Boyle Richard

Boyle, Richard (1566-1643), founder of the house of Cork and Orrery, born at Canterbury, of a Hertfordshire family, educated at Cambridge and at the Middle Temple, went to Ireland and, marrying well, bought large estates, and greatly improved them by prudent management. He also did much to develope manufactures and mechanical art in Ireland, and made a fortune by his efforts. Knighted in 1603, he was made Earl of Cork in 1620. He was in disfavour with Strafford, but held his own, and lived to extinguish a rebellion in his old age.