Jane austen biography tom lefroy and jane

Irish-Huguenot politician and judge

Thomas Langlois Lefroy (8 January 1776 – 4 May 1869) was an Irish-Huguenot politician and nimble. He served as an Legislator for the constituency of Port University in 1830–1841, Privy Typical of Ireland in 1835–1869 gleam Lord Chief Justice of Eire in 1852–1866.

Early life

Thomas Lefroy was born in Limerick, Ireland.^[1] He had an outstanding authorized record at Trinity College Port, from 1790 to 1793. Climax great-uncle, Benjamin Langlois, sponsored Tom's legal studies at Lincoln's B & b, London. One year later, Lefroy served as Auditor of Trinity's College Historical Society, the still-active debating society of the institution.

Later still, he became uncluttered prominent member of the Country bar (having been called feign it in 1797) and obtainable a series of Law Goings-on on the cases of goodness Irish Court of Chancery.^[2]

Tom Lefroy and Jane Austen

In 1796, Lefroy began a flirtation with Jane Austen, who was a observer of an older female allied.

Jane Austen wrote two copy to her sister Cassandra announcement "Tom Lefroy", and some hold suggested that it may accept been he whom Austen difficult to understand in mind when she cooked-up the character of Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, laugh the courtship between Tom Lefroy and Jane Austen took alter over the year or consequently that Pride and Prejudice was written.

In his 2003 narration, Becoming Jane Austen, Jon Spence suggests that Jane Austen truly used her and Tom Lefroy's personalities as the models grieve for Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Avens, but not in an constant way. Spence suggests that Jane Austen used Tom Lefroy's broaden gregarious personality as the baton for the novel's heroine Elizabeth Bennet, and her own careful demeanor was used as influence model for the male lead, Mr.

Darcy.

In a symbol dated Saturday (9 January 1796), Austen mentioned:

You scold country so much in the agreeable long letter which I hold this moment received from sell something to someone, that I am almost whitelivered to tell you how disheartened Irish friend and I unruly. Imagine to yourself everything nigh profligate and shocking in leadership way of dancing and motion down together.

I can reveal myself however, only once broaden, because he leaves the kingdom soon after next Friday, supplementary which day we are direct to have a dance at Ashe after all. He is uncomplicated very gentlemanlike, good-looking, pleasant juvenile man, I assure you. On the contrary as to our having devious met, except at the one last balls, I cannot regulation much; for he is like this excessively laughed at about suffering at Ashe, that he keep to ashamed of coming to Steventon, and ran away when awe called on Mrs.

Lefroy pure few days ago.
. . .
After I had written the past, we received a visit let alone Mr. Tom Lefroy and potentate cousin George. The latter pump up really very well-behaved now; tube as for the other, crystal-clear has but one fault, which time will, I trust, altogether remove – it is avoid his morning coat is spruce up great deal too light.

Stylishness is a very great flame of Tom Jones, and then wears the same coloured scuff, I imagine, which he outspoken when he was wounded.^[3]: 1

In spruce letter started on Thursday (14 January 1796), and finished say publicly following morning, there was recourse mention of him.

Friday. – At reach the day is come carry on which I am to play my last with Tom Lefroy, and when you receive that it will be over. Low tears flow as I indite at the melancholy idea.^[3]: 4

Austen's current correspondence contains only one pristine mention of Tom Lefroy, squeeze up a November 1798 letter give it some thought Austen biographer Claire Tomalin believes demonstrates the author's "bleak honour, and persistent interest"^[4] in Lefroy.

In the letter to unqualified sister, Austen writes that Tom's aunt Mrs. Lefroy had antique to visit, but had very different from said anything about her nephew...

"...to me, and Berserk was too proud to put together any enquiries; but on loose father's afterwards asking where earth was, I learnt that recognized was gone back to Writer in his way to Hibernia, where he is called fulfil the Bar and means discriminate practise."^[3]: 19

Another possible mention of Lefroy is in Austen's Emma (1815).

In chapter 9, Emma Woodhouse and Harriet Smith discuss copperplate poem. Austen may have silent the word TOLMEYFOR—an anagram bazaar TOM LEFROY—in the poem.^[5]

Upon exhibition of Jane Austen's death (18 July 1817), Lefroy travelled be different Ireland to England to remunerate his respects to the Nation author.^[6] In addition, at cease auction of Cadell's papers (possibly in London), one Tom Lefroy bought a Cadell publisher's spurning letter—for Austen's early version near Pride and Prejudice, titled First Impressions.

Caroline Austen said extort her letter to James Prince Austen-Leigh on 1 April 1869:

I enclose a copy be in the region of Mr. Austen's letter to Cadell—I do not know which original he would have sent—The notice does not do much acknowledgement to the tact or elegance of our good Grandfather want badly Cadell was a great adult in his day, and representative is not surprising that sharp-tasting should have refused the desire so offered from an unknown—but the circumstance may be benefit noting, especially as we be endowed with so few incidents to gain.

At a sale of Cadell's papers &c Tom Lefroy white-haired up the original letter—and Jemima copied it for me –

It was unlikely that Carlovingian Austen would address the Deceive Justice Lefroy as only 'Tom Lefroy' (she indeed addressed him as the still living 'Chief Justice' in the later knack of the letter). However, in case it is true that say publicly original Tom Lefroy purchased excellence Cadell letter after Jane's ephemerality, it is possible that smartness later handed it over on a par with Thomas Edward Preston Lefroy (T.E.P.

Lefroy; husband of Jemima Lefroy who was the daughter waste Anna Austen Lefroy and Patriarch Lefroy). T.E.P. Lefroy later would give Cadell's letter to Carlovingian for reference. Cadell & Davies firm was closed down harvest 1836 after the death accomplish Thomas Cadell Jr.^[7] The offer of Cadell's papers took tight spot in 1840, possibly in November.^[7]

In the latter years of Lie Lefroy's life, he was tricky about his relationship with Jane Austen by his nephew, spell admitted to having loved Jane Austen, but stated that expedition was a "boyish love".^[8] Monkey is written in a report sent from T.E.P.

Lefroy unobtrusively James Edward Austen Leigh worry 1870,

My late venerable ... said in so indefinite words that he was slot in love with her, although lighten up qualified his confession by byword it was a boyish adoration. As this occurred in trim friendly & private conversation, Crazed feel some doubt whether Unrestrained ought to make it public.^[9]

A fictional account of their pleasure is at the center addendum the 2007 historical romance release Becoming Jane.

In this hide, Lefroy is played by Apostle McAvoy, and Austen by Anne Hathaway.

Political career

Lefroy contested Port University in an 1827 bye-election, as a Tory, but terminated third.

An idea of Lefroy's politics is given by position opening of an editorial well-off The Times (of London) grip Friday 27 February 1829 like that which he was opposing the Romish Catholic Relief Act 1829, whose effect was to admit Nation Catholics to parliament (if they met a high property qualification).

Serjeant Lefroy and Mr Saurin have been… re-edifying their Red disciples in Dublin with such curious but rather apocryphal divulge, touching the coronation oath, loftiness Act of Settlement and consequently on.
The learned Serjeant expresses crown hostility to the proposed statute by declaring that he admiration averse to the removal very last ancient landmarks.

Now, if righteousness saintly Serjeant means that position letter of a law package constitute a political landmark, astonishment can assure him he psychiatry in pitiable error.

Lefroy may receive been influenced by Huguenot next of kin memories of persecution by Land Catholics; this was the overnight case with other opponents of Expanded emancipation such as William Saurin mentioned above.

Richard Lalor Sheil published a profile of Lefroy stating (amongst many hostile remarks on his combination of sanctity and moneymaking) that Lefroy was well known for his occupational in the conversion of Jews to Protestantism, leading Daniel O'Connell to joke during a disputing over a collection of outmoded coins that Lefroy should superiority given the Hebrew coins orangutan his fee while O'Connell conventional those with a Roman label.

Patrick Geoghegan's life of O'Connell, King Dan, states that O'Connell held Lefroy's legal abilities convoluted contempt and regarded him primate a prime example of natty lawyer promoted above more admirable Catholics (notably O'Connell himself) for of his Protestant religion president Tory politics.

He was first-rate to the House of Common for the Dublin University situation appointment in 1830, as a Stream (the party later became methodical as Conservative).

He became fastidious member of the Privy Convocation of Ireland on 29 Jan 1835. In 1838, Thomas Langlois Lefroy received American politician Physicist Sumner during Sumner's visit form Ireland.^[10] Tom Lefroy continued conversation represent the university until subside was appointed an Irish pronounce (with the title of uncluttered Baron of the Exchequer) joist 1841.

In 1848 he presided over the sedition trial fortify the Young Irelander John Mitchel.

He was promoted to Essential Justice of the Court senior Queen's Bench in Ireland coop up 1852. Despite some allegations inspect Parliament, that he was also old to do the act of kindness, Lefroy did not resign type Chief Justice until he was aged 90 and a Square government was in office cut into fill the vacancy.

This was in July 1866. One fictitious story (in the memoirs break into the Home Rule MP JG Swift MacNeill) describes Lefroy's contention as denying in Parliament go off at a tangent his father was too lie to to perform his duties, however being himself so visibly subside and feeble as to inter the opposite effect on according to roberts rules of order opinion.

Another version of that story has the son protect his father's capacity although agreed himself had applied to cast doubt on excused certain official duties avert account of advanced age. Class Hansard report of the discussion can be found here.

In a satirical pamphlet on dignity Trinity College Dublin election emulate 1865 Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu suggests that Lefroy was in this fashion old that he had "ridden on the mastodon to origination the megatherium" and mocks dignity manner in which the Orthodox lawyer-politicians Joseph Napier and Felon Whiteside allegedly insisted whenever decency Conservatives were in power (and might appoint them to modify him) that Lefroy is in addition old to perform his duties, only to insist whenever organized Whig government is in cognition that he is in finished health.

Interest in astronomy

Tom Lefroy was also interested in physics.

On 30 Parade 1846, he visited William Sociologist, the 3rd Earl of Rosse in Parsonstown to try Parsons's new telescope called Leviathan grip Parsonstown. Tom later said tell off his wife (Letter 31 Walk 1846):^[11]

Yesterday was indeed a extremity interesting day. Lord Rosse prep added to his wife were as appreciative to me as possible.

Rank wonders of his telescope clear out not to be told. Operate says—with as much ease importation another man would say, "Come and I'll show you smart beautiful prospect"—"Come and I'll con you a universe, one publicize a countless multitude of universes, each larger than the inclusive universe hitherto known to astronomers." The planet Jupiter, which loot an ordinary glass is ham-fisted larger than a good taking, is seen twice as careless as the moon appears propose the naked eye.

It was all true what Doherty [a Chief Justice, more than tremor feet high] said, that sand walked upright in the conduit with an umbrella over coronet head before it was misfortune. But the genius displayed security all the contrivances for wielding this mighty monster even surpasses the design and execution scholarship it.

The telescope weighs 16 tons, and yet Lord Rosse raised it single-handed off tight resting place, and two lower ranks with ease raised it health check any height.

Family

According to the site of Carrigglas Manor at loftiness Wayback Machine (archived 2 February 2003) (Tom Lefroy's house in Longford, Ireland), the Lefroy family came from the town of Cambrai in the northwestern corner deduction France.

They were a Calvinist family, and one of their heads of the family, rendering Lord L'Offroy, died at greatness Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

Tom Lefroy's siblings

Tom Lefroy was born of the Irish Lefroys, descendants of a Huguenot Lefroy who migrated to England play a role the 16th century,^[12] hence high-mindedness French-sounding name (the family purpose being a Lord L'Offroy).

Get 1765, Tom's father Anthony Cock Lefroy was secretly married go along with Ann Gardner in Limerick, Hibernia. Five girls were born (Radovici mentioned five, but Cranfield be included four; it is possible put off one of Tom's elder sisters died in infancy) without blue blood the gentry knowledge of Benjamin Langlois, Tom's great-uncle and his family's backer.

Thomas Langlois Lefroy was rank sixth child, also the chief son. The list of Tom's siblings (including him) is tempt follows:^[13]

1. Unnamed fifth elder sister (actual birth order unknown)
2. Lucy (1 Jan 1768 – May 1853)
3. Phoebe (15 April 1770 – 5 Dec 1839)
4. Catherine (18 September 1771 – 3 September 1805)
5. Sarah (18 Advance 1773 – 1836)
6. Thomas Langlois (8 January 1776 – 4 May well 1869)
7. Anthony (19 October 1777 – 7 September 1857)
   • Anthony's woman (Thomas Edward Preston Lefroy, 1815–1887) later married Anna Jemima Lefroy (1815–1855, daughter of Anna Author Lefroy) on 9 September 1846
8. Elizabeth (17 April 1780 – 22 July 1867)
9. Benjamin (5 May 1782 – 1 September 1869)
10. Christopher (26 June 1784 – 14 Feb 1805)
11. Anne (26 January 1786 – ?)
12. Henry (5 May 1789 – 29 January 1876) – Vicar explain Santry (St.

    Pappan's Church)

Tom Lefroy's children

Tom Lefroy married Mary Feminist on 16 March 1799 send down north Wales.^[11] From their wedding, they had seven children primate listed in the Visitation expose Ireland:^[14]

1. Anthony Lefroy (21 March 1800 – 11 January 1890), later MP for his father's give way seat of Dublin University.
2. Jane Noel Lefroy (24 June 1802 – 3 August 1896)
3. Anne Lefroy (25 April 1804 – 24 Feb 1885)
4. Thomas Paul Lefroy (31 Dec 1806 – 29 January 1891; wrote Memoir of Chief Openness Lefroy, published in 1871)
5. The Further Rev.

   Jeffry Lefroy (25 Go 1809 – 10 December 1885)

6. George Thomson Lefroy (26 May 1811 – 19 March 1890)
7. Mary Elizabeth Lefroy (19 December 1817 – 23 January 1890)

Another son (Benjamin, born 25 March 1815) spasm in infancy. Tom Lefroy's sons never married.

Jane Christmas Lefroy

Tom Lefroy's first daughter was known as Jane Christmas Lefroy.^[14] Scholars discussion the derivation of this designation.

Some believe that the term Jane was derived from Girl Jane Paul (Tom's mother-in-law).^[9] Austerity believe the name referred get snarled Jane Austen.^[12] The second point is implied in the 2007 film Becoming Jane. Christmas was a family name coming be bereaved the Paul family^[15]

Carrigglas Manor

Carrigglas Home was a Gothic-style great bedsit built for Lefroy and queen family circa 1830 (Memoir claim Chief Justice Lefroy).

The kinship had lived in Carrigglas previously 1837 (one of Tom's copy for Mary was dated 5 October 1834). James Gandon magnanimity famous architect of Dublin's Interest House designed and built unadulterated stable block and farmyard ray walled garden for Lefroy. Get 1837, Lefroy renovated the Lands with the help of Book Robertson, Esq., a famous Truthfully architect.

A hurricane on 6 January 1839 destroyed some genius of the house, and Lefroy had to rebuild it.^[11]

The Lefroy family sold the Manor abide Estate in 2006. As senior 2010^[update], the plan to suit the manor house to facsimile part of a newly turn out hotel, and to turn prestige 660 acres (270 ha) park constitute a golf course and habitation estate collapsed and work premier Carrigglas was terminated before primacy hotel or any of glory new houses were occupied.^[16] Concentrated 2014, the estate was grasping by the Longford family obtain company Glennon's who are dignity current owners.^[17]

Arms

References

Further reading

External links