| Authorised form of name | Molesworth; Robert (1656 - 1725); 1st Viscount Molesworth and Baron Molesworth; Whig politician |
| Dates | 1656 - 1725 |
| Nationality | British |
| Place of birth | Fishamble Street, Dublin, Ireland |
| Date of birth | 07 September 1656 |
| Place of death | His estate at Brackenstown, near Swords, Co Dublin |
| Date of death | 22 May 1725 |
| Dates and places | Burial:
Swords |
| Occupation | Politician and political writer |
| Activity | Education:
Trinity College, Dublin; BA (1675); Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1657)
Career:
Supported William of Orange (1688); his estates were attainted by James II and restored to him (1689); sent on a private mission to Denmark (1689-1690); Envoy Extraordinary to Denmark (1692-1694); having offended the Danish court, he retired to Flanders where he wrote a book critical of the introduction of absoluteist monarchy in Denmark; returned to Ireland (1695); MP for Dublin in the Irish Parliament (1695-1699); Privy Councillor (Ireland) (1697-1713, 1714); MP for Camelford (1695-1698); MP for Lostwithiel (1705-1706); MP for East Retford (1706-1708); MP for Mitchell (1715-1722); Commissioner for Trade and Plantations (1714-1715)
Honours:
Baron Molesworth of Philipstown and Viscount Molesworth of Swords (1719)
Memberships:
FSA |
| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 23/03/1698 |
| Proposer | Sir Hans Sloane |
| Royal Society activity | Royal Society roles:
Council: 1698 |
| Relationships | Parents: Posthumous son of Robert Molesworth, Merchant, of Dublin and Judith, daughter of John Bysse, Recorder of Dublin
Spouse: Letitia, daughter of Richard Coote, Baron Coote of Coloony, andMary, daughter of Sir George St George
Children: Richard, 3rd Viscount Molesworth (FRS 1722), and of Coote Molesworth (FRS 1731), and 15 other children |
| Image | 
|
| Sources | Sources:
Bulloch's Roll; DNB; Hunter; GEC; LI; Sedgwick
References:
W H G Armytage, 'Sir Godfrey Copley, FRS (1653-1709). Some Tercentenary Glimpses through Letters to his Friends' in NR 1954-55 vol 11 pp 54-74
Notes:
Last in 1715 list. |
| Royal Society code | NA5792 |
Archives associated with this Fellow
| Reference number | Title | Date |
| NLB/24/98 | Copy letter from Robert William Frederick Harrison, to Sir Guilford Molesworth, 39 Victoria Street, S.W. | 28 February 1902 |
| MS/390/108 | Bond of Robert Molesworth to the Treasurer of the Royal Society | 6 April 1698 |
| IM/003133 | Molesworth, Robert, 1st Viscount Molesworth and Baron Molesworth | 1721 |