Kingsborough’s father secured the Earl of Shannon’s support for his son’s candidature for county Cork. As his father was inclined to opposition and Shannon had just gone over to them, Kingsborough was expected to join the minority. His election speeches gave him sufficient scope for manoeuvre, as he would not commit himself beyond opposition to all taxes and as much support for Catholic relief as was consistent with the constitution. He was returned and emerged as a ministerial supporter, his father having rallied to government.PRO NI, Belmore mss H/6/4, Townshend to Belmore, 5 May 1817; Geo. IV Letters, ii. 645; Dublin Corresp., 1 July 1818; Add. 40298, f. 9. On 18 May 1819 he voted against Tierney’s censure motion. He had voted for Catholic relief on 3 May. In the ensuing session, however, he voted with opposition on Althorp’s motion on the state of the country, 30 Nov., for the exclusion of Ireland from the seditious meetings bill, 13 Dec., and on the seizure of arms bill, 14 Dec. 1819. No speech is recorded.

Kingsborough gave up politics in 1826 to pursue antiquarian studies and became an expert on Mexican history. He died of typhus while imprisoned at Dublin, as security for a debt of his father’s, 27 Feb. 1837.Gent. Mag. (1837), i. 537; R. D. King-Harman, The Kings, Earls of Kingston, 85.