1730
- 1803
Hervey was born on 1st August
1730 at Ichworth, the family seat in Suffock, England. He was educated
at Westminster school and Cambridge University. In 1752 he had married
Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Jermyn Davers. He took holy orders in
1755, his brother George 2nd Earl of Bristol became Lord lieutenant
of Ireland in 1766. Fredrick came to Ireland with him and was appointed
bishop of Cloyne, County Cork. In 1768 while playing leapfrog, he
learned that he had been appointed bishop of Derry, a more profitable
position, he is reputed to have remarked 'Gentlemen I have have
surpassed you all. I have jumped from Cloyne to Derry.'
Hervey and Elizabeth had five
children two sons and three daughters, one of theit daughters Elizabeth
became the mistress of the William 5th Duke of Devonshire, marrying
him after his wifes death
Hervey introduced church reforms,
he added spires to churches to make them more visible, he campaigned
for relaxing of the
penal laws against Roman Catholics. In his new diocese he built
two great houses, Downhill on the north coast, and the unfinished
Ballyscullion House
near Lough Beg on the upper river Bann, his wife is said to have
described it as 'A stupendous monument to folly.' she left him in
1782.
His mansion Downhill on the
north Antrim coast is now in ruins, it came into the possession
of the Bruce family  close
to it on the edge of a cliff he built a library in the form of a
round tower, this is known as Mussenen Temple it still survives
it is in the ownership of the National Trust and can be hired for
weddings or other functions.
He was a great traveller during
his travels he collected Flemmish and Italian art treasures to furnish
his houses. Hervey was an essentric man associating with courtesans
such as Lady Hamilton and Countess Lichtenau. In his later years
he was seldom in Ireland, prefering to spend his time on the continent,
he died near Rome on 8th July 1803. |
