Richard Nugent, Lord Delvin Explained

Richard Nugent, Lord Delvin (1742 – 6 August 1761) was an Irish duellist and Member of Parliament.

Nugent was the eldest son and heir of Thomas Nugent, 6th Earl of Westmeath and adopted the courtesy title of Lord Delvin in 1754 when his father acceded to the earldom.

In 1759, he was elected Member of Parliament for Fore, although he was underage. He was also commissioned a cornet in the 1st Regiment of Dragoons.^[1]

In July 1761 aged only 19, the drunken Lord Delvin accosted a female acquaintance of Capt. George Reilly, and was challenged to a duel.^[2] The two crossed swords in the music room at Marlborough Bowling Green, and Delvin was mortally wounded.^[3] The incident led to the abandonment of Marlborough Green as a fashionable resort.^[4]

Further reading

• Irish Varieties A more detailed account of the circumstances preceding the duel which ended Delvin's life.

Notes and References

1. Book: Peter, A. . Sketches of Old Dublin . Sealy, Bryers & Walker . Dublin . 1907 . 78–79 .
2. Book: Gerard, Frances A. . Picturesque Dublin Old and New . Hutchinson & Co. . 1898 . London . 361 .
3. Web site: Wilmot-Horton correspondence . National Archives (UK) . 14 December 2008.
4. Web site: Death in the Music Room Bridges of Dublin . www.bridgesofdublin.ie . 13 September 2022.