George Carew, 1st Earl of Totnes
A ruthless Elizabethan administrator in Ireland, he crushed rebellions in Munster and meticulously documented English heraldry.
1555–1629 (age 74)·English politician·Birthday: May 29
Biography
George Carew implemented a harsh policy of suppression during the Nine Years' War in Ireland, overseeing the devastation of Munster to break Irish lordship. Born into a Devon gentry family, he sailed to Ireland in the 1580s, a time of fierce Gaelic resistance, and rose to become President of Munster. In quieter moments, he compiled detailed rolls of coats of arms that remain vital records of English and West Country genealogy. King James I later elevated him to the Earldom of Totnes, securing his status as a key, if controversial, figure of his era.
#1 When George Was Born
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George's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1555Born
1560Started school
1568Became a teenager
1571Could drive
1573Could vote
1576Turned 21
1585Turned 30
1595Turned 40
1605Turned 50
1615Turned 60
1625Turned 70
1629Died at 74
Key Achievements
- Served as President of Munster, ruthlessly enforcing English rule during the Tudor conquest of Ireland.
- Compiled 'Carew's Scroll of Arms' in 1588, a crucial manuscript record of heraldry from Devonshire churches.
- Was elevated to the peerage as the 1st Earl of Totnes in 1626 in recognition of his service.
Did You Know?
His extensive collection of manuscripts and papers formed the foundation of the 'Carew Papers' at Lambeth Palace Library.
He served as Lieutenant-General of Ordnance for King James I, responsible for the kingdom's military supplies and fortifications.
Carew was appointed Governor of Guernsey in 1603, a post he held for over two decades.
“In Ireland, we must plant the Queen's law with a firm hand and a fortified garrison.”
