ROBERT HUNTER (1715 - 1780)
A portrait of Capt. Edward O'Brien, three-quarter length, holding a musket in the uniform of the 52nd Regiment of Foot, standing against a landscape, a line of...

ROBERT HUNTER (1715 - 1780)
A portrait of Capt. Edward O'Brien, three-quarter length, holding a musket in the uniform of the 52nd Regiment of Foot, standing against a landscape, a line of infantry firing a valley against an advisory
Oil on canvas, 126 x 102cm

 

Provenance: Dromoland Castle Auction, December 1962, Main Bedroom, Lot 945, as by Wheatley; Private Collection

 

Edward OBrien (c.1735 1787) was the third son of Sir Edward OBrien 2nd Baronet of Dromland and Mary Hickman. A portrait of him and titled Master Edward OBrien by Philip Hussey was exhibited with the Irish Portraits 1660 1860 Dublin, London and Belfast 1970, Cat no. 31. His ambition was to be a solider but there was no money to buy a Cornecy of Dragoons until 1759. A riding accident prevented his joining Corps being raised to go to America. He became a Captain in the 122nd Regiment and then exchanged (costing £379 3 4) into the 52nd Regiment. He married his cousin Charlotte Hickman of Brickhall, Co. Clare.

With his easy-going spendthrift nature and love of horses, it is easy to see why he was his fathers favourite son. Although his father had left him Jockey Hall on the Curragh, he was not able to provide for his family and appealed to his more serious brother, Lucius, for help who assigned him a life interest in lands at Leamanagh and organised his return to military service. However, he forbade him from leaving the kingdom, thereby again preventing him going to America where he thought he could distinguish himself. He died in 1787 with the rank of colonel.

 

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